«1 BUJiTINGS" MUHSKHIKS, SELBYVILLE. UEL. 
tains an equal temperature about the roots. 
Aft«r-CuUure — The grass should not be allowed to 
grow around young trees after being planted, as it stunts 
their growth. The ground should be kept clean and 
loose around them. 
ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT 
How To Plant 
Preparation of Roots — Cut off smoothly all bruised 
or broken roots up to the sound wood. This prevents 
their decaying and hastens the emission of new roots 
and fibers. 
Preparation of the Top— This consists in cutting back 
the top and side branches in such a way as to correspond 
with the more or less mutilated roots, as follows; 
Trees with branching heads should have the small 
branches cut clean out, and the larger ones, intended 
for the framework of the tree, cut back to within two or 
three buds of their base. 
In cases where there is an abundant root, and small 
top or few branches, the pruning need be very light, 
but where the roots are small and the top heavy, severe 
pruning will be necessary. These remarks are applicable 
to all Deciduous Trees and Shrubs. Evergreens seldom 
require pruning, but Arbor Vitae and other Evergreens 
planted in hedge rows may be advantageously shorn 
immediately after planting. 
Directions for planting, mulching, staking and after- 
culture, same as for fruit trees (see Hints In Fruit 
Department) . 
Pruning 
Pruning, as practiced by some people, has the effect to 
render trees and shrubs unnatural and inelegant. We 
refer to the custom of shearing trees, particularly coni- 
fers, into cones, pyramids, and other unnatural shapes. 
Every tree, shrub and plant has a habit of growth 
peculiar to itself, and this very peculiarity is one of its 
beauties. If we prune all trees into regular shapes we 
destroy their identity. The pruning knife, therefore, 
should be used to assist nature, and handled with judg- 
ment and care, to lop off straggling branches, to thin 
the head of a tree which has become too dense, and to 
remove dead wood. Sometimes it becomes necessary to 
prune severely to keep a tree from attaining too great 
size. 
Shearing may be practiced on hedges, but never on 
trees and shrubs. 
Pruning Shrubs 
Many persons trim and shear them into regular shapes, 
imagining that regular outline adds to their effect and 
beauty. While symmetry and regularity of form are 
to be admired in a shrub, this quality should never be 
gained at the expense of health and natural grace. 
Each shrub has peculiarities of habit and foliage, and 
we should aim to preserve them as far as possible. Judi- 
cious pruning to secure health and vigor is necessary, 
but trimming all kinds of shrubs into one form shows 
a lack of appreciation for natural beauty, to say the least. 
Weigelas, Duetzias, Forsythias, and Mock Orange flower 
on the wood of the preceding year's growth, hence the 
shrubs should not be pruned in winter or spring, but in 
■Tune, after they have finished flowering, when the old 
wood should be shortened or cut out, thus promoting 
the growth of the young wood, which Is to flower the 
following season. 
Spiraeas, Lilacs, Althaeas and Honeysuckles may be 
trimmed during the winter or early in spring, but the 
branches should only be reduced enough to keep them 
