1873.] ONE-SHIFT SYSTEM IN POTTING PINES. 117 



THE OINTE-SHIFT SYSTEM IN POTTIISTG PINES. 



Is it necessary to pot Pine suckers into small pots Tvlien taken from 

 the old plants, shifting them on as required until the size is gained 

 in which it is intended to fruit them ? One thing in favour of small 

 pots is, that a quantity of suckers can be put into less space. But 

 when the full space can be devoted to them at first, there is a great 

 saving of labour, and time is gained in fruiting by putting them into 

 the pots in which they are to fruit. There is no check to the roots 

 when potted on the one-shift system; and the system has great advan- 

 tages in the case of suckers taken rather late in autumn, with the 

 object of their being kept on the move all winter, to be got forward 

 for fruiting the following autumn. Let it be supposed that good 

 suckers are taken about the end of August, and that a quantity of new 

 or well-washed 11-inch pots are in readiness. This size will be found 

 quite large enough to grow fruit of good medium size for everyday 

 consumption. Let them be thoroughly well drained, to the depth of 

 at least two and a half inches, the last layer of crocks being rather fine, 

 with a little rough loam or moss sprinkled over them, and all well 

 dusted with soot to prevent worms from getting up into the soil, and 

 to act as a stimulant to those roots that reach it. The soil is the next 

 consideration, and we prefer a rather light fibry loam, that has been 

 lying in a stack for twelve months, chopped up, and rejecting all that 

 goes through a finch sieve. The fibry part is all looked over, and 

 nicely pulled to pieces by the hand, not making it too fine, but leaving 

 it nice and rough. To every barrow-load add a 6-inch potful of soot, 

 one of bone-meal, and one of half-inch bones ; the latter, besides enrich- 

 ing the soil, helps to keep it open. The meal acts quickly, which is 

 of importance now that plants are fruited ofif in not much more than 

 half the time required formerly. In potting, each plant should be 

 well firmed round the collar, for it will be observed that a plant that 

 is firmly potted roots much more quickly than one which is left loose 

 in the soil. If the soil is as described, let it be well beaten Avith a 

 rammer : this is held by good growers to be an essential point, and 

 its results prove it to be so. If space can be spared, put the plant 

 into the house intended to fruit them, putting each in its proper 

 position at once, so that there is no need for removing them after- 

 wards. Scarcely any plant looks worse than a Pine when its foliage 

 is broken and hanging about in an untidy manner. Set them on a 

 hard and level bottom before filling up between the pots, which 

 should be done up to their rims. If plunged in old tan, or material 

 that will not cause too strong a heat, let it be pressed quite firmly ; if 

 the tan be fresh, heat will get too violent, and it should be laid loosely 

 but higher between the pots. If the heat rises higher than wanted, take 



