4 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
legs, so that the plants may be readily turned round to 
the light, or wheeled into the middle of the room at night, 
when the weather is severe. 
COMPOST FOR PLANTS. 
The most important requisite, for the successful cultiva- 
tion of plants, is to have a stock of suitable compost for 
the various kinds. A plant in unsuitable mould cannot be 
healthy. The following materials should be obtained: 
. Good garden mould. 
. Mould from decayed turf, from a pasture or field. 
Mould from decayed leaves. 
. Decomposed stable, or cow-yard manure. 
Sea or river sand, free from salt. 
. Peat, from the meadows, that has been exposed to 
frost. 
7. Coarse sand or gravel. 
8. Broken flower-pots, charcoal, or oyster-shells. | 
9. Old mortar or plastering. 
Garden mould will not be needed if there is a supply 
of fine decayed turf mould, and will be wanted only in 
case of necessity. Turf mould, for a basis, is probably 
the best ingredient for a compost for plants. The broken 
pots, charcoal, ete., are used for drainage, to be placed in 
the bottom of the pot at the time of potting. About 
one-fifth of the depth of the pot may be filled with the- 
broken up drainage materials. A little meadow moss 
over this will prevent the mould from washing down. 
Leaf mould is not always to be obtained ; but it is a pre- 
cious ingredient in a compost, and many plants thrive 
much better in it than in anything else. It takes a long 
time to decompose leaves so as to be suitable for compost. - 
To have compost in perfection, the different ingredients 
should be mixed in advance of the time when they are 
wanted, They should be thoroughly mixed together, and 
OOP ww EH 
