CHAPTER V 

 POTTING 



82. Potting, placing of rooted plants in flower pots. 



83. Potting soil should be light and friable so as to 

 handle easily, drain readily and withstand crusting and 

 baking after wetting. It should also be fertile in pro- 

 portion to the needs of the plants to be grown in it 

 rich for some, poor for others. Also its friability must 

 vary; for ferns be looser than for roses. 



FIG. 44 POTTING SOIL MIXED AND UNDER COVER 



This soil has been passed through a machine "mixer" and is sifted, also by 

 machine, ready for use. 



84. Preparing an ideal soil for potting. The best gen- 

 eral potting soil is made as follows : In spring after 

 grass has begun to grow well, remove sod from an old 

 blue grass pasture or greenhouse sodding field where 

 the soil itself is rich and deep. For convenience in han- 

 dling, cut the sod in strips a foot or so wide, three inches 

 thick and as long as can be easily handled either in rec- 

 tangles or in rolls, the latter perhaps preferred. Place the 

 sods close together on the ground in a layer, grass side 



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