236 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



cannot be procured for these early plants, a heavier 

 loam can be lightened by adding a small portion of 

 clean gritty sand, or, what is preferable, some finely 

 sifted old mortar or old plaster -lime. For those 

 intended to ripen fruit from the beginning of April 

 onwards to the time of outdoor strawberries, 6- or 

 7-inch pots are to be preferred, and also a loam of a 

 rather more holding or adhesive character, but mixed 

 with the same manurial ingredients recommended for 

 the early plants ; a more retentive soil being more 

 suitable for the sunnier months of April and May, 

 when more moisture is required. 



In shifting the plants, the soil should be firmly 

 packed round the balls, so as to get as much of it into 

 the space as possible, and also to prevent the too free 

 escape of water between the ball and sides of the pot. 

 Care should be taken that the hearts of the plants are 

 not immersed in the soil ; and there should be at least 

 a quarter of an inch of the pot left unfilled up, so that 

 the watering can be effectually done. 



When shifted, they should be thoroughly watered 

 through a rose, and allowed to stand in some position 

 where they can escape the mid-day sun for a few days. 

 Then remove them to some warm place where they 

 can have the full sun all day, and at the same time 

 be sheltered from high winds, which would lash and 

 injure the foliage. I have generally placed the plants 

 on a raised trellis-work, in order to prevent worms 

 from getting into the pots, and the plants from root- 

 ing through into the ground. This precaution in the 

 latter case is very necessary ; for if placed on the 

 ground they are sure to root through, and if left to 

 themselves the roots will to a great extent desert 

 the pots. In the case of the smaller pots, which 



