IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



pick off all the central seed-pods, taking care in so doing not 

 to injure the new shoots just appearing at the side of the 

 flower. Azaleas are usually purchased in very small pots, 

 and as soon as the blossoms are over it will be necessary to 

 give the roots more room. The roots should be thoroughly 

 soaked in tepid water, and then turned out of the pot, when 

 it will be found that they form a tight mass, which must not 

 be interfered with, except to remove the drainage at the bot- 

 tom of the pot. A clean pot (preferably an old one, which 

 has been scrubbed inside and out and thoroughly dried), 

 2 inches broader at the top than the last, will be needed, and 

 the compost should be of peat, with a little loam, leaf mould, 

 and silver sand. Ample drainage (with one of Porter's wire- 

 crocks below it) should be laid, covering the crocks with clean, 

 dry moss. Over this a little of the rougher parts of the peat 

 may be placed, and the ball of roots should stand on these, 

 exactly in the centre of the pot, taking care that there is at 

 least an inch to spare at the top of the pot for an ample 

 supply of water. The finer parts of the compost should 

 then be packed tightly round the ball of roots, without 

 injuring them ; a blunt stick or label will be useful for this 

 work, and no vacuum must be left between the roots and the 

 side of the pot. After covering the surface with fine sandy 

 compost, it should be rammed down firmly with the handle 

 of the trowel and made quite flat, after which the plant 

 should be placed in a warm and moist atmosphere for some 

 weeks until it has completed its leaf-growth, watering and 

 syringing it daily. Just after repotting these plants, however, 

 care must be taken not to overdo the watering, for there is a 

 danger of rotting the fine, hair-like roots before they have had 

 time to seize on the new food offered them, and if the com- 

 post is used when slightly moist (but not too wet) syringing 

 only will be needed for the first few days, the moisture 

 afforded by the ball of roots being soaked before repotting 

 being sufficient for them. 



About the end of June azaleas and heaths should be placed 

 in the open air, choosing a position open to the morning 

 sunshine and sinking their pots in a bed of ashes, and there 



no 



