152 ON CULTIVATING TLANTS IN ROOMS. 



constructed ereenhouscs, but I do not hesitate to assert, that those 

 persons who may think proper to adopt the rules hereafter laid down, 

 will find the result to answer every expectation. 



Pots. — The necessity of having pots of various sizes is very ob- 

 vious; the shape, however, should be uniform, in proportion as 

 follows : viz., five inches deep, (inside measure,) five inches diameter 

 at the top, and three and a half inches diameter at the bottom. Pans 

 should be provided to correspond. 



Draining. — Good draining is essentially requisite. Each pot, 

 according to their different sizes should have from two to four inches 

 deep of coal cinders, broken to the size of a child's common play 

 marble laid at the bottom, first placing a piece of pot over the hole 

 at the bottom, taking care the piece is not flat, but of that form that 

 it will freely allow superabundant water to pass off. 



Soil. — Take the top spit with the turf upon it from a common or 

 old pasture field, not digging deeper than six inches, the soil should 

 be entirely free from clay, and if the loam be sandy, it is preferable. 

 To this soil add one-fourth of rotten horse dung. The longer this 

 compost is laid together, the better. Before using it for planting in, 

 it must be well chopped and broken, but not sifted at all through a 

 riddle, as plants flourish far more freely in the soil when left open» 

 there being a freer passage for water, heat, air, &c. to the roots. 

 There are but five families of greenhouse plants that refuse to flourish 

 in such a compost as the above. I do not include Camellias and 

 Ericas (Heaths,) though I have no doubt but they may be cultivated 

 in rooms with success ; the latter tribe will be found the most 

 tenacious of injury in such au habitation. 



Potting. — I consider it but superfluous saying anything about pro- 

 pagating plants, when the cost of a small plant is so trifling, and may 

 be obtained at most nurseries. 



To begin with a plant procured from the nursery. In the first 

 place, examine if the roots are coming through the hole at the 

 bottom of the pot ; if so, this points out the necessity of repotting, 

 which must be repeated until the plant has attained the size re- 

 quired for blooming. The size of the pot for repotting in should 

 be about two inches more in diameter than the one the plant is taken 

 out of. 



Watering. — River or rain water is the best, and should always be 



