AKEBIA.--"_Akebia quinata_ has flowered here, on an east wall, profusely for the last seventeen years, under the following pruning treatment: Cover the s.p.a.ce allotted with the strongest shoots, and when new growth pushes from the eyes or spurs in the spring, do not regulate it, but summer-prune away all superfluous growth before it gets entangled. It is from 'spurs' that the flowers are produced, and the more these are kept clear, the more matured they become, and flower correspondingly."--E. M.

in _The Garden_.

AMELANCHIER.--These should be pruned after the flowers are past, the removal of badly-placed and weakly shoots being all that is required. If the plants are becoming too large, they can be shortened back at the same time.

AMORPHA.--If flowers are desired of _A. fruticosa_ it should be kept thinned out, and not be cut back; but the flowers are not showy, and it is usually kept cut down every winter for the sake of its foliage. _A.

canescens_ should be cut down each spring to within two or three eyes of the old wood, as it flowers best on the young growth.

ANDROMEDA.--The only recognised species of this genus is _A. polifolia_, which requires no pruning.

ARALIA.--These should be kept to a single stem until they have attained a height of 6 to 8 feet, after which they may be allowed to branch, or be still kept to a single stem, as may be desired.

ARBUTUS.--An evergreen genus which requires no pruning.

ARISTOLOCHIA.--A genus of climbers which succeed best if the shoots are not allowed to become too thick. The weakest should be cut away in winter.

ARTEMISIA.--This genus is best known by its common representative, the Southernwood, but this and the other Artemisias should be cut down annually in a young state. When older, an occasional thinning out of the shoots in winter is sufficient.

BACCHARIS.--Of this, _B. halimifolia_ flowers on the young wood and should be cut back annually, while _B. patagonica_ should not be pruned at all.

BERBERIS.--Properly the Berberis requires no pruning, but the stronger-growing species, such as _B. aristata_, _B. Lycium_, _B.

virescens_, _B. vulgaris_, &c., require an occasional thinning to keep them within bounds.

BERCHEMIA.--A climbing genus which requires no pruning.

BRUCKENTHALIA.--A dwarf-growing Ericaceous genus, the seed-pods of which should be removed as soon as the flowers are past, or the plants will be seriously weakened.

BRYANTHUS.--This should be treated the same as the last, which it somewhat resembles.

BUDDLEIA.--Of these, _B. variabilis_, _B. j.a.ponica_, and _B. intermedia_ flower on the young wood and require cutting back every winter to within two or three eyes of the old wood; _B. globosa_ need not be pruned at all, except in a young state to keep it bushy; and _B. paniculata_ only requires thinning out if it becomes too thick, which is not a very common occurrence.

CALLUNA (the Ling).--This and its numerous varieties should have the old flowers cut off as soon as they are past, and any long or straggling growth cut back at the same time.

CALOPHACA.--The solitary representative of this genus is rather inclined to become straggly if growing at all freely. When this is the case, the plant is benefited by the cutting back of the longer shoots in winter.

CALYCANTHUS.--These require an occasional thinning of the branches, and any long shoots may be shortened with advantage.

CAMELLIA.--These, which should be grown outdoors much more than they are, should be cut down if they get unhealthy or unshapely, which should be done in April. Otherwise no pruning is required.

CARAGANA.--Cut away all the straggling or misplaced branches.

CARMICHaeLIA.--Requires no pruning.

Ca.s.sANDRA.--See CALLUNA.

Ca.s.sINIA.--These are grown more for their foliage than for their flowers, and should be cut down in the winter or early spring. This can be done annually or biennially according to whether the plants are growing strongly or not.

Ca.s.sIOPE.--See CALLUNA.

CATALPA.--This genus contains some of our handsomest flowering trees, all of which require careful pruning after the flowers are past, thinning out the weakly wood, and shortening any long branches.

CEANOTHUS.--Of these, _C. america.n.u.s_, _C. azureus_, _C. integerrimus_, and the garden hybrids, such as "Gloire de Versailles," "Marie Simon,"

"Ceres," &c., flower on the young wood, and should be cut back in spring, allowing only sufficient shoots to remain to form a well-balanced plant, and shortening them back to within two or three eyes of the old wood. The remaining species flower on the old wood, and merely require a shortening back of the stronger shoots and a thinning out of the weakly ones after the flowers are past.

CELASTRUS.--A climbing genus of strong and vigorous habit with showy fruits. They only require sufficient pruning in winter to keep them within bounds.

CERCIS.--Requires no pruning, except such as may be necessary to make well-shaped plants, which should be done after flowering.

CHIMONANTHUS.--The shoots of this should be shortened back after flowering, and if on a wall they should be spurred in.

CHIONANTHUS.--See CERCIS.

CHOISYA TERNATA.--This only needs thinning after the flowers are over and old wood removed.

CISTUS.--Those which are hardy of this genus should be cut back each spring while in a young state, but when they have attained a flowering size no pruning is required. The cutting back of young plants induces a bushy habit, and also keeps them from weakening themselves by blooming and seeding.

CLEMATIS.--The garden forms of this genus are divided into two sections, of which _C. Jackmani_, _C. lanuginosa_, _C. Viticella_, and _C.

aromatica (C. caerulea odorata)_ are the types of those which flower on the young wood, and which require cutting back close to the old wood in the winter; while _C. florida_, _C. patens_, and _C. montana_ are the types of those which flower on the ripened wood of the previous year, and merely require a thinning out of weakly or unnecessary growth. Of species other than those mentioned above, _C. Flammula_, _C.

paniculata_, and _C. Vitalba_ flower on the young wood; and the remaining species are either herbaceous or flower on the old wood.

CLERODENDRON TRICHOTOMUM.--Thin in spring.

CLETHRA.--These practically require no pruning, but long shoots may be shortened and weakly ones cut away with advantage.

COLUTEA.--These make better plants and flower later if they are cut back every winter. _C. istria_ (a rare species) should not be cut down if flowers are desired.

CORNUS.--The strong-growing shrubby Cornus, such as _C. alba_, _C.

Amomum_, _C. Baileyi_, _C. p.u.b.escens_, and _C. stolonifera_ require an annual thinning out, and those with brightly-coloured stems should be cut down every spring for their effect during the following winter. The remaining Cornus require little or no pruning.

COTONEASTER.--The large-growing species should be pruned in late summer, but only sufficiently to keep them within bounds; _C. Simonsii_ requires cutting down annually while young to make it bushy, and the dwarf-growing kinds are best left alone.

CRATaeGUS.--Keep the heads well thinned out to allow light and air to the centre of the tree. This should be done in late summer.

CYTISUS.--These require very little pruning, with the exception of _C.

nigricans_ and _C. capitatus_, which flower on the young wood, and should be cut back annually. The other species and varieties make better plants if they are cut down each year while in a small state, but they should be left alone when they have attained flowering size.

DABOECIA (the Irish Heath).--Cut away all old flower stems in early winter.

DAPHNE.--Requires no pruning.

DESMODIUM.--These flower on the young wood, and should be cut nearly to the ground-line every spring.

DEUTZIA.--The old wood should be kept cut out of these, but no shortening of young shoots should be attempted.

ELaeAGNUS.--These require an annual overhauling to keep them in good condition. This should be done in late summer, when the plants should be well thinned out, and all useless growth cut clean away.

ERICA.--See CALLUNA.

ESCALLONIA.--These are usually cut back by frost; but if they escape, _E. rubra_ and _E. punctata_ should have their long growths shortened back in spring, while the other hardy species need not be touched. _E.