Evening star., 1928-04-23

Massachusetts Agricultural College,
knows that the people are often right
In their preferences. You have heard
what he has TO say about the lilac. or
the spireas he states
Here we have one of the most popu-
lar groups Of shrubs In the whole cata =
log. In fact there are streets where
the Van Houtte spirea Is so popular as
to seem decidedly common. But the
favor In which the Van Houtte and the
other spireas are held is altogether de-
served" OF the variety mentioned he
says specifically THE greatest favor
ite of ALL hardy, strong, free-groWing
will withstand drouth and cold and
always. come up laughing with a big
crop OF white flowers in thickly crowd
ing umbels One OF the best shrubs
ever introduced to the public"
So the next time some gardener with
'up-stage" tendencies tries to sneer at
your Van Houtte spirea tell him what
one of the real experts has to say
about 1t.
Prof Waugh indicates that foimda =
tion paintings around house should
be mainly hardy shrubs, not evergreens.
He. too, has his dislikes however THE
too popular hydrangea, for example. is
quite too coarse and too vociferous for
planting about quiet domestic private
house." he believes 1T would be more
fitting In geological garden" While
one may make such paintings as one
pleaSes, Prof. Waugh Says-and most
readers will agree with him, even II he
docs trample on the toes OF their favor
ite hydrangea~-that matters of taste
should be settled by persons of taste"
We give Prof Waugh's ideas on
pruning, as they are entirely different
from any we have heard hitherto: lone
general rule may be offered. observation
Of which would go far toward making a
revolutionary improvement in the prun.
| ing of Shrubbery This is to prtne al
the bottom, not at the top.
ANY young. vigorous healthy shrut
keeps throwing up new shoots from the
base, But II each stool Is left alone
year after year without thinning, tho
time soon comes when there is no more
room for young sprouts, and since the
entire stool Is shaded and choked BY
the old stems young growth ceases. IL
on the other hand. the Oldest stems ar,
cut out bodily from time 10 time. the'l
places will be quickly filled by young
| fresh shoots In this way the entir,
plant can be constantly renewed. Thu
I WitpIt ub tFttHuiN UlutilItIiSIN NOuIlk
clean and thrifty, whereas by the com
| mon method of pruning at the top tht
shrub soon becomes old decrepit
| 'leggy' and unattractive. with a maxi
mum OF old gnarled wood bearing 1
minimum of flowers and foliage
AT each annual pruning. therefore
one should remove the oldest stems
/ and these should be cut out clean dowr
! TO the level of the ground. or as nearly
! 10 that point as possible From one.
! NTH to one-third OF the entire shrut
! should usually be taken out each year.
The customary style of pruning
consisting in shipping off the tips o.
all branches, making each shrub lool
/ like boys hair cut pompadouT, is bac
! horticulture and bad landscape gar
dening. II should be practiced only or
formal shrubs like the evergreen boxe:
and bays. which in ancient times were
employed in the establishment of beel
gardens.
1T will be readily understood that
the system OF pruning here recommend
ed will produce lower smaller bushes
number OF shrubs will be necessary
therefore. 10 cover any given space
completely
Prof Waugh. while listing Symphori.
carpos recemosus, the common snow
berry. does not include calycanthu.
fioridus the sweet shrub" dear tC
memory. Maybe IL is a bit coarse. but
those of us who put its flowers in ouI
childish handkerchiefS will regret lis
absence from this very good little book