168 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Oct'r 



m^y^ ^ — ^bcRS ' 



^ On Renovating Old Specimens of Plants. 



A3 BY T. JOHNSON, PHILADA. COUNTY. 



7 I frequently meet with old specimens of orange trees in my wan- 

 derings, the owners of which would u do anything" to "bring them 

 round again." There are also many who have plants, which have 

 been shifted from pot to pot till the plants have grown too large for 

 their situations; while there are again other plants which have been 

 grown with the view of obtaining a fine bloom, which must either be 

 thrown away or renewed. J will show the manner of proceeding in 

 such cases. Orange and many other similar trees become sickly 

 through a superabundance of water in the winter season, joined to a 

 defective drainage. To effect a good change early in spring the 

 plant should be cut in considerably, and no more water given than is 

 absolutely necessary to preserve the leaves from shrivelling. In about 

 three weeks have a preparation ready of half rotten turfy loam, and 

 about one third road sand — shake out the plants from the old pots or 

 tubs, wash the roots, cut out the decayed roots, and shorten the long 

 ones, then select a pot just large enough to hold the roots easily, and 

 pot in the compost prepared — water well, and, if there be the conve- 

 nience of a moist heat, place them in it for a few weeks ; if not, 

 place them in a shady situation out of doors, and give them water 

 only when they appear about to become dry. When it is desired to 

 reduce the size of a large specimen, see that the wood is well ripened 

 before pruning it. If it has been grown in doors, set it out in an 

 airy situation, but shaded from the full rays of the sun, and lessen 

 the supply of moisture. This will soon ripen the wood, which will 

 be known by the stems being considerably deeper colored, and ap- 

 pearing much firmer ; then cut down to about a foot or six inches of 

 the ground, as maybe desired. Still keep it rather dry— when it has 

 pushed forth shoots half an inch in length, shake out the plant from 

 the old soil, prune in the roots, and replace in as small pots as desira- 

 ble, in a rather poor but light soil — the nature of which must vary 

 to suit each given plant. This treatment will be successful in most 

 cases. The only difficulty I have ever found has been with heaths 

 and some other hard wooded plants, but with the wood of the old 

 specimen perfectly ripened they also break well, when cut down in 

 the above manner. In the case of plants which have tobe cut down 

 to flower again the next season as the geranium, the fuchsia, and the 

 like, treat as recommended for the last, but be careful that the plants 

 are shifted out into larger pots before the roots become cramped in 

 the smaller ones. 



1 have now redeemed my promise as to window plants. I shall be 

 delighted if any effort of mine aid your really essential work, I con- 

 ceive it to have a claim on the amateur, the gardener, and the trade 

 generally. It serves to bind each class of Horticulturists the more 

 to the other, by bringing together the stock both of knowledge and >\ 

 of novelties which each individually possesses. *»J 



29^v , ^x*Q$% 



