REPOTTING 45 



every foot of loam. The turf should be cut down with a 

 spade, chopped fine, and, if grassy, the clods with old grass 

 should be laid on one side, to place grass-downwards over 

 the crocks used in repotting. The compost should consist 

 of loam 3 parts, and lime, old mortar rubbish, or burnt 

 earth 2 parts. To each barrow-load of this mixture add a 

 6-inch potful of Clay's fertiliser, or similar stimulant, and 

 an equal quantity of crushed bones ; then mix all the 

 ingredients thoroughly together. 



This mixture should be placed in the orchard house, so 

 that the potting can be done on wet days, and it is best to 

 get this work over before Christmas. The Chrysanthemums 

 should be all over in time to allow this to be done. The 

 pruning of the trees should be done before they are 

 repotted. 



In the act of potting, the operator lifts the tree out of 

 the old pot and removes the crocks from the base of the 

 pot-ball, and also the top soil and the ring of manure. 

 He then takes a hand-bill and, in the case of Apples 

 and Pears, chops off one-third of the fibres which enclose 

 the ball. These fibres being annual growths are not 

 of great importance to the tree, and beyond the fibres 

 there may be some coarse roots at the base of the ball 

 which require reducing. This is readily done with a pair 

 of " Secateurs," but no tree should be denuded of too 

 many roots. In many cases the trees need not have a 

 larger pot than before, but it is essential to have all the 

 old pots washed inside and out to prevent stagnation of 

 the soil. 



Having prepared a clean pot, if needful a little larger 

 than before, the potter places crocks all over the base 



