380 



PLANT POTTING. 



ges being a larger and speedier develop- 

 ment than when subjected to the many 

 checks consequent upon the progressive, 

 or oft-shift system; that is, shifting from a 

 3 to a 4, from a 4 to a 5-inch pot, and so 

 on, progressively, as the plant increases in 

 size. That this method may be adopted 

 with great advantage in the case of robust, 

 free growing plants, is very evident ; and 

 its greatest advocates never contended that 

 it was equally applicable in all cases. In 

 small green-houses, nothing would be more 

 inconsistent than having a dozen large 

 plants to the exclusion of a hundred smaller 

 ones of different varieties. The unsightli- 

 ness of small plants occupying such large | 

 pots has also been urged as an objection. 



Another objection that has been raised 

 against placing a small plant in a large 

 bodv of earth is, that owing to atmospheri- 

 cal attraction the roots of plants have a 

 natural tendency to proceed in a horizontal 

 direction, until they reach the side of the 

 pot, where they will soon ramify, and form 

 an interwoven mass, enclosing a large por- 

 tion of soil, comparatively free of roots, 

 which, bv repeated waterings, is soon ren- 

 dered sodden and unfit for the few roots it 

 may contain. This would certainly be a 

 weighty objection if such was in reality 

 the case ; and undoubtedly such would be 

 the result if the soil was very close and 

 compact; but this objection ha slit tie weight 

 when the pots are well drained, the soil 

 lumpy and well intermixed with pebbles, 

 charcoal, &c. — the whole mass of soil being 

 thus rendered very open, water percolates 

 freely, and air and heat immediately take 

 its place ; atmospheric attraction being 

 equally balanced, lateral extension of the 

 roots is checked, and they ramify with re- 

 gularity throughout the whole. 



Whatever may be the advantages of this 

 system of potting, it can never be generally 



adopted. Every person's circumstances 

 will not admit of it. Neither would I ad- 

 vise any but those who are thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with the management and require- 

 ments of plants, to attempt cultivating any 

 of the small rooted, hard wooded plants on 

 this mode ; as it requires great care in pre- 

 paring and arranging the soil for such plants 

 as Epacris, Erica, Leschenaultias, Boroni- 

 as, 6cc, as well as the exercise of considera- 

 ble judgment in their future management ; 

 but for soft, free growing plants, as Gerani- 

 ums, Calceolarias, Brugmansias, Cinera- 

 rias, Fuchsias, and such like, it is the best 

 that can be adopted; and when systemati- 

 cally performed, it presents a great advan- 

 tage in obtaining fine specimens in a com- 

 paratively short time. 





■ 3r 



\r^'fg?-w;':7: -,.-/ U, 



Fig. ieo. 



It is necessary, especially in potting hard 



wooded plants, to make the soil moderately 



firm. It should not, however, be rammed, 



but rather fitted in, spreading the roots into 



j the fresh soil, finishing off with a level sur- 



! face, and leaving sufficient space for wa- 



' tering. The above representation of a 



