CULTIVATION 169 



between the fingers ; then, taking the pot 

 in the right hand, turn it upside down, and 

 strike the rim sharply two or three times 

 against some solid object, such as the side of 

 a barrow, or corner of a rock ; if this fails 

 to dislodge the plant, push a piece of stick 

 through the drainage hole at the bottom, and 

 press it firmly up. On removing the plant 

 from the pot, its roots will often be found to 

 have formed a solid mass, completely filling all 

 the available space. In this case it would be 

 a hopeless task to try to unravel them, and 

 would, in fact, do more harm than good ; so 

 all that need be done is to pick out the pieces 

 of drainage which will be found encased in the 

 roots at the bottom ; then squeeze the mass 

 gently, and, having shaken out the roots a little 

 at the bottom, plant as already described. 



If the plant should be tall-growing or likely 

 to catch the wind, stake at once, for before the 

 roots have established themselves the plant is 

 much more liable to be affected by the wind. 



Never, under any consideration, plant when 

 the ground is sodden or in such a wet state 

 that the clay sticks to the trowel or fork used ; 



