THE H LORAL ^ORLD 



9 



AS TO THE SOIL FOR POTTING. 



It seems to me while so much is be- 

 ing said in The Floral World about 

 the methods of cultivating plants, it 

 would not come amiss to speak of the 

 paramount importance of the founda- 

 tion work which to insure success 

 means clean pots and well prepared 

 soil. It is evident The Floral World 

 is the medium through which we are 

 all bound to awaken to a practical 

 knowledge of caring for our plants. 

 The articles contributed by such 

 flower-loving pens are on such a com- 

 mon sense and practical plan that 

 even under the most unfavorable con- 

 ditions some success is achieved. 



Clean pots I deem very necessary; 

 also the adaptation of the size of pot 

 and plant. After removing a plant 

 never replace until the pot has been 

 well washed, soaked, aired and dried. 

 Keep at least four compost beds in 

 operation, for it is so important the 

 matter should undergo a thorough de- 

 composition. Fill one compost with 

 leaves liberally supplied with sand. 

 One with fowl house refuse. Another, 

 pile the grass after each mowing. 

 Utilize all available material consid- 

 ered reproductive. After one year 

 mix equal parts of each pile for fill- 

 ing pots. 



Louisiana. Mrs. W. N. White. 



This is the time of year that many 

 of our plants will need repotting. To 

 have fine foliage and flowers, plants 

 must have with all other requisites a 

 soil that is light, loose and fibrous, 

 and rich in plant food — not a hard 

 ■clay soil with all the nutritious ele- 

 ments washed out or used up. Such 

 might be dug up in the back yard, but 

 •could not be called potting soil. 



A good formula for composting pot- 

 ting soil is three parts of fibrous loam 

 or rotted sod, one part well-rotted 

 manure and one part silver sand. 

 There is nothing better unless it is to 



replace one part of the fibrous loara 

 with leaf loam. Plants potted in 

 fibrous loam alone do well, but of 

 course the sand and manure is an im- 

 provement. Fibrous loam is easily 

 obtained by those who live in the 

 country or who visit there occasion- 

 ally. Go to some old meadow, cut a 

 square of sod and lift it free from the 

 ground. Just beneath this sod is 

 found the fibrous loam, a layer of fine, 

 loose, soft earth, full of little thread- 

 like fibres. 



Leaf loam is composed of decayed 

 leaves. Bog soil of decayed water 

 weeds, mosses and grasses. Both are 

 very rich in plant food, and when 

 used alone, if plants thrive at all, 

 they usually grow luxuriantly, and 

 the loliage is noticeably dark and rich 

 in color. 



Indiana. Lecta Plackard. 



CHINESE SACRED LILIES. 



Even in December it is not too late 

 to plant these charming bulbs. Get 

 your bulbs from some reliable fiorist 

 who can be depended upon to send 

 sound, healthy bulbs. It pays to get 

 the best, in all kinds of bulbs. I put 

 three or four in a large, deep glass 

 dish. 



I first remove the brown skin from 

 the bulbs. Then make with a pen- 

 knife, three or four incisions half an 

 inch deep from the top to near the 

 base of each bulb. Be careful not to 

 cut off any sprouts that may have 

 started. Also be sure your hands are 

 free from grease while handling the 

 bulbs. 



I put about a teacup full of sand in 

 the bottom of the dish; then about an 

 inch of gravel, set the bulbs in the 

 middle, press them in firmly. Now 

 fill the dish half full of pebbles mixed 

 with a small amount of charcoal. 

 Then pour in water until it reaches 

 half-way to the top of the bulbs. I 

 change the water once a week 



