384 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



in readiness, the selection of a fine day is taken for 

 the removal of the plants, which are carefully tied 

 up, as they are taken out of the pits, with strings of 

 matting, to prevent their leaves being broke or 

 bruised in the shifting. The plants are now shook clean 

 out of the mould in which they were previously potted, 

 and, the decayed roots being cut clean away, re- 

 potted into similar sized pots. This clearing away the 

 exhausted mould and decayed roots, will materi- 

 ally invigorate the growth of the plants; although 

 giving them a partial check in the first instance, 

 they will afterwards make a more rapid progress 

 than if the old roots and soil had not been removed. 

 While the operation of potting is proceeding with, 

 the leaves in the pits, whose heat has, by this time, 

 considerably subsided, as also the height of the bed, 

 are turned over, and a supply of fresh leaves added, 

 but kept towards the bottom of the pit, and the 

 fermented ones turned to the top, for the plants to 

 be plunged amongst. According as the potting is 

 proceeded with, the largest of the plants are se- 

 lected, and arranged towards the back of the pit, 

 keeping still the lowest and smallest for the front : 

 the pots are now plunged to the rims in the bed. 

 Those crowns and suckers that have been growing 

 in the nursing pit through the Winter, are taken 

 and potted, and placed in the succession pit with 

 the others. It may be necessary to observe, that, in 

 potting, the mould should not be pressed very hard 

 about the plants, particularly if it is in a damp state, 

 as it would subject the soil to become too hard and 

 binding for the free emission of the young roots. 



