FOR YOUNG GARDKNERS. 55 



of the Tradescantia set out there. If the plants are taken 

 from the ground they are prepared the same as for potting. 



POTTING PLANTS. 



Potting Plants from the Soil. Take the plant 

 Tip carefully leaving a ball of earth about the roots; 

 crumble this away until it will easily enter the pot, place 

 a few pieces of broken pot in the bottom for drainage and 

 fill it about one-third full of soil; set the plant in the 

 center holding it so the top of the ball of earth is about 

 one inch below the top of the pot; fill in fine soil evenly on 

 all sides and press it down with the fingers firmly. The 

 pots should be clean inside and should be wet before using. 

 Water thoroughly and place in partial shade for a few 

 days. Do not give too much water at the root until the 

 plants start to grow. 



To Re-Pot, the plant is removed from the pot by in- 

 verting it and rapping the rim of the pot lightly upon the 

 edge of the bench. Crumble a little earth from the upper 

 edge, remove the drainage and crumble away the lower 

 edge slightly. Put in enough soil over the drainage to 

 bring the ball of earth about one inch below the top of the 

 pot, place the plant in the center of the pot and fill soil 

 around the ball of earth pressing firmly about the edges. 

 Fill the pot to about three-fourths of an inch below the 

 top, press firmly and rap slightly on the bench to settle the 

 soil; water and place in partial shade for a day or two. In 

 re-potting, generally use pots one inch larger than those 

 from which the plant came. Over-potting is as serious as 

 under-potting. To pot cuttings or seedling plants take one 

 part of sand, one part of soil and one part of manure and 

 pot the same as other plants, filling the pots to within one- 

 half inch of the top. 



propagation. 



The window garden is the teacher's greenhouse and 

 in it may be propagated all the early plants for the school 

 garden. Many farmers' wives have no other place to start 

 their early vegetable and flower plants. 



