Depth of Soil for Planting. 63 



new plants in which to make the growth they should 

 before their season of flowering commences. 



The other objection lies in the fact that during the 

 heated term, when air must be given day and night, 

 and in quantity, evaporation is so rapid as to endanger 

 root action unless the utmost vigilance is exercised. 

 To be sure, constant watchfulness is the key to success, 

 bvit it is not advisable for one to double his responsi- 

 bility in this respect, and as I believe, unnecessarily. 



It is my custom, as a rule, to commence planting in 

 May, selecting for this early work such benches as are 

 paying the least. The plants used during this month 

 and next are usually from three-inch pots, but all 

 planting after June is, as a rule, from four-inch pots. 

 This necessitates a depth of about five inches of soil 

 in order to cover the ball well, and I am satisfied this 

 depth is better than either more or less, if for a year's 

 work. 



'CHAPTER XVI. 



PLANTING. 



To secure perfect drainage and thus keep the soil 



sweet, the benches should be constructed of boards not 



more than six inches wide, with a crack of half an inch 



between them. 



When sod can be had in abundance it is well to cover 

 the cracks in the bottom of the bench with it, putting 



