88 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [cu. 



These are very inexpensive, and can be made by 

 any blacksmith. 



Tlie hook should be used for removing the old 

 soil from the ball. The best way to do this is to 

 release, as far as possible, the roots running round 

 the ball of soil, and then comb the roots downwards 

 until sufficient soil has been removed. 



The prong will be useful for remo^dng the soil 

 round the rims of the pots, and should be worked 

 round and round inside the pot. By so doing it 

 will not break the pots. 



The diagram is intended to represent the pot, 

 and the dotted lines are sup- 



n posed to show the course of 

 the prong. 

 If the surface soil, in large 

 pots, is moved to the extent 

 of 2 or 3 ins. in width and 5 or 

 6 ins. in depth, and the pots 

 placed in a sloping position, the trees will leave 

 the pots quite easily. When the soil has been 

 removed from the ball, and the tree ready for 

 repotting, any long roots found may be shortened 

 about one-third of their length. 



The trees should not be potted too deeply, but 

 only sufficiently so to ensure that the surface roots 

 are just covered. 



A flat rammer, about A in. thick, 2 or 2 A uis. 



