HORTICULTUKAL JOURNAL. 227 
what few side branches the stump had made would be entirely destroyed, 
and nothing would remain but a dense mass of erect, strong-growing shoots. 
On the other hand, cutting oif the shoots of trees immediately after they 
have put forth in the spring, so weakens them, that in a few years the trees 
would die outright. 
It is obvious, that to make a good live fence out of trees — that is, to make 
them become good shrubs, with an uniform growth both at the sides and at 
the top — some discrimination is necessary in the matter of pruning. The 
strong growing central shoots only should, be cut oif in summer, and this, 
too, before it had completed its season's growth ; the sides should be 
encouraged to make the strongest growth possible ; which is to be attained 
by pruning in the winter, and in the winter only. 
If these principles were duly recognized, live hedges would cost but half 
the expense they now do ; because, though they would have to be gone over 
twice a year, they would in fact receive but one complete pruning. 
I conceive that in offering these remarks in your journal", I shall be ren- 
dering a service to agriculture, by bringing the subject before the thinking 
portion of the community, from whom the most substantial knowledge is 
dispensed to our much abused tillers of the soil. 
A Farmer's Friend. 
For the Florist. 
NAMES WITHOUT MERIT. 
"Who shall go about 
To cozen fortune, and be honorable 
Without the stamp of merit ! Let none presume 
To wear an undeserred dignity. 
There is certainly much gratification afforded to the lover of Natural 
Science to behold objects new and rare. In the hot house or nursery, are 
generally seen the beautiful products of other climes, that otherwise never 
might have met our view ; most of them worthy of all the care and expense 
bestowed upon them. But there is a mania so pi-^valent for something new, 
or far-fetched, that it is often made ridiculously manifest, and plants sought 
after with avidity, that have no more claim upon our admiration, than some 
of the most common weeds. 
It is often with a certain class of amateur gardeners as with poulterers : 
