Year: 1877

Daisy Eyebright'' writes to the Couatrg


Gentleman giving some plain and practical
hints on potting plants for winter bloom
ing. She says


AT this season of the year the amateur
gardlnershOuld look carefully to the potting
OF the house plant, designed for winter
towering, because if the roots have become
pot-bound it will restrict the growth of the
plant. TO know whether this is the case.
DIP the pot into pail Of warmsh water,
and let the earth become slightly moistened
from top to bottom, then run a sharp
6laded knife close to the edges of the not,
rap sharply upon the bottom of it, and the
ball of earth will slip easily into the left
hand. If the roots have become matted
closely around the sides and bottom. the
plant needs a larger pot; for geranums,
one size larger is best. as they will bloom
better i'll the house if their roots are un.
restricted. Heliotropes, fuchsias, roses
and carnations will need pots two sizes
larger. Put little thoroughly decaved
manure into the bottom of the pot. set the
ball of earth into it, and fill up the sides
with fresh soil, pressing it down gently
around the roots. The surface of the soil
should be nearly half an inch below the
level OF the edge of the pot, so as to give
room for water and as the earth sinks
down, fresh supply can be added occa-
slonally. A good compost for plants can
be made out of One-third sand, and one
third garden soil. Mix this we'll together.
and if few spoonfuls Of air-slacked lime
can be stlrted in with it, it will kill all the
larvae of insects


have just re-potted my plants for the
winter, and | have six windows completely
filled with them. Fuchsias, begonias,
geraniums, browallaS, coctuses, roses,
oXals carnations, callas, etc, make bril-
liant show. Hanging baskets and baskets
filled with ivy will help to cheer and com
fort me when the wintry winds howl
around the easements and the snow covers
every green thing outside. | potted nv
Calls in well rottcd manure from the
bottom of the hOt.bed mixed with a little
sand to make it light, and some very old
spent tan bark from Il tannery and already
they have begun to grow luXuriantly, and /
nope by Christmas to have perfect flower.
Fuchsas will grow in a similar compost
very rapidly. | have six in full flower now
and one, the Tower of London Ia horrid
name, by the way, for most perfect flower
stands on the table beside me, the admira
ton of all behodcrs, so perfect is its form
and so exquisite its numerous flowers.


Although late in the season, geraniums
Will strike root freely now, and in taking
up the large plants to keep in the
cellar over the winter, it is we'll to plant a
quantity Of the branches that are broken
on into small pots or boxes, for early spring
towering. The succulcnt shoots, which
will only wither in the cellar, are Just in
good condition to throw out roots, and
they can be left i'm the DOts If dasirod
until needed to ornament the boarders in
the spring. The cuttings should be set
close to the edges Of the pot, and the soil
should be of good rich loam at the bottom,
with an inch of sand on the top into which
the base Of the cutting should be firmly
pressed. Heliotropes and fuchsias, ivies
and roses will also make good plants from
cuttings, if planted now. Cut off the slips
at the junction of the leaves, as the roots
always start from Joint.