Flowers all the Year Round 



anxious to obtain the materials which are known to promote the 

 luxuriant growth of pot plants. 



The top spit of an old pasture makes capital potting soil. If 

 taken from light land, it need only be stacked for one year before 

 use. A heavy loam should be kept for at least two seasons, and in 

 any case the heap should be turned and re-made several times. A 

 slight sprinkling of soot between the layers of soil will be beneficial, 

 and help to make it distasteful to grubs, wireworms, and other 

 vermin ; but the soot should be stored for six months before use ; 

 when fresh it is often injurious. The frequent turning of the heap 

 will not be wasted labour, for it equalises the quality, and tends to 

 sweeten the whole by exposing new surfaces to the atmosphere; and 

 this is a great aid to healthy growth. 



Many plants thrive in peat, or in soil of which peat is a con- 

 stituent, and some flowers cannot be grown without it. The peat 

 may have to be purchased from a distance, but there is no difficulty 

 in obtaining it. 



A constant supply of decayed leaf-mould may possibly be arranged 

 on the spot ; but if this is out of the question, it is procurable in most 

 districts. 



The preparation of soil for pot plants is frequently postponed 

 until the day on which it is actually required. This is a bad practice, 

 and results too often in the use of an improper proportion of the 

 materials, and perhaps in their defective admixture. In this, as in 

 all other operations connected with horticulture, the men who make 

 all requisite arrangements in advance will achieve the highest results. 

 In no pursuit of life is it more necessary to forecast coming duties 

 than in the culture of flowers. We will suppose that three or four 

 weeks hence many pots are to be filled with Primulas. The man 

 who grows this flower with any degree of enthusiasm will not defer 

 the preparation of the soil until the day arrives for potting the plants. 

 He will determine in advance the proportions of loam, leaf-mould, 

 and sand, have the whole thoroughly incorporated, and possibly 

 sifted to remove stones. With these may come away some un- 

 decayed fibres, which make excellent material for laying over the 

 crocks at the bottom of each pot. Forethought of this kind is 

 certain of an ample reward. 



Potting soil should also be in the right condition as to moisture. 

 This is not easy to describe, but it should handle freely, and yet 

 there should be no necessity for the immediate application of water 

 after sowing seeds or planting bulbs. In the event of the compost 



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