170 
the AMERICAN 
garden- 
[Sim 
I 
; 
PBUNIU& LAW AMD FOBEST TBBES. 
TIME TO PRUUE. 
This is a subject which has been fte- 
quently discussed among arboricultui sts 
and all who cultivate trees of any land, out 
all will agree that it should never be done at 
a time when the sap will flow from the 
wound, as this not only causes a loss to the 
tree, but the slowly oozing sap has a corro- 
sive action on both the exposed wound and 
surrounding bark, often hastening decay. 
This is especially true with trees like the 
Maple, Butternut, and Birch, which bleed 
(as it is termed) if wounded at any time 
during the latter part of winter or early 
spring. The oozing sap also attracts certain 
■insects, especially those that infest dying oi 
dead wood. 
In my own experience I have never found 
any better time to prune than in summer, 
as soon as the trees are in full leaf, and 
have commenced to make a new growth. 
The wounds made at this time will com¬ 
mence to heal over immediately, and, when 
small branches are removed on rapidly 
growing trees, the wounds wiU usually be 
entirely covered with new wood b}’ the end 
of the season; and where larger branches are 
cut off, the exposed wood will become well 
seasoned, and so hardened during the warm 
weather that it will seldom commence to 
decay before it is entirely overgrown. 
The next best season is in the fall, after 
the wood is ripe; for in cool climates the 
exposed wood will become dry and hardened 
before the sap commences to flow in spring. 
PRUXIXG EVERGREENS. 
The Conifers and other evergreens will 
submit to the knife and pruning saw as well 
as deciduous trees, and when raised for tim¬ 
ber will need pruning as often and in about 
the same manner. When raised for orna¬ 
mental purposes, the pruning will be mainly 
for the purpose of giving them the required 
form, although thinning out and shortening 
the branches at the time of transplanting is 
as beneficial as it is with deciduous trees; 
but it is not so generally practiced. Ever¬ 
greens may be headed back or trimmed up, 
in order to make them grow tall and slender 
or broad and stocky. 
With the natural conical-shaped ever¬ 
greens, like the Spruces or Balsams, many 
persons dislike to cut the leading shoots, for 
fear of destroying the natural symmeti’y of 
the tree; and while it m.ay have this elTect 
for a short time, a new leader is certain to 
come in and take the place of the one re¬ 
moved, but during the time intervening, the 
lateral branches will spread out more vigor¬ 
ously, giving to the tree a more stocky ap¬ 
pearance. 
In pruning the coarser-growing Pinos, a 
little more care is required than with Arbor- 
vitaj. Spruces, and other closely allied trees, 
for the reason that buds aro not usually pro¬ 
duced on the internodes between the noflos 
and joints; and when a loading shoot, either 
the terminal one on the main stem or 
branches, is removed, it should be cut out 
.close down to the junction of the next tier of 
branches below, leaving no barren stump to 
die and decay. A glance at a Pine-tree will 
pe enough for even^ “^Hn 
compact and Stock^^ 
such a change is desned. 
implements esep IK pbunikg. ^ 
The common pruning-linilj is the besU^^ 
plement for fine-tooth saw 
romoving large J an ax. If 
shouldbe used in P f ,vill 
the wounds made aie so la g 
not soon be covered „,int, or 
well to apply some ’^'“^^d^vater and 
St. »•'».X 
itaXd^^irmSed grafting-wnx^ 
considerable surface to be covered, " 
any good mineral paint mi.xed with linseed 
oil’will answer every pm-pose.-J^row A. S. 
Puller’s Practical Forestry. 
ADTUMM PLANTING. 
If due regard be paid to the nature and 
requirements of trees and shrubs, says Don¬ 
ald McDonald, in The Practical Gardener, it 
will be readily seen that the autumn or fall of 
the year, when all deciduous kinds have shed 
their leaves, is the most appropriate period 
for transplanting; while evergreens will suc¬ 
ceed better if moved earlier, in order that 
the warmer soil may assist the roots to be¬ 
come more quickly established in their new 
abode, and thus sustain a little renewed 
vigor before the severity of winter is felt. 
The benefit of this will be seen in the fol¬ 
lowing spring, as soon as that season allows 
of an active growth to dev'elop. 
To insure the best results, it is necessary 
that the ground should have been previously 
well drained,— a very important feature in 
shrubberies particularly,— as a ivet position 
or sodden soil will destroy the healthiest 
specimens. 
. Taste and ai-rangement are features that 
should be actively displayed, as, without 
them, very little precision and judgment can 
be employed, and an unsightly appearance 
will be the result. 
Discretion must be used both in taking 
up the trees and in planting them. When a 
tree is taken out of the gi-ound for trans- 
planting, it is certain tliat its roots aro more 
I or loss temporarily injured; care must, 
I therefore, bo exorcised, that alt jagged and 
injured portions be neatly cut oil, and that 
the hole is sumciontly large to admit the 
roots without further injury, such as cramp¬ 
ing and twisting. In the case of shrubs 
balls of earth should bo secured, if jiossible 
and the fibrous rootlets will soon push their 
way in the new soil; but with many kinds of 
trees that possess roots not so compact, a 
capital method of keeping them in as nai,u- 
ral a position as possible, is to lightly scat- 
move unsightly than a newly planted t 
lying over in a slanting position. ^ 
stem is weak, a stake should he used -1 
largev trees can be secured by attach; 
stout wires to their heads, and securing th''* 
to pegs firmly di-iven into the gi-oundafe 
feet from the stem. Three or four of th ^ 
wires will keep a large tree firm and 7 ° 
right; hut hay or other bandages mustT 
used to prevent the wires from injuring a* 
bark. This also applies to trees that at** 
planted in positions much exposed to th* 
wind. The stake should always he placed 
at the back of the tree. Do not allow the 
branches of one tree or shrub to touch those 
of its neighbor. On no account leave a 
mound of earth round the stem, as it not 
only gives an unfinished appearance, but is 
detrimental to tho health of the tree; it 
assists to harbor vermin of all kinds, and 
prevents the rain from entering the soil. 
To relievo any excessive bareness that 
may for the time exist between the trees 
and shrubs, Lilies, Dahlias, or Hollyhocks, 
if plentifully introduced, will be found use¬ 
ful, as the leaves of newly planted shrubs 
are seldom brought to perfection during the 
first year. 
A note of importance that cannot tail to 
be of value to the amatem- planter is the 
process generally adopted, after planting, of 
deluging the roots with a copious supply of 
water, especially if the gi-ouud is dry. This 
is particularly essential in the case of large 
evergreens. Mulching of the soil is also 
useful for retaining moisture, and syringing 
frequently prevents any serious drooping of 
the foliage. 
tor a fow spadcfnls of oartli 
I'om tho stoin 
outward boforo tho romain.lor of thosoiris 
thrown in and tramiilod down 
In Ifianting a cl ump or bod, tall and strong- 
growing kinds should always ho ..l,, • 
the background or contoi..:fs\l:;!i^^^^^ 
roquiro Avoid planting too thickly 01 Z 
deep; both faults froquontly occiirrim, • 
the amatour’s garden. Always 11000^11”' 
TBEE-PLANTING SOCIETIES. 
Tlie city of Brooklyn has an association 
that oiiglit to be encouraged, the “Tree- 
plautiiig and Fountain Society.” Its object 
is to promote the planting of trees and the 
erection of drinking-fountains. Lectures 
are to be given on the subject of tree-plant¬ 
ing, and to instruct the people as to the 
dangers that are incurred in permitting the 
forests of tho state to be recklessly despoiled. 
Tlio chief object of the society, however, is 
to beautify tlie city of Brookljm by increasing 
its foliage. That is a worthy purpose. 
luul 
one that can bo advantageously carried out 
ill a city of homes like Brooklyn. 
Tlio absoiico of all foliage from tho streets 
of largo cities is a groat drawback to them in 
siiinmor. Of course, in narrow streets tiee> 
aro not desirable ; but in the uddo iiveiua* 
of tlio iiowor parts of cities, which are chin ) 
occupied for residciicos, nothing imparts s 
much character of roliuoinont and ropoiO as 
gi-accful foliage of well-grown trees. 
OEB PABKS AS EDUOATORS. 
Few pooiilo ciiii roalizo, said Coulral Par ’ 
tlommissionor Ooii. Violo, that tho pn 
parks aro groat odueiitioual 
'L'lioy elevate and rollno the people- 
alloct not merely their bodies, bn*' 
minds and hoiirts as well. Take away 
pnblie parks, and Now-York would 
nniiihabitable. Take llioiu 
should have a riot hero in a very short •’ 
They are tho cheapest moral 
the city, for they save millions of 
which would othoi'wiso bo spent in 011 
oourts and ponal institutions. 
