138 



THE BEGINNER' tt GARDEN BOOK 



then the plant is crowding, and should be given more space. 

 If you see only a few roots, or none at all, put the plant 

 back again and wait a few more days. 



If the plant does not easily slip out of the pot, as described, 

 strike the edge of the pot, while it is upside down, against 

 the table. 



When you have decided that your plants are ready for 

 repotting, prepare enough pots of the next size larger. Do 

 not take four-inch pots when three-inch ones will do : if 

 you follow this direction, the plants 

 will thrive better. Wash the pots 

 as before, put in coarse material for 

 drainage, and now put in a layer of 

 lightly packed earth of such thick- 

 ness that when the ball of earth from 

 the first pot is resting in the second, 

 the surface will come about as before, 

 half an inch from the top. This will 

 require good judgment. 



Now take from its pot a plant 

 which, half an hour ago, you have 

 well watered. The white roots (they 

 should never be left so long as to become brown and woody) 

 are curling tightly near the bottom. Loosen them a little 

 with the point of your seed-trowel. If they are clinging to 

 any of the drainage material, brush it away. Now from the 

 top and sides of the ball of earth, using fingers or s*ed-trowel, 

 break away some of the earth. Do not injure the roots in 

 doing this. Lower the ball, now, into the middle of the 

 three-inch pot, and put in earth all around it, packing it 

 with the fingers, and making sure that nowhere, especially 

 at the bottom, shall there be any empty spaces. Fill in 

 now on top till the plant stands at the right depth, and 



Fig. 76. — A plant as taken 

 from its pot, and as prepared 

 for repotting. 



