1G6 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



escape of superfluous moisture — one 

 of the most important things in plant 

 culture ; and in order to effect this 

 properly, apiece of broken pot should 

 be laid with the hollow side down- 

 wards over the hole, and other smaller 

 pieces upon it, in quantity propor- 

 tioned to the size of the pot ; for 

 instance, a two or three inch pot will 

 drain by one piece of potsherd and a 

 little piece of moss over it, whilst a 

 ten inch pot will require at least an 

 inch in depth all over its bottom — 

 and growers of delicate-rooted plants 

 use a givat deal more — for pots under 

 four inches in diameter, it will be 

 necessary to sift the soil through a 

 coarse sieve, but for larger pots the 

 soil may be broken sufficiently by the 

 spade, it being of importance to re- 

 tain the fibrous parts for the future 

 nourishment of the plant potted in 

 it. When about to pot a plant, draw 

 off a few rough pieces of the soil, and 

 put first upon the drainage before 

 putting the finer soil in ; and whether 

 planting a plant, or filling the pots 

 for seeds or cuttings, press the soil 

 rather firmly in, and when the plant 

 has a ball of earth, and is taken from 

 one pot to be transferred to another, 

 it will be necessary to use a blunt 

 stick to press the soil well in between 

 the ball and the pot, taking care not 

 to injure the roots in so doing ; and 

 be sure so to regulate the plant in its 

 new pot that the top of the old ball 

 may be only slightly covered with 

 new soil, as much mischief often 

 comes to plants through the stem 

 being too deeply buried; finish off 

 with a little fine soil, and leave about 

 half an inch of the rim of the pot 

 clear, sotbat it may hold water when 

 given; aud in order that the soil may 

 not be disturbed and washed out, 

 give the first few waterings through 

 a rose, and be sure the whole mass of 

 soil is wetted throughout. To accom- 

 plish this, it may be necessary to water 

 several times at short intervals ; for 

 if not done at first, the plant may 

 languish and die for want of it, whilst 

 the surface looks moist. There is 

 another little point or two in con- 

 nection with fresh potted plants it 

 may be worth while to notice, viz., 

 that they should be allowed to drain 



before removal, as the shaking of pots 

 of wet soil disarranges its texture, 

 and causes it to settle too compactly ; 

 it is proper, likewise, to get a portion 

 of soil under cover before winter, so 

 that it is not necessary to have re- 

 course to wet and frozen soil when 

 wanted for use. Worms are great 

 enemies to the well-being of plants, 

 when they insinuate themselves into 

 the pot, they must therefore be care- 

 fully removed by picking from the 

 soil as it is being used ; but should it 

 be discovered that any are in the pots, 

 carefully turn the plant out upon the 

 left hand, and endeavour to catch 

 them ; or should the plant be too 

 large for this, use a little clear lime- 

 water, made by steeping a lump of 

 fresh lime iu a jug of water, which 

 will bring them to the surface. Should 

 the drainage of the pot be found to 

 be choked, and the soil in consequeuce 

 sour, it will be best to shake away as 

 much as possible of the old soil, and 

 repot the plant in a clean pot and 

 fresh soil. 



Water and Watering.— It is desir- 

 able that plants should be watered 

 with rain water, but as this cannot 

 always be done, water from wells or 

 pipes must in such cases be used, but 

 should never be given in a cold state, 

 as a quart of boiling water to a gallon 

 of cold will, in a great measure, rec- 

 tify it, and save the cultivator the 

 mortification of seeiug the leave3 of 

 his plants turn yellow and drop off. 

 So important do I consider this point 

 that I never give cold spring water 

 even to kitchen garden crops ; and 

 when in charge of a large place, had 

 daily a copper going to supply hot 

 water for all purposes of watering 

 and syringing ; and for syringing, I 

 consider it should be as warm as one 

 can comfortably bear the hand in. 

 To promote the growth of the plants 

 in April, May, and June, syringing 

 should be done on the afternoon of 

 bright days, just as the house is losing 

 the full force of the sun's rays, say 

 from three to five o'clock ; the mois- 

 ture will then be diffused into vapour 

 instead of hanging coldly about the 

 plants, as it would do if given at a 

 later period of the day ; and to 

 syringe in the morning may be at- 



