CULTURAL HINTS. 
185 
surface, but unless some care be taken to give a horizontal direction to them, as 
well as not to sink the ball, this end will not be accomplished. At the spring 
potting, then, whilst the plant is still in a sub-dormant state, as many of the roots 
as can be disentangled should be loosened and spread near the surface, pruning 
back some of the most vigorous lower ones to cause the extrusion of fresh rootlets. 
If the mass is permitted to retain the form in which it has been moulded in the 
former pot, the most vigorous will push at once to the bottom, and penetrate 
beyond it, whilst the upper portion of the soil is thereby left devoid of roots, and 
consequently in no wise contributes to the nourishment of the plant. Thus the 
principle acquires a far greater degree of importance than could attach to it merely 
from the circumstance which has provoked its consideration ; for it is intimately 
interwoven with one of the most essential conditions in pot culture. 
It is true there are some seeming exceptions : the Primula sinensis and the 
herbaceous Calceolarias require to have the stem sunk deeper at each succeeding 
potting. These plants, however, gradually lose the lower part of the underground 
stem, together with the roots which proceed from it, as the oldest leaves decay ; 
whilst fresh roots are progressively emitted from the portion of the stem next 
above, as new leaves are developed at the top. Hence there is a constant decay 
and extension going forward simultaneously ; which would lead us to suppose (in 
the case of the Primrose at least) that the decaying roots have their origin in 
those leaves which die about the same time. To promote the development of 
leaves we must encourage new roots to protrude from the higher parts of the 
stem by sinking it to the base of the remaining leaves, and cutting away the old 
inert and lifeless part at the bottom. This will keep the plant steady in its place, 
and constantly furnished with vigorous active roots near the surface as well as in 
the bottom of the pot. A better supply of healthy roots near the top of the pot 
will also be produced in the Garden Balsam, by burying a portion of the stem 
whenever it requires a larger pot. The effect, therefore, is the same with such 
plants as the contrary procedure is with the majority of shrubs. 
Another means of preventing the roots from exceeding the limits allotted to 
them, will be found in a properly prepared flooring for placing the pots upon. 
This is. in fact, the principal means of obviating the evil ; for in spite of all the 
precautions that can be taken in potting, it is evident that, when a multitude of 
roots have been formed, and fill the pot, they will extend beyond it in search of 
other aliment, in proportion to the suitableness of the material into which they 
plunge on emerging from it. If, as is frequently the case, a light earth, ashes, or 
any substance into which roots can easily penetrate and derive nourishment from, 
lies immediately beneath the pot, a degree of luxuriant growth will be induced, 
that to the unpractised culturist may appear to be symptomatic of health and good 
management, but which in reality is an evidence of the converse, and a forerunner of 
disease and unfruitfulness. The mischief, moreover, is more extensive in hard- 
wooded plants than in those of softer parts, although the latter appear to acquire 
VOL. XII. — NO. CXL. B B 
