Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/67

Rh it, but not adding any manure, as in this respect it will be rich enough already.

Loams and peats differ so much in quality that it is difficult to convey an idea of what is good or bad of either. Nevertheless, it will not be difficult, in any district, to make discovery of the best sorts available for horticultural purposes, and the amateur who means it will soon discover the way.

Having always dwelt in a northern suburb of London, we have been accustomed to keep a good store of Wanstead peat in the garden for all rough purposes, and have trusted to Epps’s “selected” peat, which is packed in barrels and sold at a reasonable price by Mr. Epps, of Lewisham, for all the more delicate habited of the peat plants. As for the loam, that which we are best accustomed with is a modified clay, except when full of fibre; we use none but silver sand from Reigate for small work, but find the siftings of the sweepings of the gravel walks the best of sand in the world for general use. Leaf mould must be prepared at home, and the way to ensure plenty is to lay up grass mowings, leaves, and the worn-out stuff from flower-pots in which plants have been grown in a compact heap above the level (not in a pit or any wet place), and allow it at least twelve months to rot through; it is better if allowed to remain two years.

is a test of dexterity, even amongst experienced gardeners, for many who could pot off “bedding-stuff” by the thousand in “no time” would have to put on a “puzzling cap” if required to repot a gigantic agave or camellia; but on good potting success will turn more certainly than on any other separate process in all the round of greenhouse practice. We will first speak of the pots, which must always be clean and better if new. The sizes required for ordinary purposes are 60’s, which are three and a half inches in diameter at top; 48’s, which are five inches in diameter; 32’s, which are six inches in diameter; and 24’s, which are eight inches in diameter. To clean old pots is a simple matter enough; but it may be well to remember that, if a lot of old pots are left lying loose about out of doors all the winter, they will be quite clean and as good as new in spring, for the frost will scrub them, not only on the surface, but in the very pores of the clay.

In preparing the pots, first of all place in the bottom,