POTTTNG. 21 



POTTING. 



|HE first things to be considered are tlie pots ; 

 of these little need be said, as everyone is 

 acquainted with flower pots. The best kind of 

 pots for specimen plants are those with a moveable bottom, 

 because the plant can be set upon a stand, and the pot 

 gently slipped down, thus allowing the condition of the 

 roots and drainage to be examined with the greatest 

 ease to the operator, and perfect safety to the specimen. 

 When the pots are selected they will require draining. 

 This is of vital importance in the operation of potting ; 

 therefore we say, once for all, drain well or success must 

 never be even hoped for. At the same time it should 

 be borne in mind, that the throwing of a large quantity 

 of potsherds into a pot in a careless manner is not the 

 proper method of securing good drainage. If broken 

 potsherds or oyster shells are used, they should be placed 

 with the hollow sides downwards, finishing off with a 

 layer of smaller ones at the top, the whole being covered 

 with rough peat fibre, to prevent the soil mixing with 

 it. Some plant growers begin repotting at a stated 

 time in the spring, and go through their whole collection 

 at one time. This system may be convenient, bat it is 

 certainly unwise, and most unnatural. It is impossible, 

 indeed, to lay down any definite rule ; for as all plants 

 do not start into growth at the same time, though in 

 the same temperature, those which are dormant caimdt 

 take up the nourishment from the new soil, which con- 

 sequently by frequent waterings becomes soddened and 

 comparatively old before the roots are in a fit state to 

 move into it. H? has always appeared to us — and wher- 



