190 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



turned out of the pot, the outer casing of soil crumbled away, the 

 drainage rearranged, and the plant replaced in the pot, fresh 

 earth being rammed down the sides, and packed on the top. 

 Neither in top-dressing nor repotting should the pot be filled 

 quite full; an inch of space must be left for water two inches 

 in the case of a large pot. It is almost essential that the pots 

 should be stood in saucers of water, in order to prevent the mess 

 that would be made by water escaping through the drainage at 



every watering, but the water should 

 not be allowed to rest in the saucers 

 all day, except in summer ; and even then 

 periodical emptyings will have to be re- 

 sorted to, so as to avoid an overflow. 

 This question of providing for superfluous 

 water is a drawback to window plants, 

 but it is unavoidable, unless the grower 

 is prepared to carry the plants out of 

 the room every time they are watered. 



Some amateurs affect to be able to 

 perceive great virtue in the use of tea- 

 leaves on palms and other room plants, 

 but it is not clear that they have any 

 special virtue. An ounce of superphos- 

 phate to the gallon of water, applied once a week or so, or a 

 pinch of one of the advertised fertilisers spread on the surface 

 and watered in, will do far more good. 



Palms are propagated by seeds, but it is a slow business, 

 except when abundance of bottom heat and moisture can be pro- 

 vided, and is best left to nurserymen and market growers who 

 require very large quantities of plants. Young palms can be 

 bought very cheaply indeed. 



Ferns. Every grower of room plants likes to have a few 

 ferns. The plants have a grace and charm that even palms do 



POTTING PALMS 



A, Phoenix reclinata turned out of pot 



B, crocks and interlacing removed 



C, plant repotted. 



