52 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



size pots ( 1 2-inch) are the best size, but for the weaker 

 varieties i6s (lo-inch) pots are sufficiently large. 



These pots and the crocks used for draining them 

 should be thoroughly clean. Crock the pots well, covering 

 the crocking materials with good fibrous loam, from which 

 all the dust has been shaken. If this is done well there 

 will be no fear of the plants getting water-logged even in 

 wet weather. Commence by potting the strongest varieties 

 first, taking the others in the same order. The plants 

 should be in a fairly moist condition at the time of potting, 

 and the soil must be made very firm, burying the old ball 

 about half an inch and leaving at least ij inch space for 

 watering and receiving surface-dressings later in the 

 season. 



Do not place them in their permanent positions im- 

 mediately after potting, but arrange them pot to pot for 

 a time ; where they will shelter each other somewhat from 

 the sun and be more easily treated to the frequent syring- 

 ings they require. Two or three days after potting 

 (according to the state of the weather) they should all be 

 thoroughly soaked with water, making quite sure that 

 each plant has the old as well as the new soil thoroughly 

 soaked through. This is necessary, as once the old 

 " balls " become really dry it might take several days 

 before they would be soaked through again. After a 

 soaking of this kind, they should not require more water 

 for a week or ten days, when they may be transferred to 

 their permanent quarters for the summer. 



A suitable position may be found by the side of the 

 garden path, or if an open space is available where they 

 can be stood altogether in rows, anything from 4 to 6 feet 

 apart, and about 2 feet apart in the rows, then so much 



