90 THE CARXATIOX MANUAL. 



plants in a pot ; of the weaker-growing varieties 

 I plant two or three in an eight-inch pot, and 

 condemn very firm potting, as experience con- 

 vinces me it is not necessary or desirable ; but, of 

 course, this will depend, to a certain extent, upon 

 the nature of the soil, and at present I cannot see 

 any difference in using large pots or small ones, 

 except that I think the plants in small pots often 

 bloom earlier than those in large ones, but the 

 plants in the larger pots make stronger growth. 

 More, however, depends upon the soil and the 

 watering than the size of the pots. The compo- 

 sition I now use is a rich, heavy, yellow, loamy 

 turf-soil, from the neighbourhood of Kettering. To 

 four parts of this add one part of old leaf-mould, 

 one jDart of sea-sand (I fancy the salt in this 

 sand very beneficial), one part of old, well-rotted 

 stable-manure, and half-a-part of mortar obtained 

 from old buildmsfs, and, where it can be had from 

 old chimney-stacks, ^vith a little soot, so much the 

 better. The mortar rubbish, I beheve, gives a 

 purer ground-colour to the flowers ; the soot imparts 

 a dark rich colour to the foliaofe, and drives 

 away worms and other pests. This compound I 

 usually prepare two or three months before wanted, 

 and have it turned over frequently to get it w^ell 

 mixed and sweet. I like crood drainaw, but at the 

 same time provide a certain amount of food 

 amongst the drainage by using a few crushed 



