270 
THE FLORIST. 
autumn trusses. I have not found this effect, but neither do I care 
about it. I do not believe in the general opinion of its injury to the 
spring bloom, though I am careful to save their strength all I can by 
pinching off the buds of such trusses as appear not later than October, 
The soil is the next thing, and with that must be associated the size 
of the pot that is to contain it. In England the universal caution has 
been, “ Do not overpot.” And one most successful exhibitor, culti¬ 
vator, and raiser (the late Mr. Dickson), rarely used larger pots than 
4-inch ; 5-inch pots are by most considered the utmost allowable size. 
And there is truth in this, if you will not take the most scrupulous and 
apparently unnecessary care about drainage, and to get the new roots 
to the sides of the pot before winter; for then you will stand a fair 
prospect of the tap and the old roots rotting. But the only cultivator 
who can get eleven pips on Booth’s Freedom, and nine of two inches 
diameter each on a Fletcher’s Ne Plus Ultra, and that on a column or 
stem in size proportionate to carry such a capital, as I can bear ocular 
witness, namely Dr. Plant, of Monkstown, uses much larger pots ; 
and he says you must if you want his results. Mind the drainage, 
and the roots, and you may if you like. 
P’or the soil, please to keep common sense in view, and you will 
succeed. All the “ villanous compounds ” of past times belong to the 
dark ages. Let them go. The plant in its native valleys has an 
abundance of vegetable earth, and no manure. Copy this. Let your 
loam be as rich as you like, provided it be native, the richer the better 
in clay and fibres of grasses. To this add one-half of decayed leaves, 
or if you Lke it better, what comes to the same thing, well-rotted cow- 
dung. Add sand enough to keep it open, if any is necessary, which it 
by no means always is ; and you have what I have used now for some 
years, and have no intention of altering. If you put moss over your 
crocks do not let it be too lively, or it will grow up through the mould, and 
usurp the nourishment of your plants. The drainage being arranged, 
let the pot be filled to about two-thirds with the compost not in too dry 
a state. It should neither be dusty on the one hand nor visibly moist 
on the other, but in such a state that a handful taken up and squeezed 
will remain in a ball. Spread the roots out evenly over the mould, and 
fill in. Very little pressure, indeed a tap upon the potting table will be 
almost enough to settle the plant. The usual plan is to plunge the pot 
then to its rim in water till the soil is moistened, and it is gcod prac¬ 
tice ; but I am inclined to think, from some unintentional experiments, 
that new roots would be formed more quickly and satisfactorily if this 
were omitted for a time, provided the soil used were, as it always ought 
to be, in the proper condition of moisture when the plant is potted, and 
the plunging deferred till roots are formed. This is the time to take off 
all offsets that are rooted. If not rooted they should be allowed to 
remain attached to the parent at this season, however large. In 
February they may be removed without roots; and in May another 
artificial help to propagation may be practised, which will be mentioned 
in its place. 
The plants should now be kept close for a few days, varying according 
to circumstances from three to ten; and then gradually accustomed to 
