42 GREEN-HOUSE OF SHIFTING, &c. FEBRUARY]. 



it would be better to discriminate the time by the buds 

 offering to push, which will answer to those that have 

 no flowers, as well as those that have. The most 

 general time in shifting Camellias is in August and Sep- 

 tember, indiscriminately with other plants ; and, if the n 

 not very gently handled, bad roots eventually are pro- 

 duced. 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 one and a half 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 upwards 

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

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

 appear not sufficient : 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 observed if the soil has, in any degree, been con- 

 genial to it ; for if so, the roots will be growing all round 

 the ball; if otherwise, 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 the pot about one inch in diameter, larger 

 than the combined roots, previously putting a few small 



