26 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



is the case the addition of old cow manure will do. Differ- 

 ent locations will make a difference in soil, also in growth 

 of plants ; and in potting plants where you find the soil stiff 

 and binding, always add sand to correct that fault. There 

 are different soils used hy gardeners, such as peat earth, a 

 vegetable matter decayed, and can be passed through a 

 sieve. Peat bog is such as generally is found in swamps. 

 Sandy loam is loam with a portion of sand in it, and is what 

 is mostly used for general culture. Sandy soil is effected 

 by adding more sand to the sandy loam. Vegetable 

 mould is decayed vegetables and weeds collected in the gar- 

 den, and thrown in a heap to rot for three years. Garden 

 mould or loam is such as does not contain any sand. Clay 

 soil is not good unless you mix different manures to make 

 it friable, and then not good for pot plants. Leaf mould is 

 composed entirely of decayed leaves, and when mixed with 

 sand is a most excellent soil for pot culture. 



In potting plants it is essential in all cases to havd a good 

 drainage by placing one inch (much depends On the size of 

 the pot) of pieces of broken pots or small pieces of brick at 

 the bottom to prevent any deleterious effects to the plants if 

 over-watered. In potting plants never over-pot, that is, 

 never place a plant in a pot that is too large ; a small pot 

 will force more flowers from a plant than a large one. It 

 frequently occurs in pot plants that roots and suckers will 

 rise from the soil, run some distance and root again. It 

 must not be infered that this arises from the plant being in 

 too small a pot ; for instance the Achimenes and Chrysan. 

 themum. The general supposition is, the soil being dete- 

 riorated the roots rise to seek nourishment, and when it is- 

 attained will strike root again. We have an every day oc 



