Tin: rRACTICAL gardkner. 



[May. 



get the whole bed renewed. However, if tlie temperature of 

 the bed be fallen too low, their removal will become neces- 

 sary, as a want of sufBcient bottom-heat at this time would be 

 attended with serious consequences to the fruit. In perform- 

 ing this, therefore, the greatest possible care should be taken 

 to remove them, so as not to injure the roots but as little as 

 possible. The bed will not probably require to be turned 

 over at this time quite to the bottom, therefore, in turning it 

 over, the fresh tan or leaves used, should be kept well down, 

 still bearing in mind to keep a sufficient quantity of half- 

 decayed matter upon the surface, in which to plunge the pots. 

 Such plants, the fruit of which is nearly swelled, should, as 

 tliey are removed out of the bed, be supported with neat 

 sticks, to prevent them being broken off, or the fruit-stalk 

 damaged with their weight. During the time the plants are 

 out, trim all decayed leaves off, and shorten such as are de- 

 cayed at their points, they being of no use, and will make the 

 plants look better when removed. Such plants, the fruit oi 

 which is fully swelled, or beginning to ripen, should not be 

 disturbed at their surface ; but all such as are less forward, 

 should have all the mould removed from their surface that is 

 unoccupied with roots, and either replaced now, or as soon as 

 they are replunged in the bed. 



If any of the plants appear sickly, and the fruit not more 

 than half swelled, they may be shifted with safety, and either 

 placed in the same sized pots, or, if their roots be few and 

 diseased, which will generally be the case with such as show 

 less vigour than the others, their treatment being the same, 

 they may be placed in smaller pots, their balls being reduced, 

 and their roots singled out, and all decayed ones removed ; 

 and if carefully repotted, and attended to with water as their 

 state may require, they will perfect their fruit much better 

 than if they had been left in the pots in which they formerly 

 grew. It will, however, be a check to the growth of the fruit, 

 and retard its ripening for some weeks. The plants being 

 examined, and the bed ready for their reception, they should 

 be plunged as directed in February ; keeping such as are 

 nearly ripe at one end, to be removed when cut, without de- 

 ranging the whole, and their place of course filled up with 



