24 



HOUSE PLANTS 



secured by adding sand. Use a clean, sharp 

 sand such as a mason would use for making 

 mortar. If you cannot secure this from 

 a nearby sand bank, you can buy bird 

 sand, if only small quantities are needed, 

 from the grocer. It comes put up in small 

 packages. If sand from the seashore is 

 used, get it from the shore side of the sand 

 hills, and wash it thoroughly before using 

 in order to remove any salt. Although 

 I have never done it myself, I have seen 

 coal ashes successfully used as a substi- 

 tute for sand. They were, of course, 

 screened to remove the coarse matter. On 

 heavy soils coal ashes sometimes are a posi- 

 tive detriment, however, by making the 

 clay into a sort of cement. Where better 

 drainage is wanted than can be given 

 by simply adding sand, add charcoal. If 

 the plants are to stay for a year or so in single 

 pots without repotting (as is the case with 

 palms), the charcoal is a distinct advan- 

 tage, not only because of the better drain- 

 age it affords, but also because it prevents 

 the soil from souring. Charcoal is cheap, 

 and a little of it goes a long v/ay. 



It is very important to have on hand 



