THE FIRST ESSENTIALS 423 



any other cause. Therefore all dirty pots should be thoroughly 

 scrubbed in warm water before they are brought into use again. 

 And the same rule applies equally to the crocks or broken pieces 

 of flower-pot that are used for drainage. They should also be 

 perfectly clean. 



This leads one naturally to the subject of drainage. Some 

 amount of judgment is necessary here. If the plant is only in- 

 tended to remain in its new quarters temporarily say, for 

 instance, if it be a young geranium intended for bedding out in 

 June it will be quite sufficient for the purpose if one or two 

 crocks are placed over the drainage hole. But where the plant is 

 to remain in the pot over a considerable period of time, the drain- 

 age must be made as perfect as may be. It must occupy as little 

 space as possible, and therefore it must be done systematically and 

 carefully. First of all a large crock should be placed convex side 

 upwards over the hole, over this a layer of slightly smaller pieces 

 should be placed, and after this yet another layer of still smaller 

 pieces. The crocks should next be covered with a piece of fibrous 

 old turf, to prevent small particles of soil from being washed 

 down through the crocks to choke up the drainage. 



Diagram 80 affords some hints on the proper methods of 

 potting. Before transferring the plant to its new quarters care 

 should be taken to remove the old crocks from the base of the 

 roots, and shake out as much of the spent soil as is possible with- 

 out damaging the roots. Place as much soil in the new pot as 

 will bring the upper surface of the old ball nearly level with the 

 rim of the new pot, and then fix the plant exactly in the centre. 

 New soil should be placed round the roots and be pressed home 

 firmly, using either the fingers or a potting stick for the purpose. 

 When the pot is nearly full of soil give the bottom a sharp rap, so 

 as to settle the soil in place, and proceed to dress the top of the 

 pot with layers of soil until it is within half-an-inch of the rim. 

 It is essential to leave this amount of space for holding water. 

 Make a study of the roots of plants, and if they are fleshy be sure 

 that they do not require such firm potting as is demanded by 

 roots of a fibrous nature. 



