722 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Many are also grafted on stocks of the same or an allied 

 genus, e.g., Azaleas and Rhododendrons. 



Never on any account allow plants that are potted in peat 

 to become dry, for if this happens no amount of watering will 

 ever get the soil into a proper state again. The best plan in 

 such cases is to immerse the plant in water for several hours. 



Insect pests, although quite as troublesome, are more easily 

 c^ot rid of than in the case of soft-wooded plants, as the hard- 



wooded species 

 are better able to 

 w i t h s tand the 

 effects of either 

 fumigation or in- 

 secticides, except- 

 ing whilst young 

 growth is being 

 made. 



During the 

 period of ripening 

 their wood these 

 plants should have 

 plenty of air and 

 sunshine, only 

 shading on the 

 very hottest days, 

 when the foliage 

 is liable to be 

 scorched; and 

 many kinds are 

 best stood outside 

 altogether in the 

 full sun. In nearly 

 all cases repotting 

 is best done just 

 at the time when 

 the plants are 

 starting into 

 growth after hav- 

 ing been at rest, 

 and it is generally 

 advisable not to 

 give big shifts, 

 but to use pots 

 only one size 

 larger. When this 



is done, care must be exercised in removing the drainage and 

 reducing the old ball so as to avoid injury to the roots. Also, 

 in potting, all the space round the old ball must be filled in. 



Si: 



Fig. 468. — Abelia spathulata. 



