450 
wrong  pruning  we  get  a lot  of  small  blooms  or  none,  often  noth  - 
ing but  long  lanky  growth.  Too  much  wood  left  is  as  bad  as 
too  little  and  to  regulate  this  much  will  depend  on  the  vigor  of 
the  plant. 
In  pruning  shade  trees  or  shrubbery  it  is  easier  to  say  ‘dont’  than 
‘do’,  yet  many  flowering  shrubs  can  be  greatly  improved  by  prun  - 
ing, not  only  in  giving  good  shape,  but  also  in  producing  more 
bloom.  There  is  nothing  more  disappointing  to  a lover  of  plants 
than  to  see  the  results  of  a so-called  tree-butcher  after  he  has 
completed  trimming  the  tree  or  shrub. 
Shrubs  should  be  given  as  natural  a shape  as  possible  and  yet 
this  can  be  done  without  cutting  the  whole  bush  to  pieces  or  shear- 
ing off  the  top  to  a level.  Such  methods  not  only  destroy  the  nat- 
ural beauty  of  outline,  but  lessen  the  ability  of  the  plant  to  produce 
flowers  and  also  weaken  it.  Therefore  to  become  an  intelligent 
pruner  one  should  know  a little  of  plant  physiology.  One  should 
know  what  effects  pruning  will  produce  at  different  seasons  of 
the  year.  One  important  point  in  all  pruning  is  to  be  sure  to 
make  clean  cuts  and  under  no  circumstances  leave  short  stumps 
protruding  from  the  main  trunk  or  limbs.  This  is  a very  general 
practice  here  and  it  not  only  makes  an  ugly  unsightly  object,  but 
prevents  the  plant  from  healing  over  the  wounds,  which  become 
favorable  places  for  all  kinds  of  insect  pests. 
In  conjunction  with  pruning  we  use  the  pinching  back  and 
suckering  methods.  These  are  intermediate  phases  of  pruning, 
and  used  at  the  proper  period,  will  save  much  vigor  to  the  plant. 
Next  in  importance  to  pruning  is  feeding  the  plants.  As  stated 
above  it  is  generally  the  practice  of  the  grower  to  get  all  he  can 
from  the  plant,  but  not  to  give  to  the  plant.  In  the  home  yard 
and  especially  where  everything  is  covered  with  lawn,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  cultivate  the  soil  by  turning  it  over.  This  is  a great  draw- 
back, as  much  moisture  is  wasted  and  the  renewing  of  the  top  of 
the  soil  is  prevented.  The  roots  of  the  various  trees  and  shrubs 
are  underlying  the  grass  sod  and  the  moisture,  which  would  re- 
main in  a tilled  soil  is  taken  up  and  rapidly  at  that,  by  the  roots 
of  the  lawn.  Water  does  much  towards  the  liberation  of  the  soil 
elements  and  unless  sufficient  water  can  reach  the  lower  level 
where  deposits  of  various  plant  foods  are,  trees  and  plants  are 
going  to  suffer  from  lack  of  food.  Feeding  trees  then  under  these 
conditions  is  about  the  only  thing  to  do. 
The  soils  on  the  plains  and  lower  elevations  of  this  island  con- 
tain many  elements,  but  the  quantity  of  the  three  principal  ele- 
ments,'viz:  nitrogen,  potash  and  phosphoric  acid,  is  very  small 
in  comparison  to  others  not  so  important  in  the  feeding  of  plants. 
Nitrogen,  the  element  so  necessary  for  the  vigorous  growth  of 
trees  and  plants,  would  soon  be  consumed  and  must  be  replenished 
to  keep  up  the  magnificent  beginning.  Potash,  which  is  generally 
admitted  necessary  to  produce  quality,  is  also  an  important  ele- 
ment and  phosphoric  acid  which  strengthens  the  embryo  fruit  and 
thus  enables  the  tree  to  hold  the  crop,  must  be  added  to  the  other 
