Pruning Points for Poor Pruners 
.\nxe T. Stewaet, Short Hills Garden Cluh 
Why do not amateurs prune their own shrubs? The answer comes 
promptly, we're afraid. Don't fear, if you make a mistake, Nature 
will rectify it in no time. Much pleasure may be obtained at the 
expense of little work; you care for your shrubs twice a year and there 
is your garden. Prune in February; prune in June. 
In February cut out. When a shrub is leafless you can see its 
skeleton. Cut out all dead wood at the ground ; cut out all old wood 
at the ground, or where there is an especially vigorous shoot a short 
way up, cut the old wood just above that shoot. Cut out lateral 
branches where they cross toward the center. Cut off nothing. 
In June cut off. The shrubs that flowered on last year's wood are 
crying for help; as much \dtality is needed to produce a seed as a flower; 
you don't need the seeds, why exhaust your shrubs? Just below the 
bloom on each branch new shoots appear; cut off the spray that has 
bloomed just above one or the other of these shoots, as you want your 
shrub tall or short, leaving preferably the one pointing out. The 
shrubs will look scraggly for a few weeks, but after that they wdll 
smile their gratitude. 
A hedge of lilac, the old but satisfying Syringa Vulgaris, was the 
despair of its owner, all legs below, all bloom out of reach. In June 
the hedge was cut literally in two, legs remaining. Nature flew to the 
rescue, stout shoots appearing ever^'where. The next Spring no 
•bloom; the succeeding Spring — fear not. 
Contest 
The plan of a typical house lot in our rural districts has been 
submitted by the Farm Journal, Washington Square, Philadelphia. 
This magazine receives constant requests for planting plans and 
suggestions for just such places and has asked that the Garden Cltjb 
to help it to help its readers. To quote from the letter of Mr. Charles P. 
Shoffner, Associate Editor, "We know w^hat this Club can do if the 
subject can be properly presented before the people. You will have 
the consolation of knowing that at least three million of Our Folks 
will see the plans for a front garden. I am taking the average frontage, 
which seems to be about 90 feet, and the majority of houses in rural 
districts, and in our country homes are set back 50 feet. Very few 
houses have enough of the evergreens and we would like some of these 
mentioned, together with the native shrubs, etc." 
