136 
ON PRUNING AND TRAINING. 
In a paper, headed as above, a year ago, we directed attention to what might be 
effected by pruning and training, if those operations were rightly done, so as to 
develope what they are capable of accomplishing. We now cursorily return to the 
subject, and desire to fix the attention of our readers, by instancing a genus or two 
of shrubs, or trees, which are so eminently benefited by judicious and well directed 
pruning and training. 
That the spring and summer, or the growing season, is the most suitable, as well 
as most pleasant time, for the purpose, there can be no dispute. Amateurs, and 
persons whose acquaintance with the strength and enduring nature of the growing 
principle of plants, during spring and summer, is limited, may form a good idea on 
the subject, by cutting in, severely, any woody plant, and rubbing off all the new 
shoots as they are produced ; the pertinacity with which fresh ones will continue to 
be put forth, until late in the autumn, is a convincing proof that the force which 
induces them to continue so repeatedly springing is no small one, and that force is, 
in a great measure, subject to the pruner and trainer. 
Greenhouse Azaleas, probably of all plants, if properly treated in other respects, 
exhibit the gratifying effects of tasteful and good training. In the case of plants 
cultivated in pots or tubs, when success has attended the endeavours to produce 
specimens of good shape, its invaluable aid is strikingly conspicuous ; and not less 
evident is the neglect of training in these kinds of plants. 
Azaleas are not very easily trained to any form we may wish them to take, but 
constant and persevering endeavours will accomplish very much. The plants should 
be commenced with whilst young, and if attended to regularly, until the foundation 
of the desired shape is satisfactorily established, the after-training becomes easy and 
natural. Stopping, or pinching off the ends of the growing shoots, and disposing 
and securing the main ones, which must often be done with a sacrifice of the flowers, 
are amongst the principal points in training and pruning greenhouse Azaleas. 
Tender Rhododendrons are less difficult to manage ; their beauties, however, are 
wonderfully enhanced by an uniform disposal of their branches whilst young, and 
the effects of such treatment is very apparent, especially in the fine kinds, when 
grown to a large size. 
What has been said of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, which require the shelter of 
the greenhouse, and are generally confined to pots or tubs, is quite applicable, as 
far as training is concerned, to the hardy species, especially to those of the former. 
The members of that genus are frequently planted in some of the most conspicuous 
parts of the pleasure ground and garden, either in groups or as single specimens ; 
but they are often sadly deficient, as individual plants, of anything like an agreeable 
shape. This is a matter of regret, because a clump of hardy Azaleas, of different 
