540 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



firmed in) over top of the pot to prevent excessive evaporation and drench 

 with water. 



A plant which has made a vigorous growth may need more root room. 

 It fills up the receptacle and becomes "pot bound," as the florist says. It 

 should be " shifted up" to a pot the next size or two sizes larger. There is 

 failure in pots larger than necessary. Reverse the plant with the palm of 

 the left hand against the top of the pot and the stem passing through the 



fingers and with a slight 

 tap the pot may be re- 

 moved. The ball of 

 roots should be put into 

 the new quarters, set- 

 ting the old surface 

 about level with the 

 top of the new pot. 

 Chink in new soil 

 around the ball of roots 

 and then water the 

 plant plenteously. In 

 potting up plants from 

 the summer garden — 

 geraniums, snap- 

 dragon, ten weeks' 

 stocks, petunias, scarlet 

 sage — set them in a 

 shaded corner for a few 

 days and syringe the 

 tops daily before plac- 

 ing in the sunny win- 

 dow. 



Nothing is more 

 unsightly than a lot of 

 "leggy" old plants or 

 puny weak ones. 

 Grow few plants and 

 have kinds which will 

 thrive. Make cuttings and keep the plants vigorous and shapely. Cut 

 back the old plants, remembering that flowers are on new wood, and that 

 it is "easier" for an old plant to grow a lot of new shoots than to carry 

 leaves on the tips of long, lanky branches. So cut the old plants back 

 vigorously once in a while. 



In selecting plants at the florist's for home window gardening, do not be 

 interested in those of his hottest house; choose plants from a night tempera- 

 ture of about 50 degrees. Plants like equable temperatures as well as 



i Courtesy of The Countryside Magazine, N. Y. 



Removing the Plant from Old Pot. 



