SOIL FOR PLANTS IN POTS 5 



think. I would omit the manure from the compost 

 rather than the sand, if I could have but one. 



If you do not require your compost for immediate 

 use, it is a good plan to pile it up in some corner of 

 the garden and allow the vegetable matter in it to 

 decay thoroughly. Stir it well from time to time. Let 

 the air get to all parts of it. When you have soap 

 suds pour them over it. Add to it whatever you think 

 will increase its nutritive qualities. In a short time 

 you will have a supply of soil in which the most 

 aristocratic plant ought to grow well. It is well to 

 keep a supply on hand. You will need it all through 

 the year if you have many plants. Often a plant 

 requires repotting in winter, but because there is no 

 soil at hand it is allowed to remain in its old pot and 

 by the time the soil required can be obtained, the 

 plant is injured permanently. Therefore put a box 

 of good soil in the cellar in the fall, to use as occasion 

 requires during the winter. Always aim to be pre- 

 pared to give your plants such attention as they may 

 need, when it is needed. In order to do this you must 

 look ahead a little, and understand what attention they 

 are likely to require. 



In potting plants, where a compost prepared as 

 advised above is used, it may easily be varied to suit 

 the different plants you propose to grow in it. That 

 is, if the roots of a plant indicate a liking for a some- 

 what heavy soil, add some loam containing clay to it. 

 If they seem to require a very light, porous soil, add 

 more turfy matter, leaf mold, or sand. From this, the 

 reader will understand that the soil prepared as 

 advised forms a basis for soils of varying degrees of 

 heaviness or lightness, and that these qualities are 

 readily obtainable by the use of proper material. 



It is often difficult, and sometimes impossible, to 

 procure such a soil as that recommended above. But 



