Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-09-14
MiScena ny.


1t will soon be time t. take up such plants
from the borders as are intended for the
house in winter, and to rc-pot such as have
not been turned out OF the pots. Gerani-
ums, Heli0tr0pes, Beglnias and other ten
der plants must be taken up before the time
when hard lrosts may be expected. Roses
and few other plants which viii bear Sc
we're irosts without injury, may remain long
" in the gTOunI.
The soil for p5ttiog should be prepared
with d good deal 0l care. The health and
vIgor OF the plants depend greatly on the
character OF the soil IN which they are placed
Many writers On gardening have prepared
minute and elaborate tables OF compounds
for soils for this purpose. which arc useful
for professional gardeners, but as the great
majority Of amateur florists have not the
time and cannot be at the expense and
trouble Of procuring the materials necessary
for these compounds. l only propose to give
10 those vino are ignorant OF the proper COM
position Of soil lJr llt-nc q simple mixture
which viii answer every purpose Tor the
great majority %, plants usually grown II
the house.
The princip- r5q ql...,cs lu this soil are, a
loose texture which VIII readily allow water
to penetrate i5 ana to drain away If it be in
excessive quantity, ami proper supply Of
nutriment Tor the / ants. To obtain the
first Of these it Is aas lu,-.v necessary that
no clayey lgam be allowed Il 1t, for with
this as an ingredient IL VIII be impossible to
prevent the soil from caAius and becoming
hard. For the second, some old, thorough
ly rotted manure should De obtained, from
an old hot-bed if possible II leaf mould
from leaves completely dccayed can be OBJ
tanned, Il VIII prove an excellent material FOR
mixture. I would recommend then, for or
binary potting soil, equal parts Of hard sand,
good garden mould, free from any admixture
OF clay, Leaf mould and old manure. If the
Leaf mould cannot be obGiucd, equal parts
of the other three. 4 very little lime or
old mortar pglyuiz-d may be mixed with
thlse. Tor drainage, pieces Of broken 10w
cr pots, oyster shells Or charcoal, are the
best materials.
Overpotting, o. lIEtiuS IN pots too large,
Is one OF the most frequent causes OF failure
IN the cultivation cf house plants In many
eases when tie plants are eickly IA appear
nnce, the trouble IS supposed to be that the
pots are too small; generally the reverse Is
. the case and instead Of requiring larger pots
they need smaller ones. The earth in a large
lot conta'Hi0S a small plant, becomes sour
and stasn4nt if3m the frequent wateriugs,
and the plant cannot thrive. \ small Dot
will soon become filed with roots. and the
soil will remain healthy and goou.
In potting, the pot should have the bot.
tom well covered with the material for drain.
AGE. (say one-ffth filed, and the plant sci
in its proper position, and the pot then filed
with the prepared soil, which should b,
gently pressed down with the fugers. Tn,
iope Of the plants should be cut away an,
the side branches shortened, not only t
give them good ape but to compensat
for the loss of roots which viii always oecu
to some extent IN transT lanting, and to a
low the rJlts - Accommodate themselves {
their new place without making much cal
upon them Tor uOurishment. Ueranium;
Roses, Pelargon.ums, and many other plant
should be cut in very close, as they will star
with greater vigcr AMI bloom more freel
than they othorwise voull G.B. II.