254 



THE ORAXGERY. 



but all agree in having a rich and rather strong soil, to which we may 

 add, that our own practical opinion is, that a soil for these trees cannot 

 well be too rich or too strong ; even strong, rich brick earth, exposed to 

 atmospheric changes for a year or two, and highly enriched with manure, 

 we have found to answer our expectations. 



POTTING AND SHIFTING. 



Orange trees do not require to be re-potted or shifted so often as most 

 other plants ; once in two years or longer may be considered as a medium 

 period for this operation. The months of March or April appear to be 

 the best time, and the following the best mode of proceeding. When the 

 plants are large, the boxes or tubs should be taken to pieces, in order that 

 the roots may be examined 'ssithout disturbing the ball. The best boxes 

 for this purpose are those that are contrived so that they may l>e 

 sepai'ated with as little trouble as possible, and those recommended in the 

 Gard. Mag., Vol. I., and in M'lntosh^s Practical Gardener, Vol. II., are 

 decidedly the best, as affording the greatest facilities, both for removing 

 and examining the roots of the plants. Tubs have advantages also, and 

 may be, Uke boxes, of any size above that of the largest size pots ; they 

 are readily taken to pieces by knocking off the hoops, and having a 

 cooper at hand to put them together again. By either of these ways the 

 operation of shifting becomes an easy matter, but when the boxes or tul^s 

 are not taken to pieces, then the tree and ball must be entirely lifted out 

 of the tub and suspended by fixing a rope round the stem, and passing 

 the other end over a pulley fixed to a triangle, that the tree may be so 

 elevated that the new tub or box may be placed under it, into which the 

 tree is lowered as soon as the necessaiy operations of examining the roots 

 have taken place. There is one e^il attending this plan, namely, the 

 danger of injuring the bark by the rope. As the trees require a con- 

 siderable quantity of water dm'ing summer, it is necessary that the tubs 

 or boxes be well drained prior to the plants being placed in them, and 

 that there be a sufiicient number of holes perforated in the bottom, to 

 admit of the escape of the superfluous water. Oranges should not be 

 over-shifted, that is, they should not be put into tubs or boxes much 

 larger than those out of which they were taken. If there be about an 

 inch or an inch and a half of new mould added round the ball, it will, in 

 most cases, be sufficient at one time. All decayed or broken roots should 

 the carefully cut off, the sides of the ball loosened, and any hard or sod- 

 dened lumps of mould removed, but in doing this, the greatest care must 

 be taken that the young and healthy roots sustain no injury. 



