the best time to lift and pot the plants is as soon
as possible after the leaves have fallen in the autumn. When done at
this time the young roots recover from the check, and get hold of the
new soil before the flowering season. The pots must be plunged in
leaves, spent hops, or cocoa-nut refuse, to keep them in an even
condition of moisture, and after potting never allow the roots to suffer
through dryness. Whether intended for very early flowering or later on,
the plants should at first only be taken into a comparatively cool
structure, and, if necessary, brought to a greater heat by degrees, and
the lower the temperature, say about 55 degrees, the more beautiful the
flower colouring; while, when they are only required in bloom a little
before the natural season, mere protection from sharp frosts and keen
winds is alone essential. The advantage of early potting is shown
conspicuously in the case of Azaleas. The flowers produced by plants
that have been potted soon after the leaves have fallen will remain
twice as long in beauty as on those not potted until after Christmas.

In a general way, plants that have been forced hard to get them into
flower early cannot be depended upon to bloom satisfactorily the
following season, no matter how carefully they may have been treated,
but those merely brought into bloom a little in advance of those out of
doors will undergo the same ordeal next year. Too often, when the
flowers are over, the shrubs are put away in some corner and forgotten,
and the result is injured leaves and general upset. Shrubs so treated
cannot perform their duties in the year following. Shrubs that have
finished flowering under glass before the time of frost and cold winds
is past should be at first carefully protected and gradually hardened
off. Where a cool house is not available, a frame in a sheltered
position is suitable, but even then avoid overcrowding. By the middle of
May this precaution is not so necessary, although keen frosts and winds
are experienced that would injure foliage developed under glass. Where
potting is necessary, that is, in the case of plants grown permanently
in this way, it should be done before they are placed in their summer
quarters. For this the pots should, if possible, be placed on a firm bed
of ashes and plunged in some moisture-holding material, such as
partially decayed leaves, spent hops, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse.
Occasional doses of liquid manure during the growing s