55 



The size of the pots for the suckers must be regu- 

 lated according to their size. Most of the suckers 

 at Bicton are at once placed into pots varying from 

 7 to 12 inches diameter; and the suckers have, 

 usually, but one shift afterwards. They are not en- 

 tirely confined to the one shift, but this is regulated 

 by circumstances and seasons. At Bicton there is 

 not the means of commanding a humid warm air suf- 

 ficient for a bottom heat, therefore they are plunged 

 in a very moderate bottom heat of fermenting mate- 

 rials, such as a little half-decayed tan or leaves placed 

 on faggots : they put forth abundance of roots and 

 grow quickly. Of course they should never at any 

 season of the year be allowed to remain until pot- 

 bound, or the roots in the pots become matted 

 together ; but always repot or shift when they require 

 it, no matter what time in the season it may be. 

 No month or season of year is unsuited for this ope- 

 ration. 



From growing plants, not jntended to be disturbed, 

 suckers cannot with safety be taken till they are grown 

 to the length of 12 or 14 inches, when their bottoms 

 will be brown, hard, woody, and full of small round 

 knobs, which are the rudiments of the roots. It 

 would endanger their breaking if they were to be taken 

 off sooner. When the suckers are taken off, the 

 operation should be preformed with great care, that 

 neither plant nor sucker may be injured. To prevent 



