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Shrubs and Vines (Tablished in good soil they)

tablished in good soil they will give little trouble. An occasional cultivation and a little annual trimming is usually all the care that is necessary.

Shrubs may be planted in the fall or early spring as soon as the frost leaves the ground and before they are in full leaf. The best method of preparing the bed is to trench the earth to a depth of 12 or 18 inches incorporating into it a generous top dressing of rotted stable manure.

In large borders plowing can be substituted for spading, but the latter method is to be preferred as it usually ameliorates the soil to a greater depth. Better results are obtained by planting the bushes in beds rather than digging separate holes to accommodate each shrub. In this way the cultivation given to the soil will increase its fertility and water holding capacity, which of course, reacts very favorably on the growth of the plants. Sometimes, however, it is more desirable to prepare individual places for the shrubs, and when this is done, make the hole at least 2 feet deep, loosening the bottom with the pick and filling in with rich, well pulverized top soil or compost.

In either case the hole must be dug sufficiently deep to allow the shrub to be planted 2 inches deeper than it stood before and broad enough for the roots to lie in their natural position. Avoid bending or twisting [187] and prune away any parts of the roots that are bruised or broken.

Next, partly fill in the hole with either well-pulverized rich top soil or compost, working it in firmly around and between the roots. When enough soil has been packed in to steady the shrub throw in a bucket of water before filling in further. This will help to firm the soil around the roots and at the same time gives them a drink of water. Do not, however, fill in the hole level with the ground for the first week or ten days after planting, but leave a little depression around the base of each shrub to retain moisture from subsequent waterings. If the weather is dry, artificial waterings will be required for the first week or two, especially if the work is done in the spring. While the plants are out of the ground expose their roots as little as possible to the drying influence of the atmosphere by keeping them covered with burlap or the packing they came in. Very little pruning is necessary provided it is done annually. However, when this work has been neglected for a long period it is often necessary to cut the bush back severely to encourage the growth of vigorous new wood for renovation purposes. It is much wiser to prune a little each year, in order to promote the production of flower buds and to maintain [188] Courtesy of J. Horace McFarland Company