Pruning may be defined as the art and science of cutting away a portion of the plant to improve its shape, influence its growth, flowering, and fruitfulness, and improve the quality of the product. Pruning Improvement Experiments have demonstrated a definite improvement in fruit size, color, and quality in response to pruning. These three factors … Read more
Here in Woodstock, N. Y. can be seen as one more horrible example of the meaningless destruction of scenic beauty by real estate “operators.” Garden clubs, civic groups, and nature-minded people should do something about this senseless, meaningless waste. In Woodstock’s case, building a new four-lane highway is partly responsible. By the time it is … Read more
Shrubs flowering outdoors in mid-winter are scarcely the usual thing in our gardens, and this small group holds great value for the colder parts of the country. One of the best winter-blooming subjects is Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis Mollis). This hardy shrub is outstanding for the brilliant, rich effect of its yellow-petalled reddish-centered flowers, which … Read more
Many kinds of tree and shrub branches will come into leaf and bloom quickly ahead of the season if special attention is given to their preparation. The best time to cut branches for forcing is on a mild day when the sap is near the bark’s surface. Trim out conflicting branches, pound the stems up … Read more
Today, home gardeners are using flowering trees more often than ever. For the most part, gardens are small, and many kinds of flowering trees are suited to confined areas. They provide the needed height, color, and form where there is no room for the more giant shade trees. The kinds shown here can be used … Read more
One of the first flower sights to greet us as we ride through our beautiful Ozarks in early spring is the yellow bloom of the sassafras tree in the still bare woodlands. This bloom comes when the buds which tip each twig start to swell. Quite suddenly, the tree is transformed by hundreds of compact … Read more
What trees will you choose for your lawn? Where will you plant them? Before ordering trees, consider how much space you have and how much they will grow. Once set out, they are hard to move, and a handsome tree should have room to develop with minimum pruning. Summer shade may be your primary purpose, … Read more
The title of this story is not intended to suggest forestry or conservation but refers to my living with trees at Breeze Hill since June 1, 1909. At that time, the 100,000 square feet of land we came to call Breeze Hill had some trees on it, not all of them very well chosen and … Read more
The Carpathian walnut has proved hardy to sub-zero winters and is doing well in the Midwest and the northern United States, where California varieties suffer catastrophic winter injury. The glossy-leafed, white-barked trees and their early ripening nuts look just like those from California. When ripe, the thin hull splits, dropping the nuts to the ground. … Read more
No other tree conifer native to the United States surpasses the hemlock in grace and beauty. Canada And Carolina Hemlocks This is especially true of the Canada and Carolina hemlocks, both widely grown throughout this country except where hot, dry sun proves a limiting factor, where they never should be planted. Both species are native … Read more