PLANTING. 127 



makes the first year are extraordinary, and evince 

 a degree of vigor, which none but a gardener of ex 

 perience, could believe possible. On the other 

 hand, when a plant in a pot is turned out into a pit, 

 however well the soil may be prepared, if the 

 roots are not stretched out, it may remain for many 

 years without growing much faster than it previous 

 ly did in the pot. This is often the case with the 

 more rare species of the Pine and Fir tribe, and 

 with Magnolias and other plants kept in pots by 

 nurserymen ; and it is further attended by this evil, 

 that the plants are easily blown to one side by the 

 wind. In the case of surface-rooted plants, such 

 as Pines, if they have been some years in the pot, 

 they never send out roots sufficient to keep them 

 upright ; and hence the Pinaster and stone Pine, 

 which are almost always kept in pots in British 

 nurseries, are generally found leaning to one side, 

 in plantations in this country. It is necessary, 

 however, to make the distinction between plants 

 newly planted in pots, and those which have been 

 in pots for two or three years ; for the former may 

 perhaps have few roots which have reached the 

 sides of the pot, as in the case of China Roses 

 struck and potted early in the season, and planted 

 out the same summer, and which, of course, may 

 be planted out without breaking the ball. The 

 same observation will apply to all other plants in 

 pots, that have not their fibrous roots somewhat 

 woody ; and also to all hair-rooted plants, such as 

 Heaths, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Arbutus, and in 

 general to all the Ericaceae, which having at no 

 age large woody roots, may always be transplanted 

 from pots with the balls entire. 



It may here be observed, that large shrubs of 



