106 Milady's House Plants 



and impelling them to form new roots, immediately 

 followed by a sturdy top growth. With the whole 

 Summer before them in which to occupy the new soil 

 and acquire strength and vigor, they will be in fine 

 condition in the Fall to brave the hardships of Winter. 

 This reasoning is logical and is sustained by the facts. 

 A few pots a size or two larger than those occupied 

 by the largest plants should be on hand, then after 

 the potting has commenced,- there will be enough to 

 follow down the line, as old second hand pots are 

 just as good as new. 



Croc\ini and Drainage 



Coming back to the palm or rubber plant, say, 

 that has been knocked out and examined and sup- 

 posing it to have been in a five-inch pot, it will now 

 need a seven-inch. This gives it a space all around 

 of one inch and enough space in depth to allow of 

 new drainage. This drainage, that has been referred 

 to so frequently, consists simply of placing in the 

 bottom of the pot a piece of broken flowerpot large 

 enough to lie there loosely and still well covering it, 

 with the concave side down. On top of this is placed 

 a thin layer, say one-half inch of broken charcoal, of 

 the size of peas and beans and then a thin layer of 

 about one-quarter inch, when pressed down, of the 

 moss before referred to. The function of this little 

 group is to allow all superfluous water to pass freely 

 from the pot. One hole is easily sealed up with the 

 mud that inevitably settles down toward the bottom, 

 but with the little arch of crock keeping the hole free 

 and the porous layer of charcoal presenting many 

 small channels for the water to pass through, this 



