POT 



the latter, however, you must in general 

 be content with small shifts, as you 

 will not be able to get the soil rough 

 enough for large ones. The plants, 

 notwithstanding, will thrive beautifully, 

 and size for size will often yield more 

 bloom than if you had used large shifts 

 and larger pots. If the latter is your 

 wish, you may use pieces of charcoal, 

 or, what will answer extremely well, get 

 a few fibry sods taken off quite thin, 

 dry them over a furnace, or, what is 

 better, char the grassy sides by putting 

 them on an old spade or other iron, 

 and then place them over a fire ; allow 

 the sods to be exposed for a few days 

 to sweeten, and then, if broken into 

 small pieces, they will not only be 

 useful for placing over the drainage, 

 but also for mixing with any, but chiefly 

 fine soil to keep it open. Where rough 

 soil is wanted for large shifts, it is best 

 to pile the turf, when dry, in narrow 

 stacks, through which the air may cir- 

 culate, and yet the wet be excluded. 

 In using such a heap, after the time 

 specified, there is little occasion to turn 

 it frequently afterwards, which would 

 be necessary in the case of other fresh 

 soil not so exposed; for we must not 

 forget that every turning we give, while 

 it renders the soil more aerated and 

 sweet, renders it also more fine and 

 dense, from the decomposition of its 

 fibre. Charcoal, owing to its lightness, 

 not to speak of its chemical properties, 

 is the best assistant for rendering the 

 soil porous; and enough of this may 

 be got from every garden by charring 

 the rubbish. Failing that, however, 

 broken brick, broken pots, and lime- 

 rubbish may be used with advantage, 

 if there is nothing in the peculiar plant 

 to render one or all unsuitable. 



Draining. A plant badly drained 

 will never show fine cultivation. "Where 

 Avorms are likely to intrude, the convex 

 side of the potsherd should be placed 

 over the hole; but for amateurs, no- 

 thing is better than small caps of tin 

 or /inc to cover over the hole com- 

 pletely ; and in either case, plenty of 

 drainage placed over them, the mate- 

 rials being smaller as it ascends. For 

 anything requiring nicety, there ought 

 to bo at least uiie-incli drainage in a 



t 744 ] POT 



five-inch pot, and so in proportion. 

 The best covering for the drainage is a 

 sprinkling of green moss, to separate 

 the drainage from the soil; over that 

 some of the rougher materials should 

 be placed, and then some of the finer, 

 on which the base of the ball should 

 rest. 



Potting or Shifting. The pots should 

 be new or thoroughly clean. No man 

 deserves to have a nice plant who would 

 place it in a dirty pot, and rarely will 

 he be rewarded with one. When he 

 attempts to shift again, it serves him 

 right to find that roots and soil alike 

 are so sticking to the sides of the pot, 

 that he must break the pot, or lacerate 

 the roots. Before commencing opera- 

 tions, see that the ball of the plant is 

 moist from the centre to the circumfer- 

 ence. If not, you can never moisten it 

 afterwards without labour, which may 

 as well be spared. 2. If you wish to 

 rattle your plants on until a certain 

 period, upon the successive shift system, 

 never allow the roots to mat round the 

 sides of the pot ; but reshift as soon as 

 they get there. 3. If the roots should 

 be a little matted, gently disentangle 

 them, even though in doing so you get 

 rid of a good quantity of the old soil, 

 and spread these roots out into layers, 

 packing them as you proceed with soil 

 of various degrees of fineness. 4. The 

 soil in general should be as high in 

 temperature, or nearly so, as the plant 

 enjoyed previously. Cold soil has in- 

 jured many a fine plant. We have 

 said nothing of cutting roots, because 

 that chiefly applies to particular times 

 ! and instances. Generally, when after 

 i a period of rest, fresh growth is to be 

 induced. 



Immediately - after - treatment. What- 

 ever system of potting has been adopted, 

 a greater excitement to growth than 

 usual should be given. If well watered 

 previously to potting, and a largish shift 

 given, little water will be wanted at the 

 root for a time ; but that should be 

 several degrees warmer than usual ; 

 i and frequent syringings in bright 

 ! weather should be imparted, accom- 

 j panied with shading, if necessary. If 

 '? u small shift was given, water will be 

 wanted more freely at the rout; and 



