The Garden Under Glass

220 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS mistakes : Using wet, dirty or cracked pots ; using new pots which have not been soaked ; omitting to provide ampie drainage ; failing to put a large crock over the hole ; not putting smaller ones above ; throwing the loose soil immediately over the drainage before putting in leaves or moss ; placing the ball of the plant immediately on the Diagram 46.—Potting: 1. Thumb used for pressing soil—bad practice. Three fingers of each hånd should be used as at Fig. 2. 3. A well-potted plant. Chrysanthemum in final pot: a, large crocks at bottom ; b, smaller crocks ; c, leaves to prevent soil blocking the drainage ; d, a dusting of soot; e, compost; f, space left for top-dressing ; g, space eventually left for watering; /z, two strips of wood on which to stand the plants. drainage ; breaking the ball on removing it from the other pot; not extracting the drainage ; putting the ball too deep or not sufficiently deep ; setting it too much to one side ; crushing it when ramming ; not keeping the plant upright; not sufficiently firming the soil; not lea ving sufficient space for water; leaving the surface lumpy or