The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-12
Cutting Back Trees-VarlOus
Shrubs.

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has the
following Garden Notes III the tar
dener's Monthly for May:
The French habit of trimming and
cuttinr back trees IN parks and gardens
i ia he avoided. But there are many
Q fects 10 be attained by the knife, winch
daserve consideration. The catalpa is
not a comely tree until 1t Is quite Old;
then, as one may see IN frlncttoh, =
] It i as fine as an old h~orsechestiut.
But bv cutting it back every year TO the
ground. il sends up a multitude OF
stems bearing immense leaves OF a
bight green. which give a very striking
effect.
The American balsam tr is, when
youne one Of the most charming OF
eyersreens. but with age II becomes
bare-legged and scragey, and can be
made emly only bel G at the ba x OF
plantations. But, when the tree has
reached twelve or fifteen feet IN height,
# its ton be excised, the side branches
will out and give a pleasing effect.
The Acer tartarlcuni, or IartarIan
maple, does not produce a good effect
in our climate if allowed TO have Its
own way. But by reducing It to a
bush. by annual severe pruning, the
vouno shoots viii be brilliant with
leaves and color.
The Salix lucida Is almost worthless
as a tree but If cut back every year
and never allowed to grow more than
twelve feet IN height. it furnishes one
of the most satisfactory shrubs that can
be planted near the house. The leaves
will be large, fresh and brilliant.
Let me commend the Ligustrum ia
ponicum, or Japan prlvet, to all lovers
of fine shrubs. Its leat-beauty is en-
nentlv satisfying, and 1t should supplant
the OmmOn prlNet.
| am glad to see IN your January
number an article upon the RetInis-
poras. They are the very evergreens
required in small grounds, door-yards
and in cemeteries. [ have had every
kind mentioned in European catalogues,
and have found them perfectly hardy
without protection at Peekskill. which
IS forty miles north Of New York City.
Il. squarrosa is apt to be a little cut by
the winter, but by slight clipping III
it soon reeains It's soft and misty
appearance. i. obtusa and Il. pisitera,
should be planted with room enough, as
become fine trees. They are rapid
growers and hardy. X. obtusa is a kind
Of substitute for Lawson's cypress,
which will not endure our w nters.
The R. lycopodioldes is all that your
correspondent says but in some re-
spects the X. leptoclada IS more curl
It's branches are like narrow tronds Of
porr I4o r1in. ,-aJIl l
green, and it is utterly unlike any other
By the name r.. f!ifcra | have a spe-
lies. 1t should be in every collection.
is branches are thread-like, and fall
,yer gracefully, with fountain-like eff
ect. There is a dwarf kind, r. fiji {
ormis, which yields a beautiful mat. {
md might be employed as an edging. |
| have long ago abandoned box as an ]
1t viii not endure our winters t
gaps. | have fallen in love '
With arborvita Tom Thumb as a plant a
or borders 1t Is hardy, dwarf, bears v
dipping We'll, is beautiful in winter. and q
not IN too rich u soil, keep its fine
Ollaee without apostatizino to the
species. t
commend to all lovers of the Bel I
IAN or Ghent a~zaleas, the A. mollis.
t Is a great acquisition to the month of
lay, or even June. 1t blooms before
he common Client a%zalea, is twice its
re OF blossom, has considerable range
| color, and every year adds new
hades. With me it has proved hardy
the past three or four years, and IS
great tavorite. | marvel that so few
eople know anything about the hardy
ard.y azaieaS. They are the gI,ry Of
u Not SO gorgeous as the rhodo-
eldron, they are more hardy, easier ia
lanage, and il they We're only ever
'een, would run a race with their great
'others,, with a fair chance Of coming
If pruoi