POTS A\I) OTHER RECEPTACLES 87 



its diameter, and fasten a wire at each end for hanging by ; a 

 few holes should be made in the intact (lower) side for drainage. 



Tubs. Wooden tubs, either made for the purpose, or con- 

 sisting of whisky or wine casks cut into two, make useful recep- 

 tacles for growing large plants, as palms, etc. Such tubs should be 

 painted green, and raised off the ground by means of bricks placed 

 under ne:ith. An iron handle fixed to opposite sides of the tub 

 will facilitate the removal of the latter when necessary. If made 

 locally by a carpenter, a simple and effective form is a square tub, 

 slightly narrowing towards the base, fastened together at the 

 corners by means of a couple of clamps with pegs at both ends ; this 

 can be taken to pieces or put together when desired, and when 

 painted white, with the clamps in green, looks neat and ornamental- 



Tins and metal receptacles are often employed, and some- 

 times successfully, for growing plants in, but their use cannot be 

 generally recommended. Apart from their ungainly appearance, 

 plants cannot be expected to thrive so well in these as in pots 

 or receptacles made of a porous material. When, however, only 

 tins are procurable and have to be used, a number of small holes 

 should be driven into the bottom, and a quantity of potsherds 

 or small pieces of brick placed over these for drainage. 



Seed-pans. These are most useful in propagating work 

 whether for seeds or cuttings. Those usually made in Ceylon are 

 circular in shape, and about 3 inches in depth ; they vary in size, 

 but should not exceed 12 inches in diameter, for if too large, they 

 are less portable and are more liable to be broken. 



Seed boxes are especially useful in the hill districts, both for 

 raising seedlings under some protection from the weather, and also 

 for pricking them off afterwards before finally planting out. The 

 boxes should not be more than about 3 inches deep, and should be 

 provided with free drainage. 



Painted pots. Not infrequently one sees in verandahs and 

 at railway stations earthenware plant-pots painted in green or other 

 striking colours. This is owing to a mistaken idea of artistic beauty, 

 as well as to the oriental innate love of striking colours. The 

 writer recalls a case where a well-meaning garden cooly painted all 

 the pots in his charge a vivid pink ! It should be remembered 

 that there is nothing unsightly or unbecoming about earthenware 

 Hower-pots if kept neat and clean, and that their natural colour is the 

 most pleasing one. Smearing them with paint destroys their porosity, 

 which is an essential quality for the successful growth of plants. 



