187G. ] 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES.-CHAPTER III. 
51 
or loosely placed in a pot, and-then, the pot having been gently shaken once or 
twice, the operation has been regarded as complete. Such a practice is simply 
barbarous, and could have arisen only from an absolute ignorance of, or indiffer¬ 
ence to, the best axioms of cultivation. When we remember what we desire the 
plant to do, and the conditions through which it must pass, the variable character of 
our weather, with its fluctuations of cold and heat, drought and moisture, and that 
the growth for four or five months, as the case may be, must constantly progress 
at an accelerated pace if fine blooms are to result, we are stimulated to inquire what 
practice will best produce this end ? and my experience, following induction, 
long ago taught me the first step in that practice is firm pottincf. Firm potting 
gives us many advantages. In the first place, it saves from the great injury of 
extreme saturation by heavy rain, and its correlative evil, drought; and further, 
as soil luell firmed is not subject to the excessive fluctuations of heat and cold 
which follow that of a loose texture, and as experience and theory alike teach 
that successful cultivation depends upon the nearest realisation of an equable 
temperature, gradually increasing according to the necessities of the plant, and 
the avoidance of sudden changes from heat to cold, and drought to moisture, 
firm potting goes far to produce for us these conditions, therefore I prescribe it. 
If the cultivator is minded to make the experiment, to which, however, I do not 
recommend him, he will find that plants firmly potted are stouter in their growth 
than those in a loose soil, shorter-jointed, and have a much more fleshy root. 
But while thus recommending firm potting—more, enforcing it, as a first 
necessity—the cultivator must remember the mechanical condition of the soil 
must be appropriate. This should neither be so dry as to fall in dust, nor so clammy 
as when pressed to form a compact ball impervious to the .air. I do not know 
how better to describe its proper state than to say it should, when taken into the 
hand and pressed, readily cohere, showing the imprint of the fingers and palm, 
and when pressed the opposite way, as readily crumble. 
Having, therefore, made all necessary provision, put in the needed'amount of 
drainage—about 2 in. of clean crocks—and covered that again with portions of 
rough fibrous soil, fill the pot to the requisite level, and with a suitable rammer 
well and thoroughly firm the whole. 
Then, commencing, of course, with the strongest varieties, turn out the plants 
from their winter-pots, and after removing any sour or effete soil from the collar, 
place them carefully at the required height on the new soil, and fill in as needed, 
thoroughly firming the soil until complete. A covering of clean oyster-shells on 
the surface of the pots will be of great advantage, and all tall growers should be 
carefully guarded against high winds by small sticks placed diagonally athwart 
them. Then remove to the blooming-quarters, place on strips of wood to prevent 
the egress of worms, and give the best available protection until the plants are 
well established and danger from sharp spring frosts has passed. Nothing gives 
this better than Haythorn’s hexagon garden-net, drawn over light iron hoops, 
under which the pots are placed. See that each pot is upright, or water, when 
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