Gardening for Amateurs 



183 



Common Gardening Terms Explained 



THE various terms used among gar- 

 deners often prove bewildering to the 

 amateur, and these notes are written 

 with the view of elucidating the meanings 

 of some of the commonest terms. 



Ball. Plants are always lifted if possible 

 with a good " ball," which means with 

 sufficient soil adhering to the roots to prevent 

 undue check. 



Bleeding. As a rule this refers to the 

 flow of sap following the cutting of shoots 

 at the wrong season, though some plants 

 will " bleed " at almost any time if cut, the 

 Indiarubber plant for example. 



Break. A shoot is said to " break " 

 when it makes visible growth after it has 

 been " pinched " or " stopped." A " natural 

 break " occurs when fresh growth is produced 

 in a natural manner without pinching. 



Callus. This is a ring of tissue that 

 forms at the base of a cutting, usually in a 

 few weeks after it is inserted ; subsequently 

 roots issue from the callus. 



Compost. A " compost " is a mixture 

 of soils made for the purpose of potting 

 plants. 



Close. A " close " atmosphere is often 

 advised for the rooting of certain cuttings, or 

 to encourage the quick recovery of newly 

 potted plants. It means a warm, moist 

 atmosphere, without ventilation. 



Clump. A clump indicates a good-sized 

 root of herbaceous plant, such as Phlox, 

 Michaelmas Daisy, etc. 



Crown. This means a growth possessing 

 a bud, usually near or in the soil, from which 

 growth springs annually. 



Crown-bud. In reference to Chrysan- 

 themums, the crown-bud is the flower bud 

 produced at the end of the first growth 

 made direct from the cutting. 



Damping Down. This is carried out 

 in greenhouses by syringing the floors and 

 other vacant spaces. The object is t<> U [> 

 the atmosphere sufficiently moist for the 

 needs of the plants, and it is essential chiefly 

 in bright, sunny weather. 



Damping Off. Seedlings "damp off" 

 when they are kept in a close atmosphere 



and are over- watered, especially if they are 

 growing thickly together. Under such con- 

 ditions they are attacked by a fungus, as 

 indicated by the stems turning black and 

 decaying at the soil level. 



Drawn. Plants are said to be "drawn " 

 when the growth has become elongated, 

 owing to insufficient light, or owing to their 

 being placed too far from the glass. 



Dress. To " dress " ground is to apply 

 manure or any other substance, such appli- 

 cations being termed " dressings." 



Dusting. The application of lime, soot, 

 and similar materials to soil or plants, as 

 a protection against or remedy for insect 

 attacks. 



Forcing. This term explains the process 

 of bringing plants to maturity out of their 

 natural season by means of a heated glass- 

 house. 



Flag. Plants " flag " when their leaves 

 lose their stiffness and droop, a condition 

 usually caused by dryness at the roots. 



Harden Off. Plants raised in a warm 

 temperature require to be inured to cooler 

 conditions gradually if they are to be planted 

 outside later, and this process the gardener 

 terms " hardening them off," or sometimes 

 merely " hardening." 



Hotbed. A hotbed is a large bulk of 

 fresh manure often with leaves added 

 made into a square or oblong bed, for the 

 purpose of providing " bottom heat " for 

 the cultivation of various plants. 



Leggy. Synonymous with "drawn," 

 already explained ; but also used occasion- 

 ally to describe plants of which the stems 

 have l)ecomo bare owing to the loss of the 

 lower loaves. 



Leaf-mould. This useful ingredient of 

 most potting soils is formed by placing a 

 quantity of leaves in a heap to decay, a 

 process which takes t \\elve months. 



Pinch. A plant is said to !* " pinched" 

 when the growing joints are remmed. to 

 induce the fiii-niatioii of "side shoots." 



Piping. Pinks are often propagated by 

 " pipings," these being made by pulling 

 out the tops of the shoot*. 



