MARCH. 45 



them place a layer of the smallest size ; out of these last the fine 

 dust, if any, should be sifted. This need not be thrown away, as it 

 will be found useful to mix among soil for dry stove-plants, such 

 as Cacti, or amongst the soil for a great variety of rock-plants and 

 Ferns. Over the drainage place a thin layer of the rougher parts of 

 the soil ; this prevents the finer particles washing or falling down 

 amongst, and choking up, the drainage. Upon this place such a 

 layer of soil as will allow the ball of the plant, when standing upon 

 it, to be nearly level with the rim of the pot. Then place the plant 

 as near the centre as possible, and fill round the ball with soil, press- 

 ing it gently down as it is filled in, till the pot is full, and the old 

 ball covered up, in small plants about a quarter of an inch, and in 

 large ones about half an inch. Then give the pot a gentle stroke 

 upon the bench, level any inequalities, and the operation is finished. 

 Set the plant upon a perfectly level surface, and give a liberal water- 

 ing, to settle the soil close to the roots in every part. Follow on 

 from plant to plant in the same manner, till the whole are potted. 



Watering. Every point in plant- culture is of consequence, and 

 must be dihgently attended to with care and judgment. If one is ill 

 or carelessly done, it renders every other point properly attended 

 to nugatory, and none more than that of watering. Some plants, 

 it is true, have such strong or accommodating constitutions, that 

 they will bear for a time too much or too little water with impunity ; 

 but that is not the case with the genus Epacris, though even they 

 are not so dangerous to neglect as the Heath tribe. When newly 

 potted, they do not require so much water as when the roots begin 

 to fill the pots, and the branches are then growing rapidly, and a 

 large quantity of fresh fohage is produced. The quantity of water 

 then, as the plants grow, should be proportionately increased, especially 

 during the summer months ; and when it is applied, enough should 

 be given to thoroughly wet the whole soil in the pot. The dribble 

 by dribble system of watering is very mischievous ; one half or more 

 of the ball is never moistened at all. This may be easily seen by 

 turning the ball out of the pot two or three hours after watering ; 

 the liquid will be found only to have reached perhaps an inch or two 

 below the surface ; and in that case how can the roots exist or thrive 

 in such dry-as-powder soil ? When, therefore, a plant needs water, 

 give it liberally; but, on the other hand, take care that it is not 

 glutted or soddened with it. Too much is quite as injurious as too 

 little. The surface will then appear dry, whilst the inside will be 

 too wet. The roots then perish at the ends, the young shoots flag 

 in consequence, and the unthinking operator waters again heavily, 

 and the evil thereby is increased ; the leaves turn yellow, and often 

 death ensues. Avoid, then, these extremes, and the plants will con- 

 tinue healthy, and progress satisfactorily. 



T. Appleby. 

 [To be concluded in our next.] 



