TRANSPLANTING, POTTING AND REPOTTING 43 
piece of wood, of convenient size. In repotting 
such plants, it is well to let the ball of roots soak 
several minutes in a pail of water before putting into 
the new pot. If very densely matted, make several 
holes in it with a spike, working it around, and 
leave the soil a little lower at the center of the pot 
to induce the water to run down through the root 
ball. 
Plants that have been crocked in the old pots 
should have this material removed, if possible, be- 
fore going into their new quarters. 
Plants in large pots often use up all the plant food 
available, and where they cannot be given still larger 
pots become quite a problem. They are usually 
handsome specimens which one does not like to 
lose. _ Remove such a plant from its pot and care- 
fully wash all the soil from the roots; clean the pot 
and carefully repot in fresh soil in the same pot. 
The result will be extremely satisfactory. 
Until one has become proficient in the art of pot- 
ting, it will pay well to practice with every plant and 
cutting that may be had. If you have mistakes to 
make, make them with these, so that your favorite 
plants may be handled safely. 
