140 HOUSE PLANTS 



If the plants are allowed to run up to a 

 single stem, and then to flower, they will 

 be of little use for next winter. 



LIFTING AND POTTING 



About the middle of August is a good 

 time to transplant the plants into pots and 

 boxes — their permanent quarters for next 

 winter. If you have a small greenhouse, 

 and want to plant them out on a bench, this 

 is the time to do it. 



As a general rule people soak the ground 

 just before lifting the plants, or do this work 

 after a rain. I have found the contrary to 

 be good practice. I got much better results 

 from allowing ground to dry out a little. 

 This however, cannot always be done on 

 heavy soil, nor will it work properly unless 

 the soil is full of humus, but on my sandy 

 soil it gave me great, long feeding roots, 

 which I otherwise would have lost. 



Plants grown as I have described will need 

 pots six or seven inches in diameter — they 

 may be put in boxes, or on benches, and 

 planted a foot apart. 



Do not "over-pot" them. When you are 

 putting them in the sized pots mentioned 



