PROPER TREATMENT. 40 



time, four or five years ago, it received a severe " cutting 

 back " and a renewal of about two-thirds of the soil ; and 

 now I hardly know where to find place for its enormous 

 growth. 



9. Soak new pots in water until well saturated, and 

 never use an old one without first giving it a thorough 

 cleansing. 



10. For the purpose of drainage, with the small pots I 

 have advised, it will not be necessary to "fill the bot- 

 toms with bits of charcoal and pottery," as is often recom- 

 mended. A piece of broken pot laid over the hole in 

 the bottom will prevent the soil from falling through with- 

 out hindering drainage there, and the porous sides of 

 the pot will do the rest. 



11. Protect the sides of pots from the full blaze of sun- 

 shine by some sort of covering, natural or artificial. The 

 heat of the direct rays is sometimes so intense, even in 

 winter, as almost to parboil the roots which lie exposed 

 against the sides. At the top the soil affords protection, 

 but even this may occasionally need a "mulching" of 

 moss. 



12. If you wish to group together several plants, as in 

 a large vase or hanging-basket, the best way for your 

 greeneries is to set them in with the pots, and fill the in- 

 terspaces with sand or moss. Thus any pot can be easily 

 lifted out for examination, or replaced by another ; and, 

 for reasons already given, the plants are much more likely 

 to flourish, than when embedded together in the usual 

 way. In my first winter's experiments, I lost several 

 choice plants by following the fashion, and so have 

 learned the value 01 the pots. 



"But when shall we give the rain ? How often and 

 how much ?" 



Very perplexing questions these, and it is well that we 

 have not to determine them for "all out-doors." But 

 3 



