C50 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



may remain off altogether^ except during heavy rains, when they should bo 

 put on. 



2026. During summer the plants will require the same attention as those 

 already noticed ; namely, disbudding, thinning out the shoots moderately 

 where over-crowded, pinching off the points of strong shoots, and syringing 

 with a mixture of tobacco-liquor and water in equal parts whenever 

 green-fly appears. About the middle of June these plants will require 

 another shift, which should be more liberal than the preceding, moro 

 particularly to those which have grown freely. The same kind of soil as 

 before should be used, and the same routine of treatment followed. Manure- 

 water must be given from the time they receive their first shift in spring, 

 and continued through the summer. At first it should be given but seldom, — 

 once in ten days or a fortnight ; but as the plants progress in growth, it 

 should be given once a week, and continued until the end of September, 

 watering with soft water in the intervening time. 



2027. At the end of September, both collections must be shifted into their 

 blooming-pots. Great care must be taken with this shift, as much of tho 

 health and beauty of the plants will depend on how this is performed. 

 If it is not properly executed, it will be useless to expect bloom next 

 season, and all past trouble and attention will have been in vain. The size 

 of the pots will vary according to the strength of the plants, their classes, &c. 

 The Teas, Chinas, &c., if good plants, which by this time they ought to be, 

 may go into pots about nine inches in diameter ; the Perpetuals and Summer 

 roses into pots about 12 inches, whilst some of these latter classes will be strong 

 enough to go into pots 15 inches or more in diameter. Drain well, putting in 

 at least two inches in the 9-inch pots, and three inches in the larger sizes ; 

 and using larger i^ieces of crocks, keeping the concave side downwards. Tho J 

 soil to be used tho same as before, — stiff loam and cow-dung for the sti-ong 

 growers ; the same, with the addition of leaf-mould, for the delicate growers. 

 The mould must be chopped very rough, and thoroughly mixed. 



2028. The following is a description of the mode of potting : — Having placed 

 the compost on the potting-board, procure a quantity of tui'fs as they are brought 

 in from the field, and some very rough, di*y, and well-decomposed cow-dung. 

 The pots being drained, tear off one or two large pieces of the tui-f, and put 

 them into the bottom of the pot on the drainage, top downwards. In general 

 this will be of sufiicient height for the ball of the plant to rest upon ; if not quite 

 high enough, put in a little mixed material to raise it to the required height. 

 Next, tear off pieces of turf six or seven inches long, and two or three inches 

 wide, and as many thick. About four such pieces should be crammed in 

 between the ball and the sides of the pot, perpendicularl3^ Between this 

 place large pieces of rough cow-dung, nearly equivalent in bulk to the size of 

 the loam, and fill up all crevices and cavities with the mixed compost, 

 finishing off with the same, and making the whole quite firm. This is to be tho 

 treatment of the strong-growing varieties. The Teas, Chinas, &c., may be 

 potted in the same way, except leaving out a portion of rough cow-dung, and 



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