20 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



it should be stood in one of the hottest houses for twenty-four 

 hours to get warmed through before being used. More especially 

 is the observance of this precaution necessary in the case of 

 potting established plants, as the bringing of their roots in con- 

 tact with soil much colder than that in which they are growing 

 gives them a serious check. 



In potting the plants in every stage of their growth, it is 

 absolutely essential that they should have good drainage and 

 clean pots. This being so, potsherds to the depth of from 

 1 inch in G-inch pots up to 2 or 2 \ inches in the case of the 

 fruiting (10 to 12-inch) pots should be used, putting a large 

 piece of crock, hollow-side down, over the hole or holes, and 

 over this smaller pieces to the required depth, placing the 

 smallest ones (those which have been passed through a ^-inch< 

 and \ -inch sieves) on the top, following these with a sprinkling 

 of fresh soot (to prevent the ingress of worms) and a covering 

 of thin turves, grass-side down, or dry moss, thereby securing 

 perfect drainage. 



The potting of the suckers, as well as of larger plants, should 

 be proceeded with according to size, beginning with the largest 

 and finishing with the smallest, the plunging of the pots being 

 done in the same order, keeping the plants in all cases within 

 1 or 2 inches of the roof- glass, and allowing sufficient space 

 between the individual plants to ensure sturdy groiuth. Pots 

 from 6 to 8 inches in diameter and depth should be used 

 for the strong rootless suckers, and the ends of these should 

 be buried from 2 to 3 inches, making the soil firm about 

 them with a wooden rammer, and allowing a space of rather 

 more than half an inch from the rims of the pots for water 

 when its application at the roots is considered needful. As soon 

 as the roots begin to push freely into the soil, supplies of diluted 

 liquid manure, at a temperature of about 85°, should be given at 

 the roots up to the time the fruit begins to change colour ; and 

 occasional surface dressings of some good artificial manure, 

 immediately before giving clear tepid water during the fruit- 

 swelling period, will greatly assist in the development of large 

 handsome fruit. Change of diet with plants, as with men, 

 sharpens the appetite, and so promotes and maintains a healthy 

 and vigorous constitution. The plants should not be allowed to 

 become pot-bound before being placed in the fruiting pots. Those 



