WIJ^TTER-FLOWERIJn^G tlants. 85 



loose soil in which it is being potted. The same rule 

 applies to all pot-bound plants when planted in the open 

 ground. Beat the ball gently or squeeze it with the hand, 

 so as to give the roots a better chance to start out into the 

 fresh soil. After potting, give a good watering with a 

 sprinkler to settle the soil to the bottom of the pot ; but 

 after this be sparing of water until the plant shows signs 

 of new growth, which will take })]ace simultaneously 

 with its making roots in the fresh soil. We usually 

 use no potsherds or drainage until they reach the size 

 of five inches in diameter ; but after that size, particu- 

 larly if the plants are to be grown in the winter months, 

 when plants are to be shifted, one-fourth of the depth 

 of the pot is filled with broken pots, charcoal, or broken 

 oyster shells, placing the largest pieces at the bottom, 

 and covering up with the finer portions at the top. Over 

 this drainage it is all important to place some material 

 tliat will prevent the soil from being washed into the 

 drainage and choking it up. By far the best thing we 

 find is waste cocoa-nut fiber, or the new packing material 

 known as ^' excelsior. " AVe ourselves now use a wad of the 

 ** excelsior" as drainage for all pots under seven inches, 

 and nothing else, dispensing entirely with potsherds. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



WINTER-FLOWERING PLANTS. 



The increase in the taste for winter-flowering plants, 

 within the past few years, has been even more positive 

 than that for the cultivation of plants out of doors. 

 Formerly it was rare for florists to fill an order in the fall; 

 but now, during the months of October, November, 

 and December, they make shipments daily in large 

 quantities to every section of the country ; and these 

 nearly equaling in number those of plants for the open 



