2 34 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



time, that fresh growth has been made, and to prove whether the cuttings are rooted, shake 

 the soil out of the pot, when the roots should he seen making their way round the ball of 

 earth. At this time, remove the young plants to another frame in the greenhouse, which 

 should be more freely ventilated, and more air admitted each day, in this way gradually 

 inuring them to the mure airy conditions prevailing in the greenhouse itself. When the 

 young plants can bear full exposure in the frames, they should be removed to shelves 

 arranged near the glass. Progress should be rapid from this time forth, and the young 

 plants will soon have filled their first pots with roots. To prevent a check, the plants 

 which were rooted in "thumb" pots should be repotted into others, 3^ in. in diameter, 

 while those rooted in large numbers around the edges of pots, and those also in boxes, 

 should each be potted up singly into pots 3m. in diameter. 



The work daily becomes more interesting, and the one aim should be to keep the 

 young plants growing sturdily. A suitable compost for this first repotting should contain 

 the following ingredients : Three parts fibrous loam, one part leaf mould, one part rotten 



manure, a 



or anything of a similar character. As the plants are repotted, return them to the frames or 

 shelves in the greenh ruse, and when they have recovered from the check which naturally takes 

 place during the last-mentioned operation, remove them to a frame in a warm aspect of the 

 garden. This cool treatment is just what is needed at this early period of the year, but to 

 prevent any disastrous consequences arising through sharp frosts, plunge the pots in cocoa-nut 

 fibre refuse, and also embed the frame in any long litter, such as bracken or straw. At 

 night mats must be placed over the glass, and not removed until the temperature is free 

 from frost. Should frost prevail during the day, the mats should be utilised then. With 

 the approach of more genial weather, the frames outdoors may be ventilated, gradually at 

 first, until later in the season remove the frame-lights entirely. The grower's common- 

 sense must determine the quantity of air to give. 



Within a period of from six week's to two months the same plants will again need 

 repotting. No stated date can be given for the different repottings to be carried out, The 



when the 

 plants are 

 being re- 



