■36 ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGED PLANTS. 



For soil, as a general rule, use one part loam, one part 

 peat, and one part good vegetable mould well decomposed, 

 ■with a good portion of sand added. This compost we em- 

 ploy in the seed pots, and for the first two or three years' 

 growth, after which we prefer to add about two parts 

 good fibrous loam in place of one ; and when it is not de- 

 sirable to put the plants into larger pots every year, a 

 portion of the surface soil should be removed and replaced 

 hj good vegetable soil, which is sure to be attended with 

 good efiects to the plants operated upon. ' The pots must 

 be thoroughly drained. In regard to repotting plants, 

 we would strongly impress upon the miuds of our readers, 

 ihe necessity of preserving intact the large fleshy roots 

 which are sure to be found coiled amongst the drainage. 

 We have seen these ruthlessly destroyed, but it is a 

 fatal error, for they are the feeders and real life supporters 

 of the plant. Nature does not chop off these roots, or 

 if through force of circumstances an individual plant is 

 so situated that its roots suffer, the plant does not appear 

 improved by it ; and if we imitate nature it should be in 

 her very best form, and not allow our plants under culti- 

 "vation to be continually struggling for a bare subsistence. 

 Should it at any time be necessary to reduce the roots 

 of Palms by pruning, the plants should be plunged ia 

 a tank of water immediately after potting. To keep 

 them dry under these circumstances, as many do, is an 

 error which is almost sure to end fatally. The above 

 system has been practised with good results by us for 

 many years, and we venture to say those adopting the 

 same means will never have to complain of failure. 



