12 



with the other hand raise the pot and lap the rim of it on the 

 edge of a solid substance; as a rule one or two taps willloosen 

 the roots from the sides of the pot, when ihe ball of earth will 

 fall into the operator's open hand. If the ball of rarth refuses 

 to come ou". Avith two or three taps, give the plant a thorough 

 watering and allow it to stand until the water drains off, when 

 it can be removed quite easilj', and by the way, it is better that 

 the ball of earth be quite moist, for if it is dry the roots' will 

 cling to the pot and may be broken, and the soil being dry, it 

 will crumble and fall to pieces, thereby disturbing the roots 

 and oftentimes breaking them. ' " 



It is not necessary- to give a larger pot until the roots be- 

 come pretty well matted around the ball'of earth, yet it should 

 not be allowed to remain in the pot until the tender Avhite 

 succulent roots become brown and hard, or ''woody." If, ac- 

 cording to the above, the plant needs a large pot, select, if the 

 plant is of slow growth or ''hard Avooded " (such as Camelias, 

 Azaleas, Daphne, etc.,) a pot one size larger"; if the 

 plant is ■' soft wooded " (Gera,niums, Fuchias, etc.,) a pot two 

 sizes larger will do just as well. Fill the pot to the deiDth of 

 one inch or more, according to the size of pot, with broken 

 pots, pieces of bricks, or anything that water will readily drain 

 through, put in a little soil and then pui the pia.nl in the 

 centre of the pot, fill up the space between the ball of earth in 

 which the plant has been growing and the side of the pot wiCh 

 soil ; press it in solidlj^ with the thumbs or a stick, give the 

 bottom of the pot a sharp rap on the potting table and the op- 

 eration is complete. 



If plants are in pots larger than necessary-, take them put 

 of the pots, carefulhj shake all the soil from the roots and wash 

 them in clean water and re-pot in as small a pot as will, hold 

 the roots. without crowding them; use great care in re-potting, 

 so that the roots may not be broken. If there is much tops on 

 the plant they should be shortened until the roots begin to 

 work in the new soil; this shortening process will encoumge a 

 strong young growth. When, after their season of blooming 

 is over, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and all other plants that 

 should be cut back, as soon as thoy have started to make a new 

 growth, they should be treated the same as plants that have 

 been over-potted, inasmuch as they have not the same tops 

 and flowers to support for the time being, they will not need 

 so much pot room. Plants that have been growing in the 



