THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



151 



front edge of the table or bench. Examine the roots 

 if they are healthy, much matted, or but sparingly 

 wound round the ball of earth. If they are not 

 healthy, the best plan will be to shake off all the earth, 

 and cut off all the unhealthy fibres, and repot the plant 

 in a smaller pot well drained, first by placing a sherd 

 with the hollow side over the hole, and next by co- 

 vering the bottom of the pot with an inch of gravel ; 

 and the mould used should have a little more sand 

 added to it than what is given to the plant in its 

 healthy state, in order to let the water pass freely 

 through it to the gravel. 



If the ball is much matted with roots, and these 

 are in a healthy state, it is a sure indication of the 

 vigour of the plant, and its requiring a larger pot ; 

 and if it be desired that the plant should continue in- 

 creasing in size, a larger pot may be given it. If, on 

 the contrary, it be desired that the size of the plant 

 should not be increased on account of want of room 

 in the green-house, then, without cutting or breaking 

 the roots, the ball should be broken, and the greater 

 part of the earth shaken out from among the roots, 

 and the plant replaced in the same pot, (previously 

 cleared and a crock put on the hole,) and carefully 

 filled in with fresh mould ; lifting the pot and striking 

 its bottom against the surface of the bench to cause 

 the mould to settle properly about the roots, and 

 gently thrusting a small round stick not larger than 

 a man's little finger down among the roots for the 

 same purpose. 



