MANAGEMENT OF A FEW SPECIES OF BIGNONIA AND TECOMA. 
253 
spread, provided they still keep within a trifling distance of the snrfacej the more 
fertile will the plant become. 
It may, therefore, be laid down as an unalterable principle in culture of all kinds 
which has flowers or fruit for its object, that, not by confining or reducing the roots 
of plants (though both these practices are useful for the sake of restricting their 
growth within prescribed bounds) can fertility be increased ; but by keeping the 
roots so near the top of the ground that the sun and air may act upon those roots, 
and upon the fluids they take up, and the soil in which these fluids are stored. 
Keeping this point prominently before the mind, it will be instantly perceived 
that pots which are merely contracted in diameter^ can simply check the expansion 
of plants placed in them, without at all afibcting their produce, or only doing so 
prejudicially. With some tribes, it is true, a reduction of natural vigour is neces- 
sary, on account of the great space they would occupy, and also because of their 
tendency to emit superfluous branches. This is particularly the case with the 
beautiful shrubs, of larger growth, that adorn our greenhouses and stoves, with all 
those which it is wished should remain compact, but manifest a disposition to straggle, 
and with the annual or other species from which it is intended to save seed. 
Culturists having observed that generous treatment has the direct efi'ect of 
begetting exuberance, have resorted to the starving or opposite system, in the hope 
of obtaining contrary results. Here, however, they have not been sufiiciently dis- 
criminative ; since it is not highly favourable conditions (the idea embodied in the 
phrase generous treatment) that foster wantonness of development ; but rather the 
mingling with them of such as are decidedly unpropitious. Moderately rich soil, 
and !plenty of space for the roots, are, then, as we conceive, the best of all aids to 
culture ; and their good influence is only counteracted by sufi^ering that soil to be 
too deep, or too remote from atmospheric agency. 
Applying these propositions, we think we have shown that small pots, of them- 
selves, do not occasion the benefits ascribed to them ; and, in fact, that they are 
really objectionable in the majority of instances. Where employed, they compel 
the better roots to descend to the bottom ; and there, below the soil, and beyond 
the reach of air, they either lengthen themselves unduly without producing fibres, 
or gradually pass into a state of decay. That either of these circumstances must 
be exceedingly prejudicial, will be immediately admitted ; for, wanting sufficient 
energy to cause vigorous or ordinary growth, no plant can possibly be in a condition 
to flower profusely. 
In regard to many kinds of climbers, the above principles have a yet greater 
force. There are some species of these (and the groups before us furnish examples 
of the class) which will not bloom well till their stems and branches have reached 
a certain size and maturity. They must, in short, be vigorously established ere it 
is wise to attempt eliciting their flowering propensities. To check and retard their 
early development, therefore, by keeping them in narrow pots, is obviously absurd. 
Young specimens, obtained from the cuttings of fertile plants, may certainly 
