six] Starting &ttf)8 in jflate si 



apart according to their growth. When the leaves 

 again touch prick them out in two-inch pots of leaf- 

 mould, placing a piece of crockery over the drainage 

 hole and filling with earth to within half an inch of 

 the top. Plunge the pots into a box of sand in a 

 sunny window until large enough to go out of doors. 

 As soon as the roots fill the pots shift to a size larger, 

 using compost of two parts fibrous loam, four parts 

 leaf-mould, one part old, well-rotted manure, and one 

 part sharp white sand, all thoroughly sifted together. 

 This is called fine compost, while soils that have not 

 been sifted are known as rough compost. To remove 

 sticks, stones, or hard bits of root put through a sand 

 or coal-ash screen. A piece of wire netting slightly 

 gathered up in the hand makes a convenient screen 

 for a small quantity and a box with a netting bottom 

 for larger quantities of earth. 



By the time the plants again need shifting it should 

 be warm enough to bed out all those that are to 

 grow in the open ground, while those intended for 

 the house must be shifted from pot to pot as they 

 outgrow their quarters and be given such special 

 treatment as the individual plants may require, al- 

 ways aiming at as thrifty a growth as possible. Plants 

 intended for winter blooming must have all their buds 

 removed and their branches pinched back according 

 to their summer development. 



Weak liquid manure may be given once a week 

 during summer. Keep the sand in the sand-box wet 



