GARDEN PRACTICE. 
53 
the trunk, pare off the edges of the wound neatly with a 
knife and then paint with Stockholm tar. Evergreen trees 
and shrubs should be pruned, where necessary, in April. 
At that time overgrown Rhododendrons, Laurels, etc., 
may be severely cut back to encourage a bushy habit. 
Evergreen hedges, too, are best pruned or trimmed at the 
same time and again in summer if desirable. Deciduous 
hedges are best trimmed in summer. If they require 
shortening do it in winter. Climbers require pruning at 
the special periods mentioned in connection with each 
genus. For information about roses see notes in the 
paragraph on Roses further on. 
Watering. — In the case of border plants it is a most 
unwise thing to give daily sprinklings overhead with can 
or hose. If a border has been properly trenched before 
planting, the roots will descend deeply and get sufficient 
moisture below. It is only in shallow worked soils that 
plants really require artificial watering. In this case fork 
up the soil around each plant that needs water, and then 
apply four or five gallons of water around the base of the 
plant. After watering add a mulch of rotten manure or 
lawn grass, and the plant will have all the moisture it 
needs. Surface sprinklings merely refresh the plant for 
a short period and encourage roots to form near the sur- 
face to be broiled or killed by the sun. Plants in beds 
should also be given a thorough watering at intervals, 
first hoeing or raking the soil over. Those newly planted 
out may be given a sprinkle every evening till established. 
Plants newly placed in borders in hot weather should have 
a large inverted flower pot placed over them as a protec- 
tion from hot sun till they get established. In watering 
lawns, again, people make a serious mistake in sprinkling 
the grass every evening. The slight moisture brings roots 
to the surface to be killed by the sun, and hence brown 
patches are the inevitable result. When lawns need 
moisture, do a portion only each night, and do this well, 
then the lower roots will not suffer from drought. In no 
case water lawns, or beds, or borders whilst the sun is 
shining. The moist surface gets heated by the sun, the 
surface roots are destroyed, and most of the water is 
