162 HORTICULTURIST'S RULE-BOOK. 



III. GREENHOUSE PRACTICE. 

 14. Potting Earth. 



Loam (decomposed sod), leaf -mold, rotted farm-yard manure, 

 peat, and sand afford the main requirement of the plants most 

 commonly cultivated. Seedlings, and young stock generally, are 

 best suited by a light mixture, such as one part each of loam, 

 leaf-mold, and sand in equal parts. The older plants of vigor- 

 ous growth like a rich, heavy compost, formed of equal parts of 

 loam and manure ; and a sandy, lasting soil, made up of two 

 parts each of peat and loam to one part of sand, is the most 

 desirable for slow-growing sorts. A little lumpy charcoal should 

 be added to the compost for plants that are to remain any great 

 length of time, say a year, in the same pot. The best condition 

 of soil for potting is that intermediate state between wet and 

 dry. Sphagnum (moss), or fibrous peat and sphagnum in 

 mixture and chopped, should be used for orchids and other 

 plants of similar epiphytal character. 



Cow-dung is highly prized by many gardeners for use in 

 potting soil. It is stored under cover and allowed to remain 

 until dry, being turned several times in the meantime to pulver- 

 ize it. Manure-water is made either from this dried excrement 

 or from the fresh material. When made from the fresh mate- 

 rial, the manure-water should be made weaker than in the other 

 case. 



15. Suggestions for Potting Plants. 



The pots should be perfectly dry and clean, and well drained. 

 However one-sided a plant may be, it is advantageous tfo have 

 the main stem as near the centre of the pot as possible, and the 

 potted plant is usually in the best position when perfectly erect. 

 Soft-wooded plants of rapid growth, such as coleus, geraniums, 

 fuchsias, and begonias, thrive most satisfactorily when the soil 

 is loose rather than hard about the roots. Ferns should have 

 it moderately firm, and hard-wooded stock, azaleas, ericas, 

 acacias, and the like, should be potted firmly. In repotting 

 plants, more especially those of slow growth, the ball of soil and 



