238 



Principles of Plant Culture. 



moist, and should be closely pressed about the roots. 

 The details of potting are shown in Figs. 147 to 150. 



Shifting is the changing of a plant from one pot to 

 another, usually a larger one. Plants in small pots are 

 generally shifted as often as their roots begin to crowd, 

 and the shifting is continued as long as further growth is 

 expected. When bloom is desired, the pots are permit- 

 ted to become filled with roots (136). 



FIG. 145. FIG. 146. 



Rapid method of planting strawberry plants with spade. 

 Fig. 145. One man opens the hole by inserting the spade, back side 

 forward, arid crowding it toward him. The other inserts the plant, taking 

 care to spread out the roots well. 



Fig. 146. The man withdraws the spade and crowds the earth closely 

 about the roots of the plant with his foot. 



The pots into which plants are to be shifted should be 

 prepared as directed for potting. A little potting soil is 

 placed in the bottom of the pot, or over the drainage 

 material, after which the plant to be shifted is tipped 

 out of its pot, by inverting the latter, placing the hand 

 upon the surface of the soil, to support it, and tapping 



