170 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



August, 1909 



part of the soil may be laid, if practicable. 

 When the drainage is fixed properly, put 

 in a layer of soil about half an inch deep. 

 On this a little well-rotted barn yard man- 

 ure or dry cow or sheep manure may be 

 placed, or a sprinkling of bone meal. Fill 

 in a little more soil on this, then place 

 the plant in the pot, see that the base 

 of the stem or stems of plant are in the 

 centre of the pot, and the surface of the 

 ball of earth on the plant about an inch 

 below the top of the pot, when a large* 

 sized pot is used. A little less than an 

 inch below will suffice for five- or six-inch 

 pots, the diameter across the centre of the 

 pot gives the size in inches. When the 

 plant is properly in its place, fill in some 

 of the prepared soil about an inch in 

 depth all around the ball of earth. Then 

 get a thin piece of wood of the thickness 

 required and about a foot in length — a 

 piece of shingle one and one-half inches 

 wide will do — with this pack the soil fair- 

 ly firm around the ball of earth. Contin- 

 ue the filling in and packing until the 



Plaat in Position Ready for Filling in Soil 



surface of the soil is about half or three- 

 quarters of an inch below the top of the 

 pot and just covering the surface of the 

 ball of earth slightly. Then lift the pot 

 about an inch from the bench with both 

 hands, and give the bottom of the pot a 

 slight bump on the bench to settle the soil 

 down, level and losen slightly the sur- 

 face of the soil. 



The piece of wood mentioned is always 

 in evidence on potting benches where 

 large plants are handled by expert pro- 

 fessional plantsmen, and is called a "pot- 

 ting stick", several sized sticks usually 

 being kept on hand. The use of this 

 potting-stick prevents any open spaces 

 being left aroimd the roots of the plants, 

 the latter being an undesirable feature 

 for the well-being of the plant re-potted. 

 Chrysanthemums especially should have 

 the soil packed firmly around the roots 

 when being potted or re-potted. 



WATBEING 



Water the plants re-potted well once, 

 so that the water runs out from the 

 bottom of the pot. Then avoid 



too frequent and copious waterings 

 until root action and top growth has 

 started. This is an important point as 

 oftentimes, if the plants wilt or wither 

 a little, the over-anxious plant-lover gives 

 more and more water until the soil is 

 thoroughly soddened, a condition that re- 

 tards root action and growth, and injures 

 the plant and may possibly have fatal re- 

 sults. Keep the soil moist but not sod- 

 dened, for newly-potted plants especially. 

 Give the plants a sprinkling or spray- 

 ing overhead once or twice a day with 

 clean water, especially if the weather is 

 hot, and place them in a partially shaded, 

 sheltered place not exposed to sweeping 

 winds, for a week or so. This is far pre- 

 ferable to soaking the roots of the plants 

 all the time with water at a time when 

 root action has been checked and the 

 plant is not in a condition to absorb or 

 take up much water from the roots. Good 

 potting soil, good drainage, soil packed 

 moderately firm, partial shade, and not 

 too much water are the main points in 

 successful re-potting.. 



EE- POTTING CALLAS 



These plants should at this season of 

 the year be in a dormant or semi-dormant 

 state after their summer resting period. 

 Unless the growth has well started all of 

 the soil can be removed by knocking them 

 out of the pot and removing the old soil 

 altogether. The fleshy tuberous like roots 

 should be potted in well drained pots 

 in good rich potting soil. Keep the soil 

 moist, not soddened, until several leaves 

 have developed when they can be watered 

 more freely. Later on in the winter some 

 liquid fertilizer can be given them. By 

 using a moderate sized fiower pot for 

 callas and giving them some fertilizer, 

 better flowering; results are attained than 



Using Potting Stick for Packing Soil Around the Roots 



by using too large a pot for them. 

 Shade the plants from hot sun at all 

 times. 



TOP-DEBSSING PLANTS 



Plants that do not require re-potting 

 can be top-dressed to advantage. Re- 

 move about an inch of the old soil and 

 fill in with a compost made of half pot- 

 ting soil and half well rotted barnyard 

 manure or dry cow manure or bone meal. 

 This plan often helps the plants material- 

 ly when they do not actually require re- 

 potting. 



When following the foregoing instruc- 

 tions, photograph each step if conven- 

 ient and send prints for publication. 



Park Lands that Slope in Graceful Undulations to a Pond Surrounded by Willows 



Mount Allison College, Sackville, N.B., Crowns the Eminence. Photo by The Pridham Studios, 



the Illustration and Note the Effect. 



Reverse 



