292 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



ought not to be sifted, as a inile : to do so is averse to what is observed in 

 nature. 



802. In Potting, adapt the pots to the size of the plants as near as possible, 

 —or, rather, to what the plant is expected to be, — as allowance must be made 

 for growth of the root as well as the plant. Let the pots be perfectly clean. 

 Effectual drainage of the pots does not consist so much in the quantity of 

 drainage, as in the arrangement of it. A potsherd should be placed over 

 the hole ; some pieces of pot, broken rather small, over that ; and these 

 again covered with a layer of peat-fibre or rough earth. This gives efficient 

 drainage, and need not occupy more than an inch and a half of the pot. 

 Hard-wooded plants should be potted rather firmly ; soft-wooded should be 

 left rather loose and free. 



803. In Watering fresh-potted plants, it is important that the whole of the 

 soil be effectually moistened, which can only be accomplished by filling up two 

 or three times with water. No fear need be entertained of over- watering : if the 

 plants have been rightly potted, all surplus water, beyond what the soil can con- 

 veniently retain, will drain away. Irregular watering is frequently the causo 

 of failure in plant- culture, even with experienced growers. A certain amount 

 of tact is necessary in giving plants, which have been so neglected, just as 

 much water as they should have, and no more. In watering, much depends 

 on the weather, and also on the season : they require less in winter than in 

 summer. The proper time to water them in winter is when the plants are in 

 bloom, or growing rapidly, — in summer, as soon as the least dryness appears ; 

 but a little practice will be more useful than a lengthy description. In giving 

 air, it may be observed that all plants which are not tender, that is, all plants 

 which are natives of temperate climes, may be exposed to the air at all times 

 when the thermometer indicates a temperature above 40°, except in case of 

 rough winds or heavy rains. Hardy plants may be exposed at any temperature 

 above 32° ; for, although frost will not kill them, it may spoil their appearance 

 for a time. Plants in bloom should never be kept close, or exposed to wet or 

 wind : the flowers last longest in a soft, mild atmosphere, free from draught. 

 Plants should never be wetted overhead in cold weather, or, rather, while 

 they are in a cold atmosphere, and never, except to wash off dust, should plants 

 having a soft or woolly foliage be so treated ; but some plants, as the CamelUa, 

 Myrtles, Heaths, and others with hard leaves, may be plentifully syringed, or 

 •watered overhead from a fine rose, in warm weather, especially when in full 

 growth. 



804. Training, when required, should be done neatly and tastefully, using 

 thin and pointed sticks, and very fine fibres of matting or soft twine ; avoid 

 anything like stiffness or formality, which is the opposite extreme to the 

 graceful habit of plants. The same may be said as to pruning. Cut out such 

 shoots as interfere with the symmetrical outline of the plant ; but more may 

 be done by timely disbudding than by cutting. In the frame and window 

 culture of flowers, some like to have a miscellaneous collection, such as will 

 yield them a few flowers throughout the year ; others like to grow one parti- 



