The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-05-10

when yo1 cone 70 add the plant and lis
ro5ss 10 the s9il IN the pot yoa ind that it
nfls il esmplseIy. There is 10 space between
the surface d the ssh and the rim Of the
fat. and when yoa cone toapply water you
end sliat most Of It runs of. Not enough
finds is way into the soil 70 reach all the
r99tsand Bet The son al through. Suppose
you examine a pot IN which the soil comes 70
the top Immediately after you have applied
water. Turn il up and slip the ball Of Garth
out oft. Ten caances 10 one Won will find
thai The bottom : dry. If this is the case
Immediately after watering, il stands to
reason that Il Is SO All b etime. If this Is the
ease you cant expect plants to do well, for
fhs new reo;s must hare moisture If You
would have satisfactory development. and 1
an confident that half the failures that are
ompIaiaed Of result from this lack Of
moisture.
Iwould always advise pot.ing low. That
i, I would have the earth in the pot al least
an inch below The rim Of the pot. When you
water, applyeaough to FIJI the pot to its brim,
and let It soak into the soil. II proper drain
age has been provided there viii be no dan
ger Of over-watering. What is not required
VIII drain on.
At tie bottom Of the pot the drainage ma
terial should be az least AZ inch deep, and in
large pots two inches are better. Immedi-
ately oTer this place a layer Of moss or cocoa
iIb4r, or something q Ike nature that viii
prevent the soil from washing down and fiji
ing up the cracks between whatever you use
for drainage. Then put n some putting soil.
but not very much, before you place your
plant in the pot, and see about where the top
Of the compost viii come when you have
completed the operation. Aim to have the
Base Of the plant AZ least below the rim Of the
pot, and add or take out TIL you have it just
right. Pack the sol about the plant with the
hand, as most plants require 70 be ported
nrmly enough to stand alone without the use
Of sticks or other support. After filing in as
much soil rs seems necessary jar the pot well
u settle it. and then water thoroughly. Il,
after the soil has settled, it seems too low,
add enough 70 bring Il up to the requisite
level.
/ gave an assistant instructions to repot
some palms for mo last spring. supposed
he understood what was required and left
him to perform the operation. Coming back
a short time after l found that he had filled
the pots to the brim with soil. 1t wasnot con-
venient to repot just then, and in consequence,
Ihave been obliged to supply water to every
one ofthese plants by setting the pots in tubs
Of water all through the season. Not a TWEEN
tieth part Ct the water required to thoroughly
saturate the soil could be given by pouringi it
On the surface. Most would run of, though the
top Of the soil looked moist enough. Had l
depended on this limited supply to furnish
what the roots required, I would have lostmy
plants. Had the soil been All inch below the
top Of the pot. I could have applied enough to
vet it ali through easily. Knowing the dan
gerthat was to be avoided I have governed
myself accordingly. but the amateur may not
tlink Of this in tine to save her plants, and
/ have thought best 70 caIl attention 10 it.
Writer ii Young Ladies Jounal.