CHAPTER XV. 



OP POTTIN&. 



When a plant is forced to grow in a small earthen vessel like 

 a garden pot, its condition is exceedingly different from that to 

 ■which it -would he naturally exposed. The roots, instead of 

 having the power of spreading constantly outwards, and away 

 from their original starting point, are constrained to grow hack 

 upon themselves ; the supply of food is comparatively uncertain; 

 and they are usually exposed to fluctuations of temperature 

 and moisture unknown in a natural condition. For these 

 reasons, potted plants are often in worse health than those 

 growing freely m. the ground ; hut, as the operation of potting 

 is one of indispensahle necessity, it is for the scientific gardener, 

 firstly, to guard against the injuries sustainahle hy plants to 

 which the operation must he applied ; and, secondly, to avoid, 

 as far as may he possible, exposing them to such an artificial 

 state of existence. That the latter may he done more frequently 

 than is supposed wUl he sufficiently ohvious, when we have 

 considered what the purposes really are that the gardener needs 

 to gain hy potting. 



The first and greatest end attained by pottiag is, the power 

 of moving plants about from place to place without injury; 

 greenhouse plants from the open air to the house, and vice 

 versa; hardy species, difficult to transplant, to their final 

 stations in the open ground without disturbing their roots; 

 annuals raised in heat to the open borders ; and so on : and, 

 when this power of moving plants is wanted, pots afford the 

 only means of doing so. It also cramps the roots, diminishes 

 the tendency to form leaves, and increases the disposition to 



