THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 15 



no plant will live in it for any considerable length of 

 time, and will never grow in it at all. This hole should 

 be in proportion to the size of the pot ; and the pots 

 may be from 4 inches to 18 inches over at top, and from 

 4 inches to IS inches deep ; being one-third less across 

 at bottom than at the top. The smallest hole ought to 

 be of the size of half a dollar. 



Some care is necessary in sowing and planting in 

 pots. The mould should be good, and made very fine. 

 The first thing is to put an oyster shell, or piece of bro- 

 ken earthen ware into the pot, to cover the hole at the 

 bottom ; and the hollow part of the shell or other thing, 

 should be downwards. The use of this is. to keep the 

 hole open, that the water may find its way out of the 

 pot, and not lie stagnant at the bottom, where it would 

 become sour and injure, if not kill the plant. The earth, 

 if there were no shell, would fill up the hole, and would, 

 in time, become solid, and thus prevent the water from 

 getting out. 



The benches of the green-house should rise one above 

 another, like the steps of stairs, that the whole of the 

 plants may share in the benefit bestowed by the sun ; 

 but there may be some on the ground, or floor ; and in- 

 deed, the precise arrangement must be left to the taste 

 of the owner. 



