32 WINDOW GARDENING. 



least an inch ; over this there may be a slight sprinkling of sand ; still it may be 

 omitted if it has previously been well incorporated in the compost. In general 

 it should never be les* than one fifth the whole material of the compost, and one 

 fourth will be best in most cases. 



Forest mould scraped up under the branches of pine or other forest trees, 

 or the soil taken from under the soda of droppings in cow pastures, will be found 

 useful in imparting a vigorous growth to plants. 



Amateurs sometimes choose earth from the back yards of their city residen- 

 ces ; this is rarely ever suitable, and often its effects can be seen in the half dead 

 and weak look of the plants, who seem o be languishing for nourishment. 

 This soil is rarely ever fertilized, and usually is either the filling in from tho 

 street or cellar. It may be fit to grow grass upon, but not to put in the pots of 

 house plants. 



There are some plants which require an imperative admixture of peat and 

 ioam, such as Ericas, Azaleas and Daphne. There is no substance which 

 can be substituted for it, and produce success. Earth for pots should 

 rarely ever be sifted, put it in just as it is; lumpy and crude, so much the 

 better. 



In potting your plants and planting them out, be very careful to press the 

 earth very tightly and closely around the roots and stalks of the plants ; half the 

 secret of successful pot culture lies in potting plants. 



Hard wooded plants should be potted rather firmly, and soft wooded ones 

 should be l&ft rather free and loose. 



In repotting plants, take the plant that is to be repotted, turn it upside down, 

 with your left hand across the mouth of the pot, and the stem of the plant be 

 tween the fingers, give the pot a few raps on a pan on the table, lift up the 

 pot and you have the plant and the ball of earth in your hand. 



Examine it carefully, and if any worms appear, pick them out, or if the 

 earth is full of healthy roots, and they are matted around the sides of it, the 

 plant requires a pot one size larger than that in which it has grown. 



Place the ball of earth and the plant directly in the centre of the new pot, 

 and fill it up all around with fresh soil, pressing it firmly down either with 

 the fingers or a flat stick; cover the " ball " with fresh earth half an inch in 

 depth; strike the bottom of the pot several times against a flat substance, and 

 again press the soil tightly around the roots. Loose planting is a fruitful source 

 of the non-success attending the gardening of amateur florists. Place your 

 plants in the shade for t\\o or three days to allow their roots to become accus 

 tomed to the charge of quarters. A healthy, abundantly rooted plant, requires 

 a pot one size larger, but, if the plant you turn out should not show its roots 

 on the outside, it needs no change of quarters, still it may need fresh soil, and if 

 the earth seems poor and gritty it is best to give it.. 



If in examination of your pots you should find some plant injured by in- 

 judicious waterings, its roots rotten, and soil soddened, then cut or tear away 

 the decayed parts, turn out the wet soil, take a pot of the smaller size, and 



