AUGUST. 



127 



shakes all the soil from the roots, and cuts away a 

 part of the strongest roots, then pots it in as small 

 a pot as the root will permit ; he then places the 

 plant in any forcing house, shifts, as the roots ap- 

 pear through the hole at the bottom of the pot, into 

 the next size, and continues to do so until the plant 

 is in a pot of a size corresponding to the head of 

 the plant. He prunes the branches at the same time 

 he does the roots, leaving about four inches of the 

 last year's wood to each shoot, unless the plant 

 be meant to grow taller, when he leaves them to 

 attain the size he wishes them to be. He recom- 

 mends, when the plants are young and in small 

 pots, shifting them into the next size pot at the 

 time the old plants are repotted, and pursues the 

 same method, as to shifting, &c, with them as with 

 the old plant. 



Water. — Give an abundance when the plants are 

 in vigorous health ; when they are growing luxuri- 

 antly I withhold water for a few days, this checks 

 the growth, and causes the flower-buds to appear 

 in great abundance, after which time you cannot 

 give them too much water. Occasionally water 

 with dung water. 



Soil. — A rich maiden loam. Drain the pots 

 well. 



Keep the plants clear from the green-fly. 



