SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



Paut II. 



rolls of ^^y P f e V f dmit aIr (6) ' and COU,d b0 COVercd * (* with two 

 1 tar ? a, !" n f ^ c )j the tr * were planted in wooden boxes just large enough to 

 contain a smgle plant and perforated in their sides and bottom (d), and their surface was 

 carefully covered with moss (e), tied down with cord. ^ 



Subsect 2. Utensils of Culture. 



1406. The utensils used in growing plants are the pot, water-saucer, box, tub, watering 

 pot, ana syringe. to 



1407. Offloiver-pots there are several species and many varieties. 



The common Jlower-pot is a cylindrical tapering vessel of burnt clay, with a perforated bottom ,l of 

 which there are ten British sorts, distinguished by their sizes thus : the P ertora "*t bottom, and of 



1st size has 2 to the cast, and are called twos, being 18 A 7 '' 

 J i fours is ! 



sues 



eighths 



twelves 



sixteens 



In. In. 



7th size has 24 to the wf,and are called twentv-fours, beW8 6 P ' 



* h ?2 thirty -twos 4 A 



?& h IX forty-eighths 3 4 



IV!!? JJ sixties '2 U 



uth thumbs or eighties 14 ; 



nnS^^LftrSf ? "?-*** .* the cas *> and th e Price is generally the same for all the 10 sorts : two 

 pot* or a cast of No. 1, costing the same price as eight pots, or a cast of No 11 



TAe rfoir-jKrf is a broad flat-bottomed pot, used for striking cuttings or raising seedlings. 



The pot for bulbous roots is narrower and deeper than usual. 



7% pot for aquatics should have no holes in the bottom or sides. 



tr^^&^^ul^^^^-?^ f Ur SmaI1 h0l e s in the sWcs about one third of the depth 

 ^^^XmJ^^JSSSL fiHed Wlth graVd ' and theremainderwith soil, the imitation S a 



JnoofTc^Z ftalUyf ^RoLX!^ "^ ^ ^ "^ * ^ miXed ** >*> wderert 



77/e /r/flwrf /w* is chiefly used for ornament ; they are generally glazed green, but, for superior ocoi. 



sions, are sculptured and painted, or incrusted, &c. , um, sai) uiur mi.i 



1408. The propagation-pot (Jig. 175.) has 

 a slit in the side, from the rim to the hole in 

 the bottom, the use of which is to admit a 

 shoot of a tree for propagation by ringing in 

 the Chinese manner. Opposite to the slit is 

 an ear, or round appendage, with a hole for 

 hanging the pot to a branch. To those 

 who practise the mode of rooting shoots 

 without laying them down to the ground, 

 such pots will prove very convenient. In 

 France and Italy they are formed in a similar manner, and for the same purpose, of tinned 

 iron ; and by such means they propagate the camellia, banksia, &c. 



The square pot is preferred by some for the three smallest sizes of pots, as containing more earth in a 

 given surface of shelf or basis ; but they are more expensive at first, less convenient for shifting, and, not 

 admitting of such perfection of form as the circle, do not, in our opinion, merit adoption. They are used 

 in different parts of Lombardy and at Paris. 



The classic pot is the common material formed into vases, or particular shapes, for aloes and other plants 

 which seldom require shifting, and which are destined to occupy particular spots in gardens or conserva- 

 tories, or on the terraces and parapets of mansions in the summer season. 



The Chinese pot is generally glazed, and wide in proportion to its depth ; but some are widest below, 

 with the saucer attached to the bottom of the pot, and the slits on the side of the pot for the exit or 

 absorption of the water. Some ornamental Chinese pots are square at top and bottom, and bellied out in 

 the middle. 



The French pot, instead of one hole in the centre of the bottom to admit water, has several small holes 

 about one eighth of an inch in diameter, by which worms are excluded. 



1409. Flower-pot gauge, {fig. Hi.) In order to form pots of different sizes of a regular ratio to each other, 

 Knight has suggested a plan, of which this may be considered the substance. Assume as a convenient 

 proportion as to width at top, bottom, and height, 8, 5, and 6 ; lay down the vertical section of a pot of 

 this proportion on a board or large paper ; from its centre (a) draw two lines {b and c) passing through 

 the bottom of the sides, and equal distances measured on these lines will give equal accretions to smaller 

 or larger sized pots. Knight considers 2 inches as forming a proper difference in diameter in the scale of 

 sizes of pots, whi'ch is nearly double that in common use. 



1410. The Jlower-pot saticer is a flat circular vessel, with a rim from one to two inches 

 high, and is made somewhat larger than the bottoms of all the above sorts of pots. Its 

 chief use is to prevent the water, which escapes by the bottom of the pot, from proving 

 inconvenient on the shelves or stages in rooms or particular situations. In gardens they 

 are seldom wanted. A species named the carnation-saucer (Jig. 176.) is formed as 

 much larger than the pot to be placed in it as to admit of surrounding its base with 

 water, in order to prevent creeping insects from getting at the pot. In the centre of the 

 saucer is raised a basement on which to place the pot, in order to keep it dry, &c. 



1411. The qualities and durability of pots and saucers depend on the sort of clay and 

 degree of burning, in which a knowledge can only be acquired by observation and ex- 

 perience. Pots too much burned, crack and fall in pieces; and those which are not 

 burnt enough, splinter or scale off with the frost and continued moisture. Porous 

 earthenware is most congenial to the plants; but by admitting transpiration by the sides, 



