Transplanting. 



237 



absorbed as much of the liquid as they Avill take without 

 leaving any upon the surface. Rooted cuttings are gen- 

 erally potted in i3ots one and one-half or two inches in 

 diameter, and the plants are changed to larger pots 

 {shifted) as the roots require more room. Pots three 



inches or more in diameter are com- 

 ' mouly filled one- third full or less with 



pieces of broken pots (potsherds) to 



Fig. 143. Fig. 144. 



Showing manner of using the dibber in planting. 



Fig. 143. Inserting roots in the hole opened by dibber. 

 Fig. 144. Pressing earth about roots with the dibber. 



insure abundant drainage, and these are often covered with 

 a little sphagnum moss before putting in the soil. The 

 soil used for potting should be of a sort that does not 

 harden, "bake," on drying, and should generally be 

 liberally supplied with plant food. Decayed sods from 

 an old pasture, leaf mold, decomposed manure, and sand, 

 the whole mixed and sifted, form a good potting soil. 

 The proportions of the different ingredients used vary 

 with different plants. The soil should be moderately 



