22 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



Preparing the soil. With a screen that has a quarter- 

 inch mesh, screen separately manure, soil, and sand ; 

 then mix them thoroughly so that the mixture will 

 contain one third of each. 



Place broken pieces of stone over the entire bottom 

 of the flowerpot to a depth of half an inch. If care is 

 taken not to close the hole in the bottom of the pot, 



FIG. 16. Leaf Mold and Sod 



The leaves should be placed in a heap and covered with manure or soil. Cut the 

 sod two or three inches deep and place the pieces upside down, layer upon layer 



this layer will provide ample drainage. Over the drain- 

 age layer place half an inch of small pieces of broken 

 sod or leaf mold, to help hold the moisture and prevent 

 the sand and soil from passing out of the opening in 

 the bottom of the pot. Sphagnum moss, which may be 

 obtained from dealers in garden seeds or from green- 

 houses, is excellent for retaining moisture. Press the 

 layer down firmly and place over it one inch of the pre- 

 pared soil. This will give nourishment to the cuttings 



