THE POTTING OF PLANTS. 67 



pot, would show the same differences in vitality under 

 corresponding circumstances. 



It has often been a matter of surprise to many ama- 

 teurs, and even professional gardeners, how it is that such 

 extraordinary vigor and health are obtained in the plants 

 grown by many New York florists, in pots that seem to 

 be entirely inadequate in size for the support of such 

 vigor. This is done by a practice not generally known 

 outside of this vicinity. When a plant shows by the con- 

 dition of its roots that it requires a supply of fresh soil 

 for its support, instead of shifting it into a larger pot, it 

 is taken out and the soil washed clean from the roots, and 

 either placed back again in the same pot, in fresh soil, or 

 in one of only a single size larger. 



This washing the soil from the roots, instead of shak- 

 ing it off, has the advantage of leaving all the fibres or 

 working roots intact, while by shaking the soil from the 

 ball, the most valuable parts of the root are injured. 

 Plants thus grown are particularly valuable for distant 

 shipment, as a strong-rooted and vigorous plant is ob- 

 tained without the necessity of shipping a heavy weight 

 of soil. 



For many years we have sent to our patrons in the 

 trade thousands of plants annually, every particle of soil 

 being first washed from the roots ; the plants, in all cases, 

 arriving in as fine order as if they had been sent with 

 the ball of soil around them, and saving at least nine- 

 tenths of the freight. 



This practice, however, is not good, unless the season 

 is early enough for the plants to have time to become 

 established in the pots, and it is not prudent to do so 

 later than March. If the weather is hot, more care is 

 necessary in shading the plants until they have begun to 

 take root in the new soil. 



