GENERAL CATALOGUE 
25 
remarks are applicable to all deciduous Trees and Shrubs. Evergreens seldom require pruning, but Arbor 
Vitae and other Evergreens planted in hedge rows may be advantageously shorn immediately after 
planting. 
Directions for planting, mulching, staking, and after culture, same as for fruit trees (see Hints 
in Fruit Department, page 4). 
PRUNING 
Pruning, as practiced by some people, has the effect to render trees and shrubs unnatural and inele¬ 
gant. We refer to the custom of shearing trees, particularly conifers, into cones, pyramids, and other un¬ 
natural shapes. Every tree, shrub, and plant has a habit of growth peculiar to itself, and this very 
peculiarity is one of its beauties. If we prune all trees into regular shapes we destroy their identity. 
The pruning knife, therefore, should be used to assist nature, and handled with judgment and care; to lop 
off straggling branches, to thin the head of a tree which has become too dense, and to remove dead wood. 
Sometimes it becomes necessary to prune severely to keep a tree from attaining too great size. 
SHEARING may be practiced on hedges, but never on trees or shrubs. 
PRUNING SHRUBS 
Many persons trim and shear them into regular shapes, imagining that regular outline adds to their 
effect and beauty. While symmetry and regularity of form are to be admired in a shrub, this quality 
should never be gained at the expense of health and natural grace. 
Each shrub has peculiarities of habit and foliage, and we should aim to preserve them as far as pos¬ 
sible. Judicious pruning to secure health and vigor is necessary, but trimming all kinds of shrubs into 
one form shows a lack of appreciation for natural beauty, to say the least. Weigelas, Deutzias, Forsy- 
thias, and Mock Orange flower on the wood of the preceding year’s growth, hence the shrubs should not 
be pruned in Winter or Spring, but in June, after they have finished flowering, when the old wood should 
be shortened or cut out, thus promoting the growth of the young wood, which is to flower the following 
season. 
Spiraeas, Lilacs, Althaeas, and Honeysuckles may be trimmed during the Winter or early in Spring, 
but the branches should only be reduced enough to keep them in good shape. The old growth should be 
occasionally thinned out and the suckers and root sprouts removed when they appear. The best time, 
however, for pruning all shrubs is when they have done flowering. The Hydrangea paniculata grandi- 
flora should be severely cut back and thinned early in Spring. 
PRUNING EVERGREENS 
Use the knife occasionally to thicken the growth and preserve the shape. This can be done in April 
or May, just before the trees start to grow. 
JL 
ORNAMENTAL TREES 
IN FOUR CLASSES 
CLASS I. — A general Descriptive List of Deciduous Trees. 
CLASS II. — A List of Deciduous Weeping or Drooping Trees, described in their respective places in the 
Catalogue. 
CLASS III. — A List of trees possessing remarkable characteristics of foliage, in three sections — Cut¬ 
leaved, Variegated, and Colored, and described in their respective places in the Catalogue. 
CLASS IV. — Coniferae or Evergreens. 
In order that planters may be able to form an idea of the size which trees and shrubs attain at 
maturity, a point which should always be taken into consideration at the time of planting, so that 
the specimens may occupy the proper position, we have adapted letters to denote the proper classes, as 
follows: 
A denotes trees which attain the largest size, 50 feet and upwards. 
B “ “ “ “ “ secondary size, 20 to 40 feet. 
C “ “ “ “ “ medium size, 0 to 15 feet. 
D “ “ and shrubs which attain only small size, 1 to 8 feet. 
Our object in the above classification is to lessen the labor and difficulty, as far as possible, of making 
selections adapted to particular purposes. 
The botanical name of the genus or family, as well as the species or variety, is placed first in Full 
Faced conspicuous type. The English name follows in small capitals. It is to be hoped that with the 
aid of the complete index of botanical and English names, to be found on the last page, no difficulty will 
be experienced in finding any tree, shrub, or plant described in the Catalogue. 
