[Illustration: _HYDRANGEA PANICULATA AND VAR. GRANDIFLORA._]
HYPERICUM.--These should be cut back fairly hard in early spring, as they all flower on the young growth.
INDIGOFERA.--Cut down every spring, as they flower on the young wood.
ITEA.--Keep the growths thinned and cut away all old wood.
JAMESIA.--This should be treated as the preceding.
JASMINUM.--_J. fruticans_ and _J. humile_ are shrubs which should be thinned regularly; and _J. nudiflorum_ and _J. officinale_ are climbers, which should be spurred in after flowering.
KALMIA.--Remove seed-pods as soon as the flowers are past.
KERRIA.--Cut away the old wood to encourage the young growths, which yield the best flowers.
LABURNUM.--These should be thinned after flowering, cutting away the old or weakly wood, and shortening any long or straggling shoots.
LAVANDULA.--Cut away all flower-spikes after they are past.
LEDUM.--Remove seed-pods after flowering.
LESPEDEZA.--See DESMODIUM, which it much resembles.
LEUCOTHOË.--_L. axillaris_ and _L. Catesbæi_ flower much better if the old growths are removed and strong young shoots encouraged. The rest of the genus require no pruning.
LEYCESTERIA.--Thin out old growths every spring.
LIGUSTRUM.--_L. ovalifolium_ and its golden variety are all the better for being cut down each winter while in a young state. The remainder merely require an occasional thinning.
LONICERA.--The shrubby Loniceras are nearly all inclined to become very thick and full of weakly shoots if not well looked after. A thinning out should take place after flowering is past. The climbing Honeysuckles should only be pruned sufficiently to keep them within bounds.
LYCIUM.--These should be served the same as the shrubby Loniceras, but the operation should be performed in autumn or winter, as they flower practically all the summer.
MAGNOLIA.--Generally speaking, the Magnolias should not be pruned, but cut away useless or decaying wood. Every wound, however small, on a Magnolia should be tarred over immediately.
MICROGLOSSA.--The solitary shrubby representative of this is _M. albescens_, which should be cut down in winter, as it flowers best on the young wood.
MYRICA.--An occasional thinning is sufficient for this genus.
MYRICARIA.--Flowering on the young wood; this should be cut back every spring.