32 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[February, 
thick bluish bloom. When thoroughly ripe, the skin cracks slightly crossways 
and lengthways over the whole surface, allowing the juices to exude and to stand 
out like drops of dew. The eye is slightly open, showing the interior ; the neck 
is short. The flesh is of a deep dark blood-colour, with a thick syrupy juice, 
exceedingly rich and delicious. 
Figs are liable to vary much in flavour, according to the weather, or the tem¬ 
perature of the houses in which they are grown, or possibly the treatment. The 
little White Ischia is particularly changeable in this respect, while the Bourjassotte 
Grise is always the same, and always first-class in flavour.—M. 
REMARKS ON PLANT-POTTING. 
HE general skill of the gardeners and nurserymen of the present day, in 
regard to plant-growing, is such, that it is soon ascertained what tempera¬ 
ture and soil best suit any particular plant. It is well known by plant- 
growers that there are plants which require very different temperatures 
and soils from others, some flourishing in a sandy loam and soils of a similar 
nature, whilst others require sandy peat leaf-mould, &c., some requiring a high 
moist temperature, whilst others require a cool airy situation. 
One of the chief conditions of success in plant-growing, however, lies in the 
condition of the soil at the time of potting, and on using suitable-sized pots, with 
thorough drainage. For vigorous growing plants, whose roots proceed rapidly, 
larger pots may be used at once ; but where the fibrous roots are few or very deli¬ 
cate, one of proportionately small dimensions must be employed. A free drainage 
of broken pots, charcoal, sphagnum moss, chopped turf, &c., to a good depth is 
essential to success ; for if water is not allowed to pass off with freedom, the soil 
at the lower part of the ball soon becomes sodden and sour, and each application 
of water afterwards, only tends to saturate a layer higher up the ball, and thus to 
increase the evil, and by preventing the water from filtering away, hastens the 
death of the plant! 
The compost itself, too, should be of an open texture, so that not only may 
the water freely filter through, but that the air may be permitted in a due degree 
to pervade in every part the mass of soil amongst which the roots are imbedded. 
This latter is a most essential aid to fertility. When the ball of compost becomes 
of a close texture, and is allowed to get dry, it becomes so hard as to prevent a 
regular diffusion of moisture or air, while if kept saturated, it becomes of so close 
a texture as to be equally injurious. I find the use of pieces of charcoal scattered 
amongst the soil to be very beneficial, as they not only tend to keep the soil open, 
but at the same time they absorb and retain moisture to such a degree, as to 
contribute towards the supply of sustenance, even when the soil becomes somewhat 
dry. So in some degree, broken bits of pots are beneficial, if moderately used. 
The surface of the ball should be carefully attended to, especially in the case 
of delicate plants. It should be kept so even, that the water given may descend 
