136 
! 
ON PRUNING AND TRAINING. 
In a paper, headed as above, a year ago, we directed attention to what might \ 
effected by pruning and training, if those operations were rightly done, so as ? 
develope what they are capable of accomplishing. We now cursorily return to t| 
subject, and desire to fix the attention of our readers, by instancing a genus or 
of shrubs, or trees, which are so eminently benefited by judicious and well direct 
pruning and training. 
That the spring and summer, or the growing season, is the most suitable, as w< 
as most pleasant time, for the purpose, there can be no dispute. Amateurs, a r 
persons whose acquaintance with the strength and enduring nature of the growil 
principle of plants, during spring and summer, is limited, may form a good idea < 
the subject, by cutting in, severely, any woody plant, and rubbing off all the ne 
shoots as they are produced ; the pertinacity with which fresh ones will continue 
be put forth, until late in the autumn, is a convincing proof that the force whit 
induces them to continue so repeatedly springing is no small one, and that force i 
in a great measure, subject to the pruner and trainer. 
Greenhouse Azaleas, probably of all plants, if properly treated in other respect! 
exhibit the gratifying effects of tasteful and good training. In the case of plan 
cultivated in pots or tubs, when success has attended the endeavours to prodm 
specimens of good shape, its invaluable aid is strikingly conspicuous ; and not le 
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, bi 
constant and persevering endeavours will accomplish very much. The plants shoul 
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 an 
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 floweri 
are amongst the principal points in training and pruning greenhouse Azaleas. 
Tender Rhododendrons are less difficult to manage ; their beauties, however, ar 
wonderfully enhanced by an uniform disposal of their branches whilst young, an 
the effects of such treatment is very apparent, especially in the fine kinds, whe: 
grown to a large size. 
What has been said of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, which require the shelter o 
the greenhouse, and are generally confined to pots or tubs, is quite applicable, a 
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 conspicuou 
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 agreeabl 
shape. This is a matter of regret, because a clump of hardy Azaleas, of differen 
