This is the season when many things will require re-potting. Many have a set time and season to do this; but some things require re-potting at various seasons. The best time is just before they are about to make a new growth. Camelias, azaleas, and many plants, for instance, start at this season. It is not necessary to re-pot so often as some think, especially if bloom, and not very large specimens, is chiefly wanted. If the pot is very full of roots, and the plant growing weak, it may need re-potting.

In potting, see that some provision is made for allowing the water to readily escape, by putting broken crocks over the hole. Use soil rather dry, and ram it firmly about the old ball. Prefer pots only a little larger, to very large shifts, as less liable to accidents. Trim the plants in a little, if unshapely, to encourage the new growth where wanted.

Sometimes the plants get "sick," which is known by unhealthy, yellow leaves. This is usually by over-watering, generating a gas, or, as gardeners term it, a "sourness," destructive to the roots. The remedy is to cut the plant back a little, shake out the soil, and put the plant in a small pot with new soil and place the plant in a house only moderately warm, and which is naturally moist, so that the plant can live for a while without requiring much water. It will generally recover.

Many who have but small houses and wish to have a variety, are troubled with valued plants, becoming too large. To keep them low, as soon as the plant has matured its growth, cut it down as low as may be desired. As soon as it shows signs of breaking forth into a new growth, turn it out of the pot; shake or tear away the old ball of roots and put it into a small pot as it can be got into; and when it grows again, and fills the pot with roots, re-pot again as before.