THE RHODODENDRON. 
195 
pletely enveloped by some less porous body. On the other hand, 
peat of a very open nature is less adapted to their support than 
loam, because the admission of air among the numerous interstices 
which distinguish the peculiar kind spoken of carries off its 
moisture by evaporation, and the minute silky fib uses of the plant 
suffer in proportion to the extent of this action. 
That portion of the genus which, for the reason before men¬ 
tioned, require to be protected in winter and their blooming 
season, are usually grown in pots or planted in the borders of 
the conservatory ; sandy peat is usually employed for them, and 
perhaps no better soil can be recommended. We would, how¬ 
ever, add about a third of loam when the staple of the peat is 
very fibrous and light. The pots should be well-drained, and it 
is advisable to mix with the soil pieces of potsherds, charcoal, or 
stones, in a manner that shall disperse them throughout the 
mass. Whenever it becomes positively necessary to repot the 
plants, a rather liberal shift should be given, for they do not re¬ 
quire, nor are, indeed, benefited by frequent removals. The 
circumference of the ball of roots should be loosened with the 
hand in the operation, and, when duly stationed, the space be¬ 
tween it and the pot should be filled as tightly as it can be 
pressed with the knuckles, and after a gentle watering the work 
will be complete. Repotting is best done immediately after the 
plants have flowered, as it is then that they begin to grow, and 
the assistance of the fresh earth is most beneficial. 
From this period up to the following August the plants will 
require more attention than at any other time. It will be found 
that they make their first growth very rapidly, and, to encourage 
them to a vigorous development, plenty of water must be given, 
and the plants continued in the house till it is completed, which 
will occupy from four to six weeks. As they approach the end 
of this first seasonal action, considerable care and watchfulness 
* 
must be exercised, lest they start again into another, instead of 
forming flower-buds, especially with such as are planted in the 
borders of the erection, where no other means of affecting them 
can be exercised but in the application of w r ater, which in such a 
position should be withheld altogether till the blossom-buds 
are plainly visible. Plants in pots may be more effectually 
checked by removing them to the open air and limiting their 
