GENERAL CULTURAL NOTES 15 



the size of 4- or s-inch, the firming of the soil should be done with the 

 aid of a piece of wood about i Yi inches wide and J^-inch thick, 

 or larger, for very large plants. Enough space should always be 

 left at the top of the pot, so that when the ball of earth is in 

 need of water one application will be sufficient to wet it through. 



In potting cuttings it is the usual custom to put in soil to one- 

 third the depth of the pot; the cutting is put in place, the remain- 

 ing space filled up with soil, then the bottom of the pot is knocked 

 several times on the bench, after which the plant is slightly firmed 

 with the thumbs. It is preferable to have the knocking precede the 

 firming with the thumbs, for this reason: When the cutting is 

 placed in position, the soil added and thumb-firmed, the soil does 

 not get well distributed among the rootlets nearly so well as when 

 the pot is given one or two gentle knocks before the thumbs are 

 used. For most plants in the cutting stage the thumbs should be 

 used for evening the surface more than for firming. Another reason, 

 just as weighty as the last, is that pressure from the thumb acts 

 unevenly on the roots, pressing down opposite sections, while the 

 intervening spaces containing the tender roots are stationary. 

 This must necessarily result in twisting and wrenching, which 

 dangers are done away with, or at least lessened, by first firming 

 with the knocking process. (See Fig. i.) 



Again, all the cuttings of a batch will not have the same quantity 

 of roots, and therefore they should get different methods of treat- 

 ment in potting. Those which have a satisfactory number of roots 

 may be put in the middle of the pot, according to the usual custom; 

 but those which have few roots, and which look as if they would 

 benefit by being left in the cutting bed for a longer period, will, as 

 a rule, come along all right if placed at the edge of the pot instead 

 of at the middle. The roots in this position make progress rapidly, 

 and the plantlets can easily be given a place in the middle of a pot 

 during their next shift. Cuttings with very fine roots should always 

 be treated in this way. (See Fig. 2.) 



Many cuttings, when ready for potting, will be found to have 

 the roots pointing downward from the base of the cutting instead 

 of radiating from it; these are often delicate and easily bruised, 

 but they can be preserved by taking some soil in one hand, letting 

 the fingers accompany it into the pot, and before withdrawing them 

 press the soil against one side of the pot; place the roots against 

 this and fill up with soil. In course of time practice will enable 

 the operator to pot cuttings as rapidly by this as by the ordinary 

 method. In potting cuttings during the Winter months very great 



