278 Draining Flower-Pots. 



DRAINING FLOWER-POTS. 



By A. Veitch, New Haven, Conn. 



Covering the holes in the bottom of flower-pots with crocks, charcoal, 

 or other material, has been long in use amongst gardeners ; and the advan- 

 tages resulting therefrom have been believed to be so evident, that the 

 practice is not likely to be abandoned for some time to come. No doubt, 

 intelligent and reasonable men would listen with deference to any one who 

 might claim to have discovered a more excellent way, or who might even 

 insist that the practice, in some instances, might be discontinued : but we 

 claim that reasons clear and strong must first be given, before the belief 

 becomes general, that " the system is utterly wron^ in theory^ and perfectly 

 useless in practice." Let us see, if we can, what amount of truth there is in 

 the statement that it is wrong in theory to place any drainage material 

 whatever over the holes of pots in which plants are grown. Is it because 

 such drainage is unnecessary that it is wrong so to do ? 



Admitting the want of necessity, we have only a practice which might be 

 dispensed with ; but the wrong will not appear until it can be shown that 

 injury results to plants by being so treated. Now, we can ascertain 

 whether this will be the case or not, by treating some plants with drainage, 

 others without, and by managing them in all other respects the same. 



If the advantages as regards the ends for which they were grown proved 

 not to be on the side of the undrained pots, it would appear their neighbors 

 had not been wronged by the e.xtra labor bestowed on them. If no differ- 

 ence could be observed on either side, the ends gained by the two systems 

 would equally balance each other. But if, on either side, there was a differ- 

 ence as regards healthy and luxuriant growth, or in the number and quali- 

 ty of the flowers, on that side should be the preference. The practice 

 spoken against is based upon the universally-acknowledged fact, that stag- 

 nant water at the roots of plants is hurtful to their growth and general 

 well-being, and therefore should, by all possible means, be prevented from 

 lodging there. The belief has been, that, by efficiendy draining pots, greater 

 facilities are afforded die surplus water to escape than when no such means 

 are employed : indeed, so evident does this appear, that discussion seems 



