22 OENAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



ever practicable, we liave been guided by this in our 

 practice — that the very best time to repot a plant is in 

 spring, just when it begins to push forth new growth, 

 because then the roots and branches are acting in unison, 

 and both are in a fit state to receive fresh nutriment. 



Everything being in perfect readiness — the compost pro- 

 perly mixed, and in a nice half moist condition, neither 

 wet nor dry, and the pots either new or clean, dry, and 

 properly drained, the plant to be shifted, if a large one,, 

 should be stood upon the stand already referred to, the 

 pot slipped down, and the old drainage carefiilly removed. 

 The roots if matted must be disentangled, and as much 

 of the old soil taken away as can be removed without 

 injury to them. Then some of the new compost must 

 be put into the fresh pot, just sufficient to bring the 

 sorface of the old soil to within about half an inch of 

 the top, and having carefully placed the plant in the 

 middle, and at the proper level, the new soil is to be 

 filled ~in around it, care being taken to press it down 

 quite firmly. After this operation has been performed, a 

 little higher temperature and extra shade should be given 

 to the plants, to prevent them sufiering from the slight 

 check which repotting naturally must give them, and 

 to encourage them to put forth fresh roots more quickly. 

 The only, difierence between shifting or repotting large 

 and small plants is, that in the case of the latter, the 

 plant can remain in the hand of the operator, and the 

 stand need not be brought into use. Those plants which 

 have strong coarse roots may have a large shift each 

 time, but care must be taken not to over-pot those having 

 fine and delicate roots, as it is far better to repot twice 

 or three times, than to risk the health if not the life of 

 a plant by over-potting. 



