220 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Marcli 19, 18OT. 
glance at the practice of rosarians. They want, and must have, 
strong growths for producing grand blooms. They therefore prune 
closely, concentrating the root force on few buds. In no other 
way could they win prizes. Moreover, they do not prune till 
growths are freely pushing from the upper parts of the stems, 
because they desire the basal buds to remain dormant till the 
hoped for mild weather comes to permit of free unchecked growth 
from these buds on which they rely for the coveted blooms. 
When the pruning is long deferred, or rather not done till growth 
has advanced considerably, an escape of sap follows after the 
stems are cut back. This is occasionally so great as to cause some 
concern. But it soon ceases, the buds push, young shoots gain 
strength day by day through the roots having been incited into 
free action by the growths removed, and the grandest of blooms 
follow. There is never, so far as I have seen, a tenth part of the 
loss of sap through cutting back the long branches of recently 
planted fruit trees that occurs after pruning with at least equal 
severity established Roses, and it is not conceivable that the 
weakening can be greater where the escape of sap is infinitessimal 
in one case than where it is considerable in the other. So far 
from shortening the branches of trees after the buds commence 
swelling being weakening to newly planted trees it is strengthen¬ 
ing in its tendency, and it is the only practical means of restoring 
the lost balance of force between the mutilated parts of the tree 
within the ground and the parts above it that need to be corre¬ 
spondingly shortened. 
There may be trees that might, perhaps, not be profitably 
treated in that manner. Some may be so weak that they could 
not even if cut back produce anything but soft “ pipy ” growths, 
and if such trees could be kept alive unpruned and gently moving 
they would giin more root force, and grow all the stronger after 
being pruned another year ; and similar results may follow bad 
planting or roughly bundling the roots into ungenial soil. Possibly 
8 ho in vcy high and cold positions, where growth is naturally 
late, non-pruning the first season might be advantageous. I have 
not in view exceptionally bad trees, bad planting, or bad situations, 
but giod trees sold by good nurserymen, and fairly planted in 
soil reasonably prepared for their reception ; and under these 
conditions, which ought to generally prevail, I have found 
pruning after the buds start to answer weU, and planting too, when 
trees come to hand in good condition and are intelhgently dealt 
with by those who receive them. Two years ago some thousands 
of trees were planted on an estate during the latter half of March 
and first week in April ; not one out of a thousand that was cut 
back failed to make good growth, but a small proportion were 
left unpruned as an experiment, and half of these died during 
the summer, the remainder struggling for existence. But for 
the pruning which I advised the loss would have been the greatest 
I have ever seen through mismanagement. The trees were good, 
with young branches varying from 18 inches to 2 feet in length, 
and it was noticeable that the stronger the growths of those that 
were not cut back the more complete was the failure. The very 
strong unpruned trees died, those less strong lived, but only 
produced tufts of leaves towards the ends of the branches, and 
it was only the weakest of the non-pruned trees that pushed 
most of the buds and made an inch or two of growth. 
Those results are exactly what might be expected. The 
evaporating surface area of the long and strong branches would be 
four or five times greater than of the weak, and the roots in the 
former case could not maintain the supply ; but in the latter case, 
where the evaporation was so much less, they could, with a little 
sap force in reserve for inciting and sustaining growth. Trees, there¬ 
fore, with very weak branches may be more safely left unpruned 
the first season than the strong could, and the shortening of the 
branches of these in reducing evaporation from their surfaces has 
not only saved the lives of many trees, but resulted in satisfactory 
growth. Thus Mr. Raillem (page 211) may perceive that con¬ 
flicting opinions may be to a large extent reconcileable. I doubt 
very much if under the precise circumstances of any particular 
case “ J. W.” and “ G. B.” would materially differ in practice. 
With a full appreciation of the condition of the trees, root and 
branch, and of the soil and situation “ G. B.” would shorten many 
trees the same as “ J. W.,” w^ho would modify his practice in the 
case of others, and the present apparently wide divergence would 
be certain to narrow down considerably. 
Localities and seasons have an undoubtel influence on trees?. 
For instance, in the humid west the results of non-shortening long 
branches of tress after planting would not tell against their growth* 
so forcibly as in the arid east. In America, where the atmosplce 
is very dry, a fruit grower of great experience and repute says 
with the system of shortening the branches he can “guarantee the 
growth of 95 per cent, of his newly-planted trees ; but by leaving^ 
them unshortened he would not like to guarantee 10 per cent.” 
In respect to spring planting I repeat that, subject to the con¬ 
ditions previously mentioned, it may be done at this season of the- 
year with more certainty of success than in midwinter. I am- 
glad to have the support of Mr. Bunyard on this subject, for he saysv 
in a leaflet before me, “ Vegetation has received such a check that 
fruit trees may be planted in safety till the end of March. Mr.. 
Rivers says the same, and few persons can speak with greater 
authority. They are quite right, and those planted now, or every 
in April, and pruned, will be better established in the soil in the- 
autumn than trees that are then planted for making good growth- 
the following year. If by accident the roots and branches of 
trees arrive in a very dry state at this season, it is a good plan- 
to throw them into a pond “neck and crop,” and let themp 
remain there for twelve hours, and they will then grow, though- 
otherwise some might have died. 
I intended saying something more about “R. M.’s ” Pear 
trees, but the general subject has run away with me, and I must 
run away from his trees, or the Doctor will be after performing a 
surgical operation on these too lengthy notes.—J. Wright. 
HARDY FLOWER NOTES. 
The glory of the garden of which Mr. Edmunds spoke so* 
eloquently a short time ago has begun, and the lover of hardy 
flowers is beginning to enjoy the feast of beauty which spring pro¬ 
vides with such ungrudging hand. The Snowdrop, most chaste of all 
our flowers, in clumps in the borders, scattered amidst the grass, on 
here and there on the rockeries, adorns the garden, hanging hen 
head, as Mrs. Barbauld says :— 
“ Like pendent flakes of vegetating snow.” 
Much as some of the other species are to be admired, none of 
the strangers from other climes need ever seek to oust from its 
place in our affections our native Galanthus nivalis, endeared to- 
all of us by its beauty, its associations, and the atmosphere of poesy 
with which our bards have surrounded it. That gem of early 
flowers. Iris Bakeriana, has, however, anticipated the Snowdrop this 
season, blooming in the open as early as the 24th of January. It is 
now past, but the beautiful I. reticulata in variety has succeeded it, 
while the pretty, if not showy, I. persica is also in full flower. All 
these early Irises should be grown in quantity, and no one could 
desire anything finer than a mass of I. Bakeriana or reticulata. A., 
worthy companion to these is I. Danfordige, known also as I. Borrr- 
miilleri, and there might be also added I. Histrio, known also as. 
I. reticulata histrioides. 
Several of the Hepaticas are now in flower, and in early spring, 
there are few flowers more brilliant than these if allowed to form, 
large masses in the garden. It takes a long time, however, for a 
single plant to grow into respectable dimensions, and where it can be 
afforded it is better to purchase clumps. What can be brighter 
or more pleasing than clumps of the single blue, of the double red, 
or of the fine large angulosa ? These “ noble Liverworts ” of the 
old writers are still far too scarce. The double blue never seems 
to become plentiful, although by chance one lights upon a gardeir 
where a clump is to be found and where it does well. From one 
of these places I obtained my few plants, which are doing well, 
and which in time will, I trust, form good specimens. The double 
white has been the quest of many, and although there seems no 
reason why it should not exist I do not believe that such a flower 
