A Notable Pottery

The following article appeared in the The Horticultural Trade Journal of March 1935.

A Notable Pottery White Hart Lane Potteries, London, N 17, are owned by Samuel Souths' and Sons, who first began making flower pots in 1868. In the main their business consists in supplying Nurserymen and Market Growers and with a long experience at their command they are unusually well equipped to make and supply flower pots to suit every kind of crop and keep well abreast of changing methods of cultivation which in turn determine sizes and shapes of flower pots. Altogether their Potteries occupy an area of 20 acres and unlimited supplies of London clay, which is undoubtedly amongst the best for pot making. It is a difficult clay to handle, but the finished product after passing through various operations, produces a bright red, porous pot of excellent quality. The clay after being dug from the bed is well weathered and moistened. When ready, it is carried on rail trucks, pulled by a winch and fed into the pug mills in which have two sets of rollers and a pugging box at bottom. The clay which is ejected in a continuous oblong shape, is cut into suitable sized blocks, before going to the potters. The potters work in a long line, each man operating a power driven wheel, the speed of which is controlled by the operator. The clay, now in varying sized pieces according to the size of pot to be made, is thrown on to the wheel and quickly the pot begins to take shape. It is continually checked for size and every precaution is taken to make it as perfect as possible. After leaving the potter the pots are stacked on Shelves in drying sheds, and every care is taken to see that drying proceeds according to schedule and also during drying time the pots are moved to ensure that they retain correct shape. From the drying sheds, the pots are taken to the kilns. Each kiln has eight fire holes which are built in with nine each fire bricks before firing. In stacking the kilns the largest size of pots are placed at the top where the temperature is highest. Each kiln consumes at least 81/2 tons of steam coal at a firing, and in the Summer months one kiln fires about 40,00 pots and in Winter up to 50,000 pots. Great care is taken to see that all moisture in the form of steam has departed from the interior of the kilns before it is finally bricked up. The firm make their own kilns. During the Summer months two thirds of the manufactures are placed into stock, but it is well to point out that ample stocks of all sizes from 1's to thimbles are always on hand, so that immediate delivery of large quantities in any size is possible. For  supplying power there is a Lancashire Boiler rated at 100 lb. pressure, but 80 lb. is sufficient for requirements. There is a reserve boiler of the same size and it is the custom to change over every three months. There is a pair of 40 - 45 h p engines one being kept in reserve and these run the belts which in turn serve to draw up the clay, run the pug mills, the winch, and there is a supplementary belt which works the treadles of the potter's wheels. The  principle sizes of pots used by growers are Thimbles (2 in inside diameter), those useful for Cacti are 2 inch by 2 inch deep. The familiar "Tot" pot for Heaths, etc, has an inside diameter of 21/2 inches. Thimbles for Ferns have an inside diameter of 11/2 inches. By the way, it should be recorded that the White Hart Lane pots are eminently suitable for Fern growing as they keep clean for such a long period, a point which is known to many of the largest Fern growers in and around London. The Fern Thumb is 21/2 in. inside diameter; small 60's, 3 ins; 54's 41/4 in. (this size is rapidly increasing in popularity) 48's medium, 5 in.; 45's, 51/2 in. (largely used for Azaleas and Hydrangeas) : 32's, 61/4 in. The last three sizes as may be expected are always in demand, 28's, 7in. (useful for Carnations); 24's, 71/2 in.; 16's, 81/2 in., also wanted by commercial growers, and so one can go to 1's which measure 18 inches inside diameter. In addition, the firm offer Rhubarb pots, Seakale pots, bulb bowls, in various sizes and vases on pedestals for garden decoration. Reverting to the smaller sizes: there are middle 60's, 31/4 ; rimmed large 60's, 33/4 (used for young Tomato plants); short small 60's; Long Toms (rimless 54's); long large 60's (used for Cupressus Macrocarpa); Small 48's, 43/4 and big bottom 48's which are used for Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Daffodils and Ericas. It should however be noticed that the firm specialises in making pots to fit any need and are only too pleased to co-operate with the trade grower in this respect. Any size from 60's to 1's can be provided in half pots and equivalent in seed pans and saucers.   Mr Samuel South is the principal and his brother, Mr Charles Henry South, contacts with customers and is well known in Covent Garden Flower Market. Mr Samuel South's two sons, Mr S J South and Mr C F South are also actively connected with the business, the former as production manager and the latter as superintendent of making Horticultural Trade Journal - March 1938