AN EXPLANATION OF TERMS 



Feeding. To " feed " a plant, one gives it water in 

 which manure or artificial fertiliser is dissolved. 



Fine Soil. That which is composed of very small 

 particles ; it is obtained by sifting or passing through a 

 sieve with a small mesh. 



Foreright Shoot. This term is chiefly, if not exclu- 

 sively, applied in reference to fruit trees growing on walls 

 (" wall trees "). It indicates those growths that develop 

 at right angles to the wall. These are cut off in favour of 

 others that can be more readily trained parallel to the 

 wall surface. 



Harden Off. A plant is " hardened off " by being 

 gradually inured to a cooler temperature until, in a few 

 weeks, it is acclimatised to outdoor conditions. 



keggy. A " leggy " plant is commonly a "drawn " 

 plant (which see) grown old. It may, however, be one 

 that has lost all its lower leaves, thus unblushingly 

 exposing its stem. 



Loam. I once advised an amateur to use " loam," 

 and he replied that he would follow my advice, but first 

 he would like to ask, " Pray what is loam ? " I replied 

 that my information was this: Loam is turf in the 

 peculiar condition that results after six months' storing, 

 when the grass has rotted and one is able easily to pull 

 the turf into pieces " about the size of a pigeon's egg," 

 as the text books have it. Whereat he was duly grateful. 



Occupant. The " occupant " of a " structure " is, in 

 less complex language, a plant. 



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