NEW METHOD OF POTTING PLANTS. 
39 
inflorescence. To avoid this consequence, the plan of which we are writing 
provides pots of just such a size as shall check the roots of the specimens, when 
these last are large enough to bear flowers profusely, and thus both throw them 
into bloom, and retain them always afterwards in a flowering condition. Hence, 
it combines the more congenial features of both natural and artificial treatment. 
By this method, moreover, the excellent modern practice of cultivating exotics 
in a dwarf well-shaped manner, so that each specimen may present an object of 
beauty, in form as well as flowers, worthy of individual scrutiny, will be vastly 
facilitated. When plants, whose branches cover a broader space than the diameter 
of the pots in which they are put, are brought together into a group, the 
probability is that, notwithstanding the cultivator's conviction that they ought to 
be far enough from each other to allow air and light to play round them, and 
notwithstanding, also, his desire to attend duly to this, they will, through the 
heedlessness of the attendant, in some other way, become too much crowded. But 
where the specimen is much smaller than its pot, such a misfortune is hardly 
possible ; for, however closely they may carelessly be placed, there will necessarily 
be an open space between the branches of contiguous specimens, on account of the 
largeness of their pots. The existence, too, of a free soil, into which the roots 
can push equally on all sides, will be almost sure to render the expansion of the 
branches alike regular, and so bushiness will be attained. The direct action, again, 
of light and air upon the earth, and consequently upon the roots, will have a strong 
tendency to mature the shoots of the plant, and fit it for bearing healthy branches, 
and an abundance of perfect flowers. Where the branches overspread the soil^ as 
in the ordinary method of potting, no such result can be realized, or only very 
inadequately. 
A more obvious and remarkable benefit will, however, flow from the use of this 
system, in that it will cause the plants to develop themselves so very rapidly. 
When, as we have seen, a fine plant that, by any other process, would demand a 
tedious period of years to perfect itself, can be so easily procured in one season, — 
or two, at the most, — the operations of the culturist will be less troublesome, less 
expensive, and far more sure and satisfactory. The chances of failure, besides, 
which are so many, and so prolonged, in ordinary instances, will not only be 
reduced within a much smaller compass, but be absolutely lessened ; as all will 
concede that the most appropriate mode of management — and we think we have 
shown this to be such — involves the very slightest liability to mishap. 
Another auspicious circumstance in connexion with the plan under review, is, 
that it aflfords the best of all facilities for applying the practice we have before so 
highly applauded, of stopping the growing shoots of the plants in order to make them 
bushy. So unusual is the quickness of their progress by this plan of potting, that 
they speedily repair whatever reductions may be made in their branches by form- 
ing fresh ones ; and by that means the new developments are rendered constantly 
vigorous, and are ripened almost as fast as they are formed. Every one must 
