6 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



except those quite close to the surface, and the moisture 

 there misleads as to the condition of the soil underneath. 



If the soil is allowed to get dust-dry it is not easily 



Fig. 3. — Watering a Flanging Basket by plunging it in a tub of water. 



moistened again by means of the water-can, especially when 

 it contains peat, for most of the water runs down the gap 

 between it and the pot, and little, if any, reaches the centre. 

 The best thing to do in such cases is to immerse the pot in 

 a pail of water, and to leave it there for ten minutes or a 

 quarter of an hour. Hanging baskets should always be 



