CHAPTER XIX 



THE POTTING-SHED. SUMMER QUARTERS 



SOME sort of potting-shed is essential to the gardener's 

 comfort, with a bench of suitable height at which he can work 

 and wide enough to hold his pots, his heap of potting-soil, and 

 his necessary tools. 



For pot plants, it is usual to mix a compost according to 

 their different requirements, for which the ordinary garden soil 

 may be the foundation, though it is seldom satisfactory without 

 additions. The very best preparation that can be made for 

 potting-soil is to form a little stack by saving parings and odd 

 pieces of turf wherever it can be procured if from an old 

 pasture so much the better and turning the slabs grass- 

 downwards to decay. In process of time this will become 

 the basis of excellent soil for all potting purposes ; and should 

 be used in many cases chopped into small pieces or even 

 pulled apart by the hands. A mistake which is made by most 

 novices is to sift their potting-soil, thereby taking from it the 

 best part of its nutriment. It is necessary, sometimes, in 

 delicate seed-sowing to use sifted soil, but otherwise it is 

 scarcely ever of advantage. Besides this turfy loam from the 

 stack, we should be provided with some good sound peat, 

 which is absolutely needful for certain classes of plants. This 

 can be procured in large or small quantities through any local 

 nurseryman. All leaves should be collected every autumn 

 and carefully laid up in a heap to decay, as leaf-mould is a 

 most important factor in lightening and enriching the soil on 



