316 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



" When to harbinger the dawn, springs up 



On freshen'd wing the air of May, and breathes 

 Of fragrance, all impregned with herb and flowers." 



GARY'S TRANSLATION. 



Every second year the plants should be newly potted at 

 this season ; all the roots, on the outside of the ball of 

 earth attached to them, should be cut off ; as much of the 

 old earth taken away as can be done without tearing the 

 roots ; and the plants set in a tub of water for a quarter of 

 an hour, to soften the lower part of the ball. The stem and 

 leaves should be cleansed with water and a soft woollen 

 cloth. Some stones should be placed at the bottom of the 

 pot, and on these some earth, purposely obtained for Orange 

 plants, to the depth of three or four inches. The plant 

 should then be placed upright in the middle, and the pot 

 filled up, within an inch of the top, with the same earth, 

 being pressed hard down with the hands. The plant should 

 then be watered all over, the watering-pot having the rose 

 on. After this transplanting, the plants should remain in 

 the house a week or two later than on the intervening year, 

 that they may take firm root before they are exposed to the 

 air. In dry summer weather, they should be watered every 

 evening, both roots and leaves ; observing to shed water on 

 the leaves, from a rose finely perforated on the spout of 

 the watering-pot. This must not be done until after sun- 

 set, or it will cause the leaves to scorch. This caution will 

 apply to plants in general. Water should not be allowed 

 to remain in the saucers : it is injurious to most plants, but 

 to Orange-trees in particular. Another thing to be ob- 

 served with respect to these plants is, not to put them in 

 pots or boxes too large for them. The largest size used 

 for them should not exceed twenty-four inches in diameter, 

 and much smaller will suffice for the first eight or nine 

 years. 



