322 THE GREEN-HOUSE. [MARCH 



branches or head may either be cut close, or shortened less or more 

 to the place where you desire shoots to rise, to form the head regu- 

 lar, for they will break out in the old wood. 



When any trees are thus headed down, it would also be an advan- 

 tage to shift them, especially such as are of a weakly growth, in 

 order to add a little fresh earth about their roots ; and the method is 

 this : let the tree be taken out of its tub or pot, but preserve the ball 

 of earth entire j then trim off with your knife any very matted roots, 

 or dry fibres round the outside, and also some of the loose old earth 

 from the bottom and sides of the ball; and, having fresh compost 

 ready, put some into the bottom of the pot or tub ; place the tree 

 therein, fill up around the ball with fresh earth, and give it a little 

 water. 



But in heading down any of the green-house plants, if time will 

 not permit, or that you think it not necessary to shift them as above, 

 do not, however, fail to loosen the earth in the top of the tub or 

 pots, and a little way down around the sides, and draw this loose 

 earth out ; then fill up the tub again with new compost, and give some 

 water. 



But where any orange or lemon-trees are in a very weak or sickly 

 unprosperous growth, it would be advisable about the latter end of 

 this month, or beginning of next, to prune the heads and shift them 

 into entire new earth, taking the plant clean out of the pot, all the 

 old earth shaken entirely from its roots, and all mouldy and decayed 

 roots cut off; then let the whole root be washed in water, and plant 

 it again immediately in a tub or pot of new earth, taking care not 

 to place it too deep, and give water moderately. 



After this shifting, it would be a great advantage to the same 

 plants if you had the convenience of a glass case, &c., in which pre- 

 viously to make a hot-bed of tan or dung, but tan is much prefer- 

 able ; and if in this bed the trees are plunged, they will shoot sooner 

 and more freely, both in root and top, to recover good strength, and a 

 renewed head of branches of prosperous growth, early in the follow- 

 ing summer. 



HEADING DOWN MYRTLES, ETC. 



Where myrtles or other similar exotics have decayed branches, or 

 their heads thin, straggling, and irregular, they may now also be 

 headed down, more or less, as it shall seem proper, and either shift 

 them into some fresh earth, as directed above for the oranges, or some 

 of the top mould within the pots taken out, and a little around the 

 sides, then fill up with fresh earth and water them. 



These trees with this management will shoot out again, and in four 

 or five months' time will be furnished with entire new heads. Supply 

 them duly with water. 



SHIFTING PLANTS, THAT WANT IT, INTO LARGER POTS. 



Any of the oranges, lemons, or myrtles, or other green-house 

 plants that want larger pots, may be shifted therein, with some fresh 

 earth, towards the end of this month, when the weather is mild. 



