The Garden Under Glass

POTTING AND POTTING SOILS 217 latter view. It seems to combijie in a practical manner the ideals of cleanliness and of economy. For carnations, Cyclamens, Chrysanthemums and for everything on which the grower is very keen, I should certainly advise clean pots and clean cracks, but for such subjects as bedding geraniums, forced beans, etc., the difference in the result is not worth the extra expenditure of labour. When pots are to be washed it is better to soak them previously, so that the dirt may be brushed off more easily. In all cases pots should be dried by the stokehold fire or on hot-water pipes and be rubbed out with a dry rag before being used. New pots should be well soaked prior to use, and then be allowed to dry. If used without soaking they will absorb much of the moisture from the soil, and there will not be that same binding union between pot and soil which is really essential to good watering and ultimate success with the plant. The Drainage of Pots It is essentinl that pots be well drained, and this is brought about by the use of pieces of broken pots set over the holes. A large piece nearly as big as the bottom of the pot should be put in first, with its concave side downwards. Other smaller pieces should be arranged over this, and finally there should be a handful of still smaller pieces. This constitutes the drainage. To prevent the soil, which will be put in, from filtering into, and so obstructing, the drainage, some rough material, leaves, moss, peat, or stable droppings should be put over the crocks. Some plants require deeper drainage than others. It may be regarded as a safe maxim to give sound and deep drainage to those plants which will have to remain in the pots for a con-siderable time, and shallow drainage to those which will