348 Draining Flower-Pots. 



All along the dikes which run north, and through the Connecticut Valley, 

 the trap and new red sandstone deposit are frequently found in close prox- 

 imity; the latter having been uplifted by the former at its formation. They 

 are at rest now, and long have been ; only scraped and gnawed by the 

 various processes of disintegration. The debris thus formed constitutes a 

 great part of the surface-soil in these localities ; which is a fine, friable 

 loam, and of much greater horticultural value than any to be got from the 

 gravelly stretches. In character, it differs from the other in the particles 

 being much more uniform in size ; on account of which, it maintains its 

 natural texture, and the position imposed upon it when placed in the pot, 

 not only for a month or two, but for a year, and simply in obedience to that 

 law which governs all solids alike. This uniformity we claim to be of the 

 utmost value in pot-culture ; and plants grown in it do not suffer so readily 

 from excess of water as when potted in a sandy soil, owing to the fact that 

 its capacity for water is much less than the other ; which capacity, as regards 

 every kind of soil, is just in proportion to the spaces between the particles. 

 " The atoms only of bodies are truly impenetrable." 



We feel reluctant to close these remarks without for a moment referring 

 to the difference of climate as regards heat and moisture ; more especially 

 the latter, in relation to the subject of pot-drainage. This seems more 

 needful, as the disposition is abroad to treat the subject irrespective of any 

 such consideration. It is claimed by the non-crocking theorists that " plants 

 drain from the sides, and not from the bottom, of the pots." 



It would, perhaps, be more correct to say they drain off in this way the 

 water which the mould is capable of taking up by absorption, all beyond 

 from the bottom alone ; and, if ample provision is not made for this, the 

 side drainage will be insufficient to preserv^e that medium degree of moisture 

 in the mould which every sensible gardener seeks to maintain. 



But, granting the statement to be true, it would not be of universal appli- 

 cation; for this mode of drainage is entirely dependent upon the hygromet- 

 rical condition of the atmosphere ; and this, we know, varies from almost 

 positive saturation to being very dry. If in the first state, the process 

 would be practically suspended, but for difference of temperature within 

 and without the pot ; and all along the scale, betwixt the points of wet and 

 dty, the passage of water through the vessel would be increased or dimin- 



