Year: 1879



 While the scientific gardeners and orchardists are usually doing more or less pruning at all seasons and are con- stantly clipping off shoot here and a larger branch there, or breaking the bud out of some twig to prevent it going astray, the novice in such matters seems to be fearful of losing something of value if he cuts a tree or shrub in any part Then we have men aspiring to be teach. CTS in the horticultural art, who inveigh against any kind of pruning and tell us that it is not a natural operation, and the less done of it the better. as though there was no such thing as improving upon natural methods of raising trees and shrubs, or of rearing animals to meet the wants or fancies of men. But culti- vated plants are placed under unnatural conditions, and to bring them to our ideas of perfection requires the applica- tion of unnatural processes, among which pruning is one ofIthe most important and useful.

 PRUNING TO INvIGoRATE.-It may seem rather singular operation to cut away one-third or one-half of a | tree in order to increase it's size and stimulate it to make vigorous growth; but long experience has taught the gar dener and orchardist that severe pruning is one of the most certain and effective | invigorators to apply to old, stmted trees and shrubs. Old fruit trees, or even young ones that have become stunted by over bearing or neglect, may often be started into a vigorous and healthy growth by merely shortening all the branches to one-half of their original length, or when there are so many branches that they crowd each other, a portion should be removed entire, and the remainder shortened to a proper 1 length. Of course, cultivation and manuring should not be neglected, but in many instances these will not produce the desired effect unless they are accom- panied by severe pruning. Vigorous growth in fruit trees will result in large and handsome fruit; for while a stunted tree may put on a promising show for fruit in its abundance of bloom in spring, 1t may fall short long before the harvest; and even if it should carry goodly num- Der of blossoms through to the ripening season, the fruit will be invariably small and inferior. Better d little and perfect fruit, than an abundance that Is small and worthless.

 To lay down any specific rules for pruning is impossible, as each individ- ual tree or shrub may require different treatment. Some may need trimming up, others heading back; instances win also occur where one tree needs thinning out of branches, and the very next one 1 O creasing the number, or thickening up of the head. These operations may be en- ployed not only to invigorate, but also to give the required form to the tree, and they are as important as good food, shel ter and care to the domesticated animal

 PRUNING ORNAMENTAL PLANTS Among ornamental plants there is as much need of pruning as among the more useful. If the pines, spruces. and other large growing evergreens are permitted to grow unpruned, they will usually shoot up too tall and slender, and their leading shoots should, therefore, be cut out every few years while young, in order to give them 8 wide spread of lower branches. and the latter should also be shortened to make them more compact, if the tree is inclined 70 be of a loose and open habit. Old-time garden CTS and nurserymen were very chary of breaking or cutting off the leading shoots of evergreens, especially those of the pines and spruces, fearing that the loss of the leader would permanently i'm . jure the form and symmetry of the tree; but our best cultivators of such plants in these days purposely cut out the lead- CTS of all the rapid-growing sorts to i'm prove the form and enchance their value for ornamental purposes. If the trees are to be raised for timber, straigh tall stem would be of more value than any humber of handsome branches, and beauty might be well sacrificed to use lulhess. In raisiqg deciduous trees, a man can readily chanso the form to suit ms taste, and produce almost any style he fancies; and if the pruning is done at the proper season, there is no reason for believing, as some persons assert, that it induces early decay, or shortens the liEs of trees or other plants.

 There are many ornamental shrubs which are much improved by severe pruning, especially by thinning ort .he stems of those that grow in lsr ge thick clunlps. and shortening those winch pro duce their flowers on the young growth of the season Roses of the class called monthly, and also the hardy perpetuals, should have all their main shoots cut back at least one-half early in spring, as the flowers are produced on the new | growth of the season, and the stronger and more vigorous the shoots, the larger and more perfect the blooms. There is too much dependence upon what is called nature in the management of both plants and animals, which is buta handy excuse for far too wide and general neglect of both.-Ne,O Fork Sun.

 | Carving Meat.

 An exchange gives this hint: We have often been annoyed, in cutting up a roast of beef on the dinner table, by the difficulty of holding it in fixed position on the smooth, oval plate, while attempt ing to slice the meat down in hand some manner. Sometimes we have thought that corrugated dishes would hold tie meat better and prevent its sliding about. But more recently we have found much better remedy, by the use of two carving forks set some dis tance apart in the roast, but with the handles brought together and held in one hand The ease with which the carving is now effected is really surprising. Freshly cooked and flexible beef is sliced down with entire control and accuracy, and as thin as pasteboard if he desire it. Nothing is easier than to try this method, and one trial will satisfy any one. Ii is | not nafantad