Dwarfing Small Trees Into Shrubs 
Dwarfing Small Trees Into 
Shrubs 
BY E. P. POWELL 
T HERE is a growing interest in native shrubbery and the 
increased supply of stuff requires more space than the 
ordinary home builder can give. To obviate this difficulty 1 
suggest that you dwarf a large number of your trees into shrubs, 
and reduce your shrubs in size. Here, for instance, is the bass¬ 
wood, a tree that given its own will, grows to be fifty or sixty feet 
in height, and requires as much space as any one of our forest- 
makers. I have basswoods growing six to eight feet in height, and 
constituting most beautiful groups in my shrubbery. These 
should not be grown to a single stalk, but the whole tree cut down 
square to the ground, and allowed to grow up in suckers. The 
bark becomes a fine shade of red in the autumn, and is conspicuous 
all winter, even beside the red-barked dogwood. This dogwood 
also should be dwarfed in the same way, and allowed to spread 
over a considerable space. I have not been able to blossom the 
dwarfed basswood, but I think it could be brought to bloom by 
growing a single stalk and heading it in each year, leaving only 
about two feet of additional growth per annum. 
The catalpas will blossom admirably in the dwarf form. Cut 
off the top at any point you please—either to make a tree ten or 
twelve feet high and spreading , or six feet high and bushy, or cut 
close to the ground and allow a half dozen suckers to take the place 
of the tree. I could show you one of these trees standing about 
twelve feet high, and spreading about the same distance, and 
loaded with bloom for a period much longer than specwsa ever 
gives us. By the way, these Teas ’ catalpas have a very wide varia¬ 
tion in growth and in flower. Some of them run toward the dwarf 
parent, and others run toward spectosa, and grow almost as vigor¬ 
ously and tall. The foliage varies from deep purple to orange 
green or yellow, and the flowers vary in size and brilliancy. Some 
of mine bloom at least four weeks later than others. It is a re¬ 
markable creation and should have attracted a great deal more 
attention from American gardeners. My seedlings from the 
original stock of Mr. Teas, give me unceasing surprises and 
pleasure. I am planting them freely in Florida, as in New York, 
and they do about as well in one State as in the other. On the 
whole it is the best tree for dwarfing that I know. 
All of our rosacea plants bear dwarfing admirably. I he ideal 
can be found in old pastures where cows have browsed young apple 
trees, until they have made them bushes two to four feet high. 
You can find them nearly as flat as tables, but ready to blossom 
as if they were huge trees—provided you exclude the cattle. I 
have tried these dwarf trees in orchards, trimming them sharply, 
and have made first rate bearing trees, only always dwarf. 1 can¬ 
not get them to rise more than ten to fifteen feet, and in bearing 
they are very prolific. It is a good hint for us to concentrate the 
vitality of some of our trees, rather than let them spread it over so 
much space. The wild plum everybody knows, or ought to know, 
can be treated in the same way. In the wilds of Michigan I have 
seen the most beautiful arbors, possible to create, made by plum 
trees grown over with grape vines. Some of these do not stand 
more than three feet high, and others six or eight or ten. The 
blooming is perfect; and the bearing equally good, provided you 
fight the curculio. There is no rule about trimming these dwarfed 
trees, except to leave the last bud pointing in the direction that 
you wish the limb to grow. I his is a rule in all trimming, and it 
amounts about to this that you can control all growth with a good 
pocket knife in your hands, and brains. 
I have named a few of the more easily grown trees, but you 
can expeiiment successfully with the maples, and I have some 
young ash bushes that have dwarfed themselves in my berry gar¬ 
dens, or been dwarfed by the passing hoe, that are so beautiful 
(Continued on page 6, Advertising Section.) 
A CHARMING MANTEL IN THE STUDIO AND OFFICE 
A FOUR-POSTER IN THE BEDROOM IS ONE OF THESE 
WORKERS EARLIER PIECES 
great variety of treatment, each room being individual in regard 
both to color and arrangement. Perhaps this is secured easily 
because the same minds planned all of it, suiting their taste to 
the uses each room serves. 
All of this was not done at once, of course. The owners of this 
home are busy persons both, but one finds time for things which 
one greatly desires to do and has the skill to execute. A little 
delay by the way so it be not too prolonged helps rather than 
otherwise as making one sure that each thing attempted is the 
right thing and valuable in its place and the necessary “ next 
step.” A limited time for work makes this culling out im¬ 
portant. 
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