30 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



is divested of its pot, let the broken tiles, or whatever sub- 

 stance be used in draining, be carefully picked out without 

 tearing off the roots which may have grown amongst them ; 

 also any caked or mossy substance on the surface, which will 

 come easily off with the fingers. Then proceed to loosen the 

 earth, and matted roots by gently patting them on the side of 

 the ball with the hand, or otherwise, so as to open the pores 

 of the earth without cracking the roots : shake off any loose 

 earth, and, having a proper sized pot ready prepared, put in 

 a quantity of the fresh mould sufficient to raise the crown of 

 the roots to about half an inch below the rim of the pot, on 

 which set the plant, and add more earth, lightly shaking it 

 in among the fibres : let the whole be pressed moderately 

 tight, but not so as to render it hard in the least degree, nor 

 by any means using a stick for this purpose, (another never- 

 failing attendant on the former practice,) by which the roots 

 are extremely liable to be torn or bruised ; add mould suffi- 

 cient to raise the surface level with the rim of the pot, as it 

 will settle to a proper depth with watering, and smooth the 

 whole off neatly with the hand." When the whole are re- 

 potted in this way, they are immediately removed again into 

 ' the stove, and, by shading and attention to watering, &c., 

 are soon re-established to a growing state. 



On the same subject Mr. Sweet, in his Botanical Cultivator, 

 remarks, *' In potting i)lants, care should be taken to drain the 

 pots well with broken potsherds, or rough bits of turf; for 

 nothing injures them more than letting them get sodden with 

 too much wet. The best time to shift them into fresh pots is 

 in spring, but some will require to be shifted again in autumn, 

 to have them thrive well. The freely growing kinds cannot be 

 well over-potted, if there be plenty of room for them in the 

 houses ; they will thrive and tiower better for being in large 

 pots. Others that are more tender, should be kept in as small 

 pots as possible, as they may not get sodden and lose their 

 roots." 



Our practice has been to shift only such plants, and at such 

 periods, as they may seem to require it, whether in spring, sum- 

 mer, winter, or autumn ; and, having the pots either new or 

 well cleaned and drained, pot them, without injuring the roots 



