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pots, discover by their tops that the) are in a 

 declining slate, as probably the detect may be 

 either in the root, or the old balls of earth, it 

 mav be proper to shake all the earth entirely 

 away, in ord'.'r to examine the roots, and to trim 

 and dress them as the case may require, re-jilant- 

 ing thein in entire fresh compost or monld. 



In preparing for the busini'is, where necessary 

 to give larger pots, &c. it is proper to provide 

 iheni of suitable sizes in some regular gradation 

 larger than the old ones, according to the nature 

 and growth of the plants, the whole being placed 

 ready, with a proper quantity of fresh compost 

 earth in proportion to the number and size of 

 the plants intended to be shifted: then let those 

 plants intended to be removed v^ith balls, be 

 taken out of their old pots separately, with the 

 whole balls or clumps of earth about the roots as 

 entire as possible ; and when large or tolerably 

 full, with a knife trim off some of the outward 

 loosest earth, and the extreme fibres of the roots; 

 but when small, and adherins; together com- 

 pactly, the whole may be preserved entire; and 

 in either case, where there are very matted, dry, 

 or decayed fibres surrounding the balls, they 

 should be trimmed as it may seem necessary : 

 in those of a fresh lively growth, the loose strag- 

 gling parts only should be cut away : the requi- 

 site pruning, trimming, or dressing in the heads 

 or tops should also be given where it may seem 

 proper, according to the state of growth, and the 

 natural habit of the different plants ; but many 

 sorts require little or none. 



Having prepared the intended pots for the re- 

 ception of the plants, by placing some pieces of 

 tile or oyster-shell, &c. loosely over the holes at 

 bottom, and laid in a little fresh earth two, three, 

 or four inches deep or jnore, according to the 

 size of the pot, the plant should be set in with its 

 ball of earth, as above, filling up around it with 

 more fresh mould, raising it an inch or two over 

 the top of the ball ; and giving directly a mo- 

 derate watering to settle the earth close about 

 the ball and roots regularly in every part, in a 

 proper manner: in such cases where the ball in 

 particular plants appears very compactly hard 

 and binding, it may be proper to loosen it a 

 little, by thrusting a sharp-pointed stick down 

 into the earth in different parts, giving it a gentle 

 wfench to open the earth nioderatelv ; or some- 

 times it may also be proper to trim away some 

 of the old earth on the top and sides ; then planting 

 it as above, and filling up round and over the 

 ball with fresh earth, and watering it afterwards. 



In shifting hardy or tender, shrubby, succu- 

 lent, or herbaceous plants, when any appear of 

 a sickly, weak, or unhealthy growth, it may be 

 advisable to clear off a considerable part of the 



Vol, II. 



outward old earth from the balls about the roots, 

 or, in some cases, to shake it wholly away, that 

 the defects in the growths, occasioned either by 

 faults in the roots or in the earth, may be re- 

 moved by pruning out any decayed or bad parts 

 of the roots, and re-planting them wholly in 

 fresh earth. 



Sometimes particular sorts of plants in pots 

 require shifting, more for the advantage of 

 having fresh eanh, than for want of new or 

 larger pots ; and as in this case some of the 

 same pots may be still of an eligible size to re- 

 pot them in, these pots should be well cleaned 

 from all adhering parts of the old earth, and be 

 replenished with entire new at the tiine of re- pot- 

 ting the plants ; which being removed out of 

 their pots, either with the entire balls about the 

 roots, and part of the old mould cleared oft" all 

 round, to admit of a larger portion of fresh earth 

 in the pot at re-planting; or in some, appearing 

 of an infirm or declining habit, the whole balls 

 of old earth displaced clean to the roots; then 

 having furnished the pots with fresh earth, the 

 plants should be replaced in them, filling up the 

 pot regularly with a sufficiency of the same 

 fresh mould, and finishing with a moderate wa- 

 tering to settle the whole close about their roots. 



After shifting, when the plants are not wa- 

 tered at the time, a moderate watering both to 

 the earth in the pots to settle it close about the 

 roots, and in most sorts highly over the tops 

 or heads of the plants, should be given, in order 

 to wash off any foulnesses; then the pots of plants 

 should be set in their respective stations in the 

 garden, &c.: the hardy kinds, if warm sunny 

 weather, may be placed in a shady border for two 

 or three weeks, till they have struck fresh root in 

 the new earth : the tender sorts should be dis- 

 posed in their [)laces among the green-house and 

 stove plants, or to have the benefit of shade in 

 the middle of hot suimy days, till fresh struck, 

 or probably some of the more tender particular 

 sorts may require to be plunged in a hot-bed or 

 bark-bed, especially some of the stove kinds : 

 some principal sorts of the more curious or ten- 

 der green-house plants, in order to expedite their 

 fresh-rooting more effectually ; and soinetinics 

 tender annuals in hot-beds, potted in their early 

 young growth, may require to be repluuged in 

 the hot-bed to fresh strike, and forv\ ard them till 

 June ; but generally all the full ground or opea 

 air plants only require a little occasional shade ii\ 

 hot dry weather the first two or three weeks, and 

 some shifted with full balls about the roots onlv 

 need occasional watering : afterwards, on the 

 whole, both the hardy and tender kinds should 

 have repeated moderate waterings given them, 

 according to their kinds. 



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