APRIL} THE GREEN-HOUSE. 3f 5 



water is wanted, and let such as need it be supplied therewith accord- 

 ing to their respective necessities, for it is now an indispensable article. 

 But moderation and discretion ought to be observed in the dispensing 

 of it, especially while the plants are in the house, and particularly 

 to the succulent tribe. The latter, such as aloes, agaves, euphorbias, 

 cactuses, crassulas, stapelias, mesembryanthemums, &c. 4 being natu- 

 rally replete with moisture, do not require much water; to those and 

 other plants of the same nature, it should be given only when the 

 earth in the pots appears very dry, as too much would rot them. 



SHIFTING PLANTS INTO LARGER POTS AND TUBS. 



Such of your plants as require to be shifted into larger pots or 

 tubs may now be brought out in a mild warm day, and taken out of 

 the pots or tubs in which they have stood, with the balls of earth 

 entire about their roots; then cut away such roots on the outside as 

 are rotted or appear dry or decayed, and also some of the earth around 

 the ball.* 



Having good sound fresh earth in readiness, put some into each 

 new pot or tub, previously placing a hollow oyster shell or such like, 

 with the concave side under, over each hole in the bottoms; over this 

 put an inch or two, according to the size of the plant, of small lumps 

 of charcoal or broken crocks ; then set each plant, with its ball of 

 earth prepared and dressed as above, into the middle of the pot or 

 tub, and fill it with fresh compost, so as that the new earth may cover 

 the crowns of the roots an inch deeper than before. 



According as the plants are thus potted, let them be immediately 

 watered and returned to their places in the green-house, administer- 

 ing the water occasionally afterwards, as their respective necessities 

 may require. 



FRESH EARTHING THE PLANTS. 



Such of the plants as do not require shifting into larger pots, &c., 

 should be refreshed with new earth, as directed on page 323 ; after 

 which, give them a moderate watering and replace them in the green- 

 house as before. 



TRIMMING AND CLEANING THE PLANTS. 



Where any decayed, straggling, or ill-placed branches appear, either 

 cut them off close, or prune them, so as to give the plants a neat and 

 becoming form. . 



Pick off all decayed leaves as they appear, and suffer no weeds 

 of any kind to grow in the pots ; keep them free from moss, &c., by 

 stirring the surface earth frequently; wash and clean the floor of 



* When the roots are healthy, it is "best not to remove any of them, even 

 though they be matted, and always let the ball of earth be moist before 

 being removed into a larger pot, else, it remains dry, as the water, given 

 afterwards, runs down amongst the new soil without penetrating to the 

 centre. 



