57 



3. General principles of syringing. 



4. General principles of ventilation. 



1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF POTTING. 



J The question of soils having been discussed at p. 

 ii 65 of Vol. I., we need say little here on that head, 

 i but merely observe that they must by all means be in 

 a mellow state. Quite agreeing with Mr. Barnes in 

 repudiating the use of wet turf or other composts, 

 we will append a few remarks at the conclusion as 

 to good modes of harvesting soils. 



A continual succession of fruit being the aim with 

 which we must set out, it follows, as a matter of 

 course, that any general shifting, in the old accepta- 

 tion of that term, must have a tendency to defeat the 

 end in view. We, therefore, say, that the more pro- 

 gressive the shiftings are the better. As a general 

 rule, however, we would say shifting might be entirely 

 dispensed with from the end of October until Christ- 

 mas. We consider that the root during this period 

 should be allowed a comparative quiet, for an over 

 active root would but weaken the general fabric of 

 the plant, which it is the business of the clever culti- 

 vator to solidify by the last remains of autumn sun- 

 hght. 



With regard to shifting, we would in the first place 

 protest against shifting without a sufficient reason, — 



