213 Notes on Greenhouse Plants, ^c. 



Canadensis. It is nearly as large as the Jefferson, and he 

 thinks as high flavored ; color, similar ; but it has the advan- 

 tage of ripening about a fortnight earlier. It first fruited in 

 1849. Mr. Lunn thinks it an acquisition. He has also 

 another seedling very late, larger and later than the White 

 Egg, and pretty well flavored. He has also several seedling 

 trees, which, if the season should be favorable, will bear the 

 coming season. The climate of Canada appears favorable 

 to the plum, and it will be remembered that Mr. Corse pro- 

 duced several excellent varieties, some of which have long 

 been known in our collections. 



Art. IV. Notes on Greenhouse Plants, Soil, Potting, Wa- 

 tering, Sfc, (S)'c. By HoRTus. 



Potting. — Successful plant culture depends much upon 

 systematic potting. The first step in the operation of shift- 

 ing a plant should be the preparation of the pot for its recep- 

 tion ; the requisites being simply that it be clean and properly 

 drained. With regard to the first, all pots should be washed 

 (except new ones) before they are stored past, that they may 

 be always ready when wanted. As to drainage, there is 

 some diversity of opinion upon the amount of materials nec- 

 essary for this purpose. Some, cultivators contend that it is 

 worse than useless to place two or three inches of drainage 

 in the bottom of pots, where the plants are under the influ- 

 ence of a scorching sun and arid atmosphere, as it allows the 

 water to pass off too freely, thereby causing additional labor 

 in keeping up the requisite amount of moisture in the soil. 

 At first sight this appears somewhat plausible ; experience, 

 however, will go far to prove that well drained pots and 

 porous soil will retain moisture longer than where these 

 conditions are reversed, for the simple reason that there is 

 more air in the soil. It is a well ascertained fact that soils of 

 a dry nature will retain more moisture and support a more 



