999 THE FLORIST. 
FLOWER: POTS. : 
THe old-fashioned flower-pot seems destined to have an iinperishable 
‘existence, for’ notwithstanding ‘all that has been ‘said and’ written to 
‘direct attention to improvements in its appearance, no progress has 
taken’ place, either in the ‘material’ ‘or ornamentation, to mark an 
‘advance ; and we still see the same description of pot as we did thirty 
“years back; aye, 150, judgmg’ from old” specimens we lately put our 
hands’ on, and “which ‘were manufactured in the time of the ‘First 
‘George. 
©"'To ‘be! sure, there Are’ certain, conditions in’ so: extensive a field as 
pot cultivation that’ call for cheapness, simplicity, and that the material 
‘of which they are composed should be favourable to the plants ; and 
these conditions are unquestionably complied with, “and therefore 
nothing ‘can be advanced against their economy. or ‘adaptation, and, 
“such being the’ case, something like the present shaped pot will con- 
‘tinue to be largely employed. But as there are individuals who do not 
“begrudge giving their five or ten guineas for a plant, surely such might 
“be accommodated with something more appropriate than the. common - 
shaped pot, which has but little to recommend it beyond its capacity to 
contain a given quantity of compost...We recollect that in the Exhi- 
bition of 1851 several ornamented forms of garden pots, manufactured 
from ordinary potter's clay; were exhibited, as well as others in terra 
cotta and artificial stone... But we rarely . ever see plants in, anything,of 
“the kind ; except that we remember, some years, back, Mr. Fleming, | ‘of 
‘Trentham: exhibited plants grown in pots made from the same “material 
as the Staffordshire storie or delf ‘ware, and we know that both, ‘Mr. 
Fleming and his late neighbour, Mr. Forsyth, of Alton Towers, ‘have 
demonstrated by’ actual proof that plants’ will thrive in Glazed pots 
‘equally well asm porous onés’;’-as' a further’ proof of which we'ma 
“ refer to the plants which’ have frequently been exhibited by Mr, Beek, 
growing in ‘slate’ boxes. “"We°may therefore dismiss: ftom ‘our. iit nds 
Call ideas ‘as’ toa non-porous ‘material ‘being timical ‘to ‘the’ health" of 
‘plants, and'may’ therefore ‘consider’ the ‘improvément “of flower-y ots 
‘without ‘reference’ ‘to this question.’ Mr.Phillips, of ‘Weston- -super- 
“qnare (who-has an: excellent “clay), makes ornamental pots im sévéral 
“designs, and it isa “pity they (aré’ not’ more generally known." ‘The 
‘French ‘‘potsare ‘mueh more” tastefully made than’ our own, and ‘are 
“quite as cheap’; they aré-wider ‘at’ the top: in ‘proportion to’ ‘their dépth, 
“and the Yim° 4s incrediséd’ in’ $izé and? made’ into'°a broad’ band ’or 
fillet, which ‘simple ‘improvement adds" greatly ’to ‘their finish, the pro- 
“Section forming 'a kind of’ handle to lift) then by, whith’ the pal tim 
“on English’ pots ‘does not Many of ‘the French’and Coritinental’ ‘pots 
“also have a‘swell in the*middle, or bulge slightly outwards 5’ this, ‘also, 
_ We consider an improvement 6n our'straight-sided pots: as it gives them 
more a vase-like character!’ ‘These might'be easily copied,’ and doubt 
less improved upon, and would not i more s ppeuslve than. the common 
pots of our own make. | ° - 
But our ‘more immediate ‘Bed is ‘to direct attention to terra cotta 
as the most beautiful and ‘durable’ of materials for ‘ornamental ' pots. 
