196 GREEN-HOUSE -OF SHIFTING, ETC. [February 



OF SHIFTING, ETC. 



The best time to re-pot Camellias is in September or 

 October. The most general time in shifting Camellias is in 

 August, indiscriminately with other plants; and, if then 

 not very gently handled, bad roots eventually are produced. 

 Frequently very fine plants have been killed by probing, and 

 breaking the young fibrous roots, thus causing mortification. 



In the process, do not, by any means, break or bruise any 

 of the roots; and do not give large pots with the idea of 

 making them grow fast ; it acts on most plants diametrically 

 opposite to what is intended. A pot one or two inches 

 wider and deeper than the one they have been in previously, 

 is sufficient. Healthy plants, under five feet, will not require 

 shifting oftener than once in two years ; from five feet up- 

 ward, in three or four years, according to the health of the 

 plants. This treatment, in the opinion of some, will appear 

 insufficient for their support : it will be found enough with a 

 top-dressing every year to keep them in a healthy flowering- 

 condition, the soil being according to our description. 



On turning the plant out of the pot, it may easily be ob- 

 served if the soil has, in any degree, been congenial to it; for, 

 if so, the roots will be growing all round the ball ; if other- 

 wise, no roots will appear. 



Therefore, with a blunt-pointed stick, probe away all the 

 bad earth until you come to the roots ; then put the plant in 

 a pot about one inch in diameter larger than the combined 

 roots, previously putting a few small pieces of broken pots, or 

 clean gravel, to drain off the superabundant moisture, and 

 give light waterings, as the roots in this case will grow but 

 slowly. 



Top-dress all that do not require shifting, probe out the soil 

 down to the roots, and by the side of the pot, taking care not 

 to break the fibres ; then fill up with fresh earth, watering 

 gently with a rose on the wateri^-pot to settle it. 



