108 BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



that, if a plant in the greatest vigour be turned 

 out of its pot as soon as the fruit is cut, there will 

 be found at the bottom a part of the stem, several 

 inches in length, naked, destitute of roots, and 

 smooth : now, according to the above method, the 

 whole of the roots which the plant produces being 

 permitted to remain on the stem to the last, the 

 old roots decay and turn mouldy, to the great de- 

 triment of those afterwards produced. 



" Secondly, The first ball which remains with 

 the plant full two years, by length of time will be- 

 come hard, cloddy, and exhausted of its nourish- 

 ment, and must, therefore, prevent the roots after- 

 wards produced from growing with that freedom 

 and vigour, which they would do in fresher and 

 better mould. 



" Thirdly, The old ball continually remaining 

 after the frequent shiftings, it will be too large 

 when put into the fruiting-pot, to admit of a suf- 

 ficient quantity of fresh mould to support the plant 

 till its fruit becomes ripe, which is generally a 

 whole year from the last time of shifting." 



In giving air and water, Mr. Griffin differs no- 

 thing from Nicol ; he waters moderately in winter, 

 and more liberally in the growing season, from 

 March till October ; want of water to keep the 

 plants moist, he considers one of the reasons of 

 their showing fruit prematurely. He never waters 

 over the leaves in any stage, nor gives much at the 

 roots in damp weather. 



