WINDOW GARDENING 



between the index and middle fingers. This is 

 to prevent the plant from falling when it 

 loosens from the pot. Now grasp the pot 

 firmly with the right hand, invert and strike 

 the rim a sharp blow on the edge of some 

 wooden object. This jars the ball of earth 

 loose from the pot, which, as it falls, is held by 

 the left hand. (Fig. 7.) 



Never cut a plant out of the pot; in doing so 

 many of the larger roots are cut and injured. 



SHOULDERING 



The next operation is to "shoulder" the ball. 

 In doing this, remove with the thumb and fore- 

 finger all of the soil from the top of the ball 

 down to where the main mass of roots begins. 

 The object is to remove as much of the old soil 

 as possible and to replace it with new, thus se- 

 curing all the benefit possible from the shift. 



LOOSENING OF ROOTS 



The roots at the bottom should next be loos- 

 ened in order to bring them more closely in con- 

 tact with the new nutrient mixture. If the 



24 



