130 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



supposed and this may with advantage be supplemented by 

 a layer of dead leaves or moss, which prevents the rubble from 

 becoming choked. In potting, the soil should be made very 

 firm, and a wooden rammer, which may be either round or flat, 

 is a very useful tool to keep at hand, though the " potter's 

 thumb " is an implement no more to be dispensed with in 

 gardening than in the moulding of pottery. Loose potting is 

 the mark of an inexperienced hand, and very few plants 

 succeed under such a system for one reason because water 

 runs through the loose soil too quickly, draining away the 

 nutritive particles, while insufficient moisture is left behind to 

 sustain the roots. Besides this, however, the fibres evidently 

 like to feel the resistance of the firm earth as they push their 

 way into it. 



Not many tools are necessary. Besides the rammer afore- 

 said, we must be provided with a strong, sharp knife for 

 cuttings, a budding-knife and a pair of scissors, but one tool 

 may be suggested which is not often used by gardeners. This 

 is the smallest size of mason's trowel, with the sharp point 

 rounded off, which will be found much more handy than the 

 ordinary scoop-trowel for the work of potting. A skein of 

 Raffia should also have its appointed hook in the potting-shed, 

 to be ready for all tying purposes. A few bundles of wooden 

 labels of different sizes should be at hand, as well as a pot of 

 white paint, for a dash of this on the broad end of the label, 

 wiped off with a bit of rag until the merest film remains, is the 

 best preparation for legible writing. 



SUMMER QUARTERS 



The mention of summer quarters occurs very frequently in 

 the preceding pages, and a properly arranged position where 

 pot plants out of flower can be placed and cared for during 

 their period of rest is one of the most important considera- 



