60 



prepared mixture is strewed, then another lot of 

 turfy matter, and so on alternately, taking care to 

 finish with an inch or two of the compost. 



One remark, generally applicable, should here be 

 made, viz., that in all cases of shifting with sound 

 balls and healthy roots, that such balls should, if 

 dry, have a liberal watering a couple of days previ- 

 ously to the shifting : this supersedes the necessity 

 of watering close on the heels of potting, which is 

 a practice to be avoided. 



2. — GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF WATERING. 



This is a difficult part of the subject to deal with, 

 and the remarks we may make will be given, and we 

 hope received, with much caution. No plant enjoys 

 water more than the pine judiciously applied, whilst 

 it is equally certain that no plant sooner suffers from 

 an injudicious application of this needful liquid. Va- 

 rieties also differ in the quantity they require ; for, 

 whilst the Black Jamaica (Montserrat of some,) 

 would do with a watering once in a fortnight or once 

 even in a month in the height of summer, the Queen, 

 under a similarly very high temperature, and in full 

 vigour, would grow, in what might be term^ed, by way 

 of illustration, a hot ditch. Plants of robust habit and 

 under high temperatures will of course require much 

 more water than those not so strong ; but if any doubt 



