154 FLOWEKS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



down. Pinks, pansies, polyanthuses, and all plants of a 

 like nature, should be looked over, and the loosened 

 roots well set in the earth. Before severe frost takes us 

 by surprise it will be well to be prepared with good 

 simple protection for everything which is likely to be 

 killed or injured by it, and we must be especially on our 

 guard against sharp frost, which comes unprepared for 

 by the protective mantling of snow. 



Plants in pots, put by in windows, unused rooms, 

 frames, pits, or any indoor corners, must have all the 

 air and light possible : as long as the weather holds 

 off from becoming very severe do not stint giving air in 

 abundance, but water with caution. 



Use the mild time industriously in deeply working the 

 flower beds wherever there is space enough at liberty to 

 do so with safety to the plants, &c., which are growing 

 in or near them, for depth of soil is most valuable, and 

 many flowers will overcome the difficulties of bad 

 seasons if they can have the power of choice in pushing 

 their roots deep in dry weather. 



To commence preparations for potting, which at most 

 times gives plenty of work, get all the pots thoroughly 

 well washed, and ranged in sizes, indoors. Pots should 

 never be used dirty, but should be clean and smooth 

 inside, that the future necessary shifting of the plants 

 may be easy. They should be kept dry too, as from 

 their porous nature they absorb wet, which freezing, will 

 crack them during the first intense frost, and they should 

 be used dry, that the earth may not adhere to them too 

 much. Get the earth for potting moderately dry. In 

 re-potting it is a good plan to warm the potting earth by 

 a stove or a kitchen fire, that it may be a few degrees 

 warmer than the ball of earth to the re-potted plant. 

 This will encourage the points of the rootlets to spread 

 into the added new soil. Avoid doing the re-potting in 

 a cold place, for plants should have no check at this 

 season. When ladies pot their plants they require a 

 potting stick to press in the new earth which is given 

 outside the old ball. It is a flat stick, smoothed and 

 shaped like a stout-made paper-knife. When potting 



