January 25, 1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
G5 
25 th 
Tn 
Koval Society at 4.80 P.M. 
26th 
F 
Quekett Club at 8 P.M. 
27th 
S 
Royal Botanic Society at 3.45 P.M. 
28th 
SDN 
Sexagesima. 
29th 
M 
Sale of Liliums at Mr. Stevens’s Rooms, King Street, Covent 
30th 
TD 
[Garden, 
3. st 
W 
Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
POTTING SHEDS—A SUGGESTION. 
^2^ VERY week something instructive or in¬ 
teresting is forthcoming in the Journal 
of Horticulture for each class of readers, 
and frequently we are favoured with 
articles that the majority, whether 
they he employers or employed, are con¬ 
strained to read with more than passing 
interest. In this latter category I should 
like to include my theme, being under the im¬ 
pression that a garden without a potting shed 
is quite as incomplete as a builder’s yard would 
he without a workshop. 
We meet with many strange apologies for potting 
sheds; in fact, according to my experience, utterly 
unsuitable structures are the rule, the exceptions being 
very few indeed. In some instances they are dark, 
cold, and wet; others are much too small, and it may 
he extremely dry and dusty, owing to the fact of the 
presence of the stokehole ; others, again, are incon¬ 
veniently disposed either as regards contiguity to the 
frame ground and compost yard, or too great a distance 
from the plant houses. Many have to he contented with 
the corner of a shed which also has to he utilised for 
storing roots, pots, carts, wheelbarrows, and tools. 
Yet it is in these miserable makeshifts much of the 
most important work connected with the majority of 
gardens has to he performed ; and is it to be wondered at 
if it is “ scamped,” more especially by the assistants, 
who may be thinking more about getting into warmer 
quarters than the work in hand ? 
Slates and tiles have been too long employed for 
covering roofs where glass might with advantage have 
been substituted, and it is surprising to me that our 
undoubtedly clever horticultural architects and builders 
have not more fully realised this. Designs in abun¬ 
dance are forthcoming for houses adapted to the culture 
of all kinds of plants and fruits, and why should not 
potting houses be included ? Not hut what most gar¬ 
deners are competent to design such a structure , but 
what is really wanted is the suggestion conveyed either 
by illustration and advertisement or a discussion in 
your columns. Once let employers as well as gardeners 
realise that a potting house may be made a source of 
profit and pleasure, and I venture to assert many new 
ones on improved principles will he constructed, as 
well as many old ones modified. For several years I 
have hoped to he in a position to arrange for the con¬ 
struction of a house on a very different principle to 
any I have yet seen, hut as I appear to he as far off as 
ever from the realisation of my project, I am now writing 
with the motive of inducing others to profit by my not 
quite original conception. What I wish to construct 
is a combination of potting house and either vinery, 
orchard, or plant house, and I have had ample proof 
the idea is by no means impracticable. 
My ideal potting house wou.d necessarily be disposed, 
built, heated, and utilised according to circumstances, 
everything depending upon the arrangement of the 
plant and fruit houses, whether much exposed or not, 
contiguity to the boilers, and what class of house either 
for fruit or plant culture was most required. In many 
cases it would have a span-roof, the walls to support 
this being about 9 feet high all round, the ends above 
this height being glazed. I would dispose a strong 
potting bench along the darkest side, a staging of the 
same width round the rest of the available space, and 
a strong shelf considerably higher completely round 
the house. These benches and shelves would be found 
serviceable for plant-growing, and more especially for 
drying cff many plants and bulbs w hich generally, even 
when fairly treated, present a very poor appearance 
in the plant houses; and where unfairly treated— 
that is to say, when stored away under the stages, 
are apt to prove disappointing when taken in hand 
again. The roof could be utilised for Grape, Peach, 
and Nectarine culture, or if preferable, especially in an 
unheated structure, for Pears and Plums, the roots of 
these in each instance being confined in narrow raised 
brick pits under the benches. Roses, again, would 
succeed admirably on the roof or trained across over¬ 
head, and if preferable both these and Grape Vines 
may easily be planted in an outside border. I may 
mention having had the pleasure last season of inspect¬ 
ing a plant of Gloire de Dijon Pose growing in a very 
poor though light potting shed, which was carrying 
fully two hundred expanded blooms, while numberless 
buds were developing. I have also seen good Grapes 
growm in a potting house disposed on the north side of 
a garden wall and at the end of a range of houses. If 
these results are possible under difficulties much better 
things might be achieved in a well-designed house. 
It may be said, “ Why build a house for potting pur¬ 
poses that will cost as much as an ordinary plant or fruit 
house ?” I argue, Is it not better to provide a roomy, 
light, and warm structure where most important work 
can be performed comfortably and without possible 
injury to the plants, especially seeing that this same 
house, besides being a boon to the employed, can be 
made profitable to the proprietor ? According to pre¬ 
sent arrangements much of the potting necessary in 
the case of hothouse plants has to be performed in the 
houses where the plants are growing, simply because 
the sheds are too cold or otherwise unsuitable for the 
work. A potting house or shed need not necessarily 
be the receptacle of all kinds of rubbi h, including 
heaps of soil, broken crocks, dirty and clean flower pots ; 
on the contrary, all these even in many cases under 
the present arrangements should be properly disposed 
elsewhere. 
As before stated, slates and tiles have too long been 
relied upon for covering roofs, as a glass rod if origin¬ 
ally dearer is the cheapest eventually. Many an out¬ 
house, if glazed instead of being covered with slates or 
tiles, would easily be adapted for hardy fruit culture. 
With the aid of glass and no great amount of skill in 
cultivation, such kinds as Apricots, Plums, Cherries, 
Figs, and in many districts Peaches and Nectarines, 
could be relied on to yield abundantly, and without 
No. 135.— Vol. VI., Third series. 
No. 1791.— Vol. LXIX.. Old series. 
