TEEE CULTURE IN SOUTH AUSTEALIA, 75 



Plants Seared in Pots. 



This method of raising plants consists, as is well known, in growing 

 them in earthenware pots instead of openly in the niirseiy ground. The 

 method possesses many good points, while at the same time there are also 

 several objections to its appHeation to forestry under all circumstances. 



The special features in its favor are these : — All roots are carefully 

 preserved ; the plant can be moved from place to place to harden and 

 thus made gradually suitable for exposed planting ; and it can be trans- 

 planted at any season of the year, and in almost any weather, without 

 feeling injurious effects therefrom. These are very valuable properties 

 in favor of the system. 



The disadvantages of the system to the proper growth of forest trees 

 are : — Should the plant be kept long in the pot, its roots get what is 

 termed pot-bound : that is, the roots assume such a coil-like shape that 

 no amount of after culture will remedy this; and when the tree is 

 planted they take a purely downward tend(;ncy, without extending them- 

 selves horizontally (which is their natiiral habit) ; thus they soon get 

 down into the cold subsoil, and the tree often becomes stunted and 

 unhealthy in consequence. Again, it is well known that trees which 

 have stood long in pots, with the roots contracted in the maimer 

 described, are not able to support themselves properly in the ground, 

 and often get blown down with ordinary winds when they attain to tree 

 size. Be advised then, never to plant a young tree which has been long 

 confined in a small pot. 



Owing to the nature of our climate making the quiescent period of 

 evergreen trees somewhat uncertain, as has already been referred to in 

 this chapter, the system of rearing plants in pots is pecuHarly well 

 adapted to trees of this class. To the ordinary run of farmers, plants in 

 pots are much more suitable for their planting than those grown in 

 any other way, because (1) they are less liable to injury from neglect 

 previous to planting ; and (2) they will bear had planting better than 

 open-root plants will do. At present, the only real drawback to their 

 general adoption is their price, which, from the present limited demand, 

 is higher than any farmer can afford to pay in the formation of a 

 plantation of a few thousands of trees. This, however, will right itself 

 as the demand for plants increases, and their sale upon a large scale 

 will aUow our spirited nurserymen to accept smaller profits. 



The pots used should not be less than those quoted as " 4in.," that is, 

 having a diameter of 4in. inside at the top. Any size above this is, of 

 course, preferable, and should be used if possible. Sizes 4|in. and Sin. 

 are very suitable for all practical ptirposes. These cost from £5 to £6 

 per thousand. Plants for potting should be reared in small boxes ; 

 brandy cases are very suitable for the purpose (Pig. 65). The process 

 of " potting " should, if possible, be done in nice cool cloudy weather, and 

 with soil of a fine sharp sandy-loam nature. The seeds may be sown 

 in the boxes about March or AprU for transplanting into the pots in 

 August or September ; or they may be sown in September or October 

 for potting in January. The plants will then remain some six or seven 



