58 



that is to say, a pot full or nearly full of healthy^ 

 roots. Another point we would urge, is to give libe-^ 

 ral shifts. We would in nearly all cases, exceptingt 

 in mere sucker treatment, have the fresh pot nearly ; 

 four inches in diameter more than the pot whence 

 the plant is removed. One favourite plan of ours is 

 to continue pressing in gently lumps of porous turf 1 

 round the sides of the pot during the process, merely ■ 

 casing with a general mixture at the close of the ope- 

 ration. 



In the present state of pine culture we would ad- ] 

 vise that porous turfy loam, of a somewhat adhesive 

 character, should constitute by far the largest half of 

 the mixture. Indeed, if from rich lowlands, which 

 have been employed for a score of years, we have no 

 doubt that, coupled with a proper system of liquid 

 manure, it would be found complete in itself without 

 any admixture. For general purposes, however, we 

 would say, mix some stimulating manures and a little 

 half-decayed leaf-soil or peat with the mass, adding 

 plenty of coarse charcoal poundings, with some coarse 

 sand. 



Pots with concave bottoms are the first essential, 

 with a very large hole or holes for drainage. If such 

 are not large enough, or the bottom looks suspicious, 

 knock a hole larger with a hammer. The crocking 

 is another and most important matter, for if the 

 drainage hole becomes choked, it matters little how 



