590 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



starting into activity. Where gas is burnt it is useless to expect plants to keep for long in a 

 healthy condition." 



Ill-health is frequently promoted by sour soil and worms, which disturb the drainage, 

 that is, they mix up the soil with the crocks in the bottom of the put and prevent the free 

 egress of moisture. When the soil becomes sour or filled with worms repotting should 

 take place, and the time for this is the spring, the great potting season, when vegetation 

 generally is bursting into new leaf. Pot carefully, preserving as many of the roots as 

 possible, and use thoroughly clean earthenware pots, not the fanciful glazed receptacles so 

 frequently seen in drawing-rooms. A good general compost is loam mixed with some well- 

 decayed leaf mould, and sufficient sharp silver sand to lighten it. Over the crocks in the 

 bottom of the pots place some of the rougher soil to prevent the finer parts from running 



down and disturbing the 

 drainage. Pot firmly, and 

 water with extreme care until 

 the plants are established. 

 The reason of this is that the 

 roots are not sufficiently 

 active to absorb the moisture 

 given, and hence they decay. 

 When a greenhouse is avail- 

 able transfer them to this for 

 a time, as a gentle warmth 

 will promote quick growth. In 

 dealing with the best kinds to 

 grow in a window, culture 

 necessary for the individual 

 species and varieties is con- 

 sidered. Sometimes a little 

 artificial manure is helpful in 

 stimulating the growth of the 

 plant, but such preparations 

 must be carefully handled ; 

 it is a mistake to give an 

 overdose, which means that 

 the roots arequickly destroyed. 

 Never give a dose in excess 

 to that prescribed in the 

 directions, and never repeat 

 it at frequent intervals. 

 When judiciously used, 

 artificial manure has a remarkable effect upon the plant in growth and stimulates a further 

 display of flowers. 



Insects, of course, trouble plants in rooms as well as those in the greenhouse and 

 outdoor garden, but when in the room the pests are more under control. When first seen 

 sponge them off, and thus stop progress, Neglect means that green fly and other insects 

 will increase at such a rate as in time to render a course of fumigation in the greenhouse 

 necessary. Soft-wooded plants, such as the Zonal Pelargonium, or " Geranium," are more 

 liable to insect attacks than any of the hard-leaved class. But the way to prevent 

 insects attacking plants is to promote vigorous growth. Healthy growth is seldom attacked, 

 because the plants are, so to say, able to resist such attacks. It is weakly growth that 

 suffers most severely. 



THE COTTAGER AND HIS ROSES. 



