CARE IN POTTING 49 



If the soil is in a moist condition at the time of potting 

 the roots will not require watering for a few days, but on 

 bright days a moderate spraying with clear water overhead 

 will do good. When it appears necessary the plants should 

 receive a good soaking, keeping the atmosphere fairly close 

 in the meantime, though at the end of a fortnight they 

 should have got well hold of the new soil, when air may 

 be freely given on all fine days so long as cold draughts 

 are prevented. 



Watering must be given careful attention, keeping the 

 plants rather on the dry side during cold weather, but on 

 no account allowing them to suffer from drought, as this 

 would cause hardening of the stem and hindrance to the 

 flow of sap. 



A slight spraying overhead may be given on fine 

 mornings, but not in the afternoon, as cold nights are the 

 rule in February and March. Plants in cold frames or 

 frames that are only slightly heated will require the protec- 

 tion of garden mats placed over the glass each evening, to 

 prevent a check arising from cold. 



If the plants succeed well they should be ready for a 

 further shift early in April, this time into (6-inch) 32 size 

 pots. 



The soil at this potting must be a trifle rougher than 

 was used at the previous operation, such as good, turfy 

 loam pulled up fine 4 parts, leaf mould and rotten manure 

 i part, sand i part, a little soot, wood ashes and bone meal 

 as advised before, and if available some old mortar rubble 

 pounded up fine. At this potting all inferior plants should 

 be discarded and only those potted that are required for 

 blooming. The soil must be made very firm in the pots, 

 using a small rammer to ensure its being made even all 



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