OF POTTING. 267 



CHAPTER XV. 

 OP POTTING. 



"When a plant is placed to grow in a small earthen 

 vessel like a garden pot, its condition is exceedingly 

 different from that to which it would be naturally 

 exposed. The roots, instead of having the power 

 of spreading constantly outwards, and away from their 

 original starting point, are constrained to grow back 

 upon themselves ; the supply of food is comparatively 

 uncertain ; and they are usually exposed to fluctua- 

 tions of temperature and moisture unknown in a 

 natural condition. For these reasons, potted plants 

 are seldom in such health as those growing freely 

 in the ground ; but, as the operation of potting is one 

 of indispensable necessity, it is for the scientific gar- 

 dener, firstly, to guard against the injuries sustainable 

 by plants to which the operation must be applied ; 

 and, secondly, to avoid, as far as may be possible, 

 exposing them to such an artificial state of existence. 

 That the latter may be done more frequently than is 

 supposed will be sufficiently obvious, when we have 

 considered what the purposes really are that the gar- 

 dener needs to gain by potting. 



The first and greatest end attained by potting is, 

 the power of moving plants about from place to place 

 without injury ; greenhouse plants from the open air 

 to the house, and vice versd ; hardy species, difficult 

 to transplant, to their final stations in the open ground 



