32 WUfDOW GARDENING. 
least an inch ; over this there may be a slight sprinkling of sand ; still it may be 
omitted if it has previously been well incorporated in the compost. In general 
it should never be less than one fifth the whole material of the compost, and one 
fourth will be best in most cases 
Forest mould scraped up under the branch^js of pine or other forest trees, 
or the soil taken from under the soda of droppings in cow pastures, will be found 
useful in imparting a vigorous growth to plants 
Amateurs sometimes choose earth from the back yards of their city residen- 
ces ; this is rarely ever suitable, and often its efFects can be seen in the half dead 
and weak look of the plants, who seem to be languishing for nourishment. 
Tills soil is rarely ever fertilized, and usually is either the filling in from tho 
street or cellar It may be fit to grow grass upon, but not to put in the pots of 
house plants 
There are some plants which require an imperative admixture of peat and 
loam, such as Ericas, Azaleas and Daphne. There is no substance which 
can be substituted for it, and produce success. Earth for pots should 
rarely ever be sifted, put it in just as it is; lumpy and crude, so much the 
better 
In potting your plants and planting them out, be very careful to press the 
earth very tightly and closely around the roots and stalks of the plants ; half the 
secret of successful pot culture lies m potting plants. 
Hard wooded plants should be potted rather firmly, and soft wooded ones 
should be Igft rather free and loose. 
In repotting plants, take the plant tliat is to be repotted, turn it upside down, 
with 3'our left hand across the mouth of the pot, and the stem of the plant be 
tween the fingers, give the pot a few raps on a pan on the table, lift up the 
pot and you have the plant and the ball of earth in your hand. 
Examine it carefully, and if any worms appear, pick thera out, or if the 
earth is full of healthy roots, and they are matted around the sides of it, the 
plant requires a pot one size larger than that in which it has grown. 
Place the ball of earth and the plant directly in the centre of the new pot, 
and fill it up all around with fresh soil, pressing it firmly down either with 
the fingers or a flat stick ; cover the "ball" with fresh earth half an inch in 
depth ; strike the bottom of the pot several times against a flat substance, and 
again press the soil tightly around the roots. Loose planting is a fruitful source 
of the non-success attending the gardening of amateur florists. Place your 
plants in the shade for t^\o or three days to allow their roots to become accus- 
tomed to the charge of quarters. A healthy, abundantly rooted plant, requires 
a pot one size larger, but, if the plant you turn out should not show its roots 
on the outside, it needs no change of quarters, still it may need fresh soil, and if 
the earth seems poor and gritty it is best to give it.. 
If in examination of your pots you should find some plant injured by in- 
judicious waterings, its roots rotten, and soil soddened, then^ut or tear away 
the decayed parts, turn out the wet soil, take a pot of the smaller size, and 
