POTS, DIFFERENT FORMS OF. 389 POTS, DIFFERENT FORMS OF. 



pot is not abridged, and cuttings can be 

 placed close to or against the sides of 

 the pot, which is not possible if the cover- 

 ing glass stands on the soil. The double- 

 rimmed pot, therefore, possesses special 

 advantages as a propagating pot, and if 

 water or wetted sand be placed in the 

 grooved rim, and the edge of the bell-glass 

 be covered by one or the other rising above 

 it, the pot will be converted for the time 

 into a miniature Wardian case, as no air 

 can find its way into the interior of the 

 glass under its edges. 



(4) Pots for Orchids. The conditions 

 under which orchids grow and are grown 

 differ in "many respects from those under 

 which ordinary plants are cultivated in 

 pots. As a general rule, the roots of plants 

 do not seek egress from the pot, unless 

 they find themselves cramped too closely 

 within its limits, and make their way 

 through the drainage and out of the hole 

 at the bottom of the pot to seek nutriment 

 from any moisture that there may be in the 

 saucer and from the air ; they do not court 

 exposure, otherwise than this, to the air 

 and light. The orchid, however, delights 

 to thrust its thick and fleshy roots into the 

 air, and requires aeration in the soil more 

 than any other class of plants. Orchid 

 pots or pans are therefore perforated with 

 holes of various shapes, both in the bottom 

 and all round the sides from bottom to rim, 

 and provision is frequently made by holes 

 just below the rim by which they can be 

 suspended from the roof, &c., of any build- 

 ing. Through these holes the air can as 

 easily obtain access to the roots of the 

 plants, and the roots can as readily make 

 their way into the air. Some orchid pots 

 are made with false bottoms, removable 

 from the pot at pleasure, and also per- 

 forated. Orchids require thorough drainage, 

 as well as aeration of the material in which 

 they are grown, and this is also well pro- 

 vided for by the structure of the orchid 



pot. Orchid baskets, which are of the 

 greatest importance and utility in orchid 

 growing, are supplied by various makers 

 of requisites for growing these plants, 

 in sizes ranging from 3 inches to 12 

 inches in diameter, and at prices ranging 

 from 45. 6d. per dozen for the smallest 

 size named to 255. per dozen for the 

 largest. Rafts and boats for these beau- 

 tiful plants are supplied 6y dealers at id. 

 each the former and i^d. each the latter, 

 and cylinders at 2d. per inch run, This 

 will furnish the grower with some idea of 

 the cost of the necessary appliances. 



( 5 ) Dotible Pots for A Ipine Plants. Pots 

 of this description are manufactured in 

 pairs, the outer vessel forming a receptacle 

 for the inner vessel, in which the plant 

 itself is set. The inner pot is made in 

 the usual way, with a means of escape for 

 surplus water at the bottom, but the outer 

 pot is not. Thus, water or damp moss or 

 cocoanut fibre may be placed in the outei 

 pot, and thus the roots of the plant in the 

 inner receptacle and the soil in which it 

 grows may be kept cool and at an equal 

 temperature, even in the heat of summer. 

 The material of which these double pota 

 are made is better than that which is used 

 for ordinary pots, and not nearly so porous, 

 and this prevents any considerable absorp- 

 tion of water by the inner pot. 



(6) Seed Pans. Earthenware pans for 

 raising seed and for striking small cuttings 

 are similar in shape to saucers, but are, oJ 

 course, very much larger. They are usually 

 provided with three holes in the bottom for 

 drainage, and are made in different sizes. 



(7) Ornamental Pots, Vases, Baskets, 

 dr^. These are generally made in terra 

 cotta, and are attractive in appearance, 

 though of no greater utility than the 

 ordinary flower pot. They are produced 

 in various forms and shapes, from that of 

 the ordinary flower pot and seed pan, 

 relieved with bands disposed in imit.it ion 



