Butte record., 1857-01-24

L ILANTS.-In the culture OF Piants
in pots, or vessels, we must follow a
plan contrary 10 the natural state, and
our success will depend upon the
means we employ. The first and most
important is the composition of the soil
to insure healthy and vigorous growth
during the summer season-the second
by adopting due precaution during the
dormant state of the plant, or winter
season.
In the natural state, every plant Or
tree is free, and capable of seeking or
choosing its required or proper uutri-
ment, and depositlng the secretion
and as the spongiole or end root con-
stantly advances, the latter never be-
comes contaminated with the former.
In pots or vessels, it is far different.
The plant has onl y limited portion OF
bulk of earth, and is compelled to live
on such matter as is found in it. To
arrive at the desired end, it is necessa-
ry to know the nature of our plants
and supply them with proper wants.
Plants of vigorous, quick growth, and
strong, feshy roots, as geranium, ver-
benas, petunias fuchsias, dahlias, SC,
require rich SOIL Well decayed COW
manure, and leaf mold, mixed with
good garden earth, are the best. Plants
of more fine, thin, fibrous roots, as aza-
leas, ericas, rhododendrous, &C., will
best grow in sandy soil, mixed with
well decayed wood. Particular care
must be taken to have the soil in such
state as will admit constant circula-
ton eff the air 1t onght not to be sift.
ed !; and to secure good drainage, the
bottom Of the pot or vessel ought to be
covered to about two or three inches
thick with broken pothcrbs. Twice
or three times shifting during the sum-
mer season is necessary. The plant
grown in pots is compelled to deposit
its own excretion on the same place,
whence it derives its nntriment, the
former being contaminated with the
latter. 1t from this cause becomes un-
healthy, as seen by its yellow sickly
appearance. BY removing the Old soil
and supplying new one, this can be
obviated.
Mostly all plants and trees require
certain time or period of rest, and
such as we grow in pots must be sk-
ed IN grow tn at the end of October or
middle of November, by ceasing for IA
week or ten days watering them. Ole
anders, myrtles, viburnum, pomegran-
ates, hydrangca, &c. can be kept dur
ing the whole wint-r in frost free eel
lars by letting on warm days, free ad-
mission of free air, without any waters
ing at all. Soft wooded plants that
will retain the leaves, as geraniums,
verbonas, petunias, lantanas, salvias,
&C., can be kept in rooms close to the
windows, as far as possible from fire,
tastefully arranged in flower stands.
made of cast iron, or wood, the bottom
water-tight, so as to hold three or four
inches of water. The pots must be
elevated so as to stand perfectly free
from the water and tray-the water in
the hower-stand will absorb certain
portiet of carbonic acid gas of our
breathing, and by changing the tenn
perature Of the room I'm the parlor,
where the fire is used only during the
day time. is the best, will again eva
porate and be absorbed through the
leaves of the plants, keeping them, by
very little watering, (say once a week.
alive during the whole winter By this
method We can not onIy cultivate very
easy our plants, but the rooms will pre>
sent a constantly cheerful appearance,
and be made healthier to ourselves, as
the plants will absorb the the greatest
part of the nozious gases of our breath,
and make the ventilation partly unne-
cessary.