AZALEAS— RE-POTTING. 



'53 



As the flowers wither, not only remove them, but also at the same time the incipient 

 seed-pods at their base. This is important, and often too long neglected. Nor should 

 there be any delay in returning the plants to a forcing-house or other moderately warm 

 quarters, where they can be syringed every morning and afternoon, to accelerate their 

 growth. Omitting to attend to this precaution has led to innumerable failures. The best 

 time to regulate the growth of the plants by freely shortening unruly shoots is early in 

 the spring, while the training may be done in the autumn or winter. 



Ee-potting is a most important cultural detail, too often performed either badly or at 

 the wrong time. It should be done (when needed) within a month after flowering, as the 

 roots are then the most active. Large specimens in 12-inch pots do not require a shift 

 oftener than every third year or more ; in fact, they may remain in the same pots for a 

 much longer period provided they are assisted with weak liquid manure during the 

 growing-time. Exception must, however, be made in favour of plants which have been 

 rendered unhealthy by imperfect drainage and soured soil, evils which must be removed. 

 Even the smaller plants do not always require to be re-potted every season, but any 

 much root-bound or in pots small in proportion to the size of the plants should be given 

 larger sizes. 



In no case ought a large shift to be given, 1 inch of fresh soil all round the mass 

 of roots being ample. The orthodox potting mixture consists of two parts good fibrous 

 peat, broken finely for small pots, and coarsely for the larger sizes, to one part each of 

 brown fibrous loam and leaf soil, with sharp sand and crushed charcoal freely added. 

 The plants should be in a moist state at the roots when turned out of their pots, and be 

 further prepared by having the drainage crocks removed, and the sides carefully loosened 

 with the aid of a pointed stick ; also any surface soil unoccupied by roots cleared off. Use 

 clean, carefully- drained pots, and ram down the soil very firmly, keeping the collar of 

 the plants high, but allowing adequate room from the rim of the pot to the soil for water. 

 Pilling the pots anything like level with the rims is a great mistake. Any plant found 

 in an unhealthy state at the roots owing to over-potting, worms, or other causes, should 

 have all the soured soil picked away from what live roots there may be, trimming these 

 and returning to smaller pots (if possible) than they were in before, and the fresh 

 compost and heat will usually lead to improvement. 



When the early summer growth is completed remove the azaleas to a cool, airy 

 greenhouse, and, if the room can be spared, keep them there till they are again wanted 

 to flower. The more common practice is to stand them in a sheltered place outdoors 



VOL. II. x 



