}6S 



The Country Gciitlcinaiis Magazine 



sliould be thorough, so as to reach fully 

 further than the extremities of the roots. 

 And water should never be applied when 

 lower in temperature than that of the soil. 

 Inattention to these essentials is the cause 

 which produces the very common and but 

 too well-founded complaint, that " I am quite 

 tired of this ceaseless watering ; yet I would 

 not grudge the labour did I see it followed 

 by any really beneficial results, but my plants 

 are making no satisfactory progress, notwith- 

 standing all that has been done for them." 



How to apply water, so that it may thoroughly 

 penetrate to beyond the extremities of the plant 

 roots, is by no means easily done, but when 

 actually effected, it does not require to be 

 often repeated. The uninitiated are apt to 

 suppose that when they have thoroughly 

 wetted the surface till the water is seen 

 running off, they have done all that is 

 required. This is, however, a fatal mistake ; 

 for even when discharged from the finest 

 watering-pan rose the water will soon so clag, 

 fill up, or puddle the surface, that it will run 

 more easily off than into the soil, although 

 it may not have penetrated more than an 

 inch or two beneath its surface, and will con- 

 sequently be absorbed by evaporation in less 

 than a single day. For all who can com- 

 mand a sufficient supply and pressure of 

 water, no better appliance can be used for 

 laying it on than a sufficiently lengthy flexi- 

 ble tube, with a fine rose or minutely per- 

 forated pipe attached, so that when placed the 

 ground will absorb the water as fast as it 

 is discharged ; forming temporary basins by 

 drawing aside the surface soil around the 

 plant.s, and refilling these with water till 

 the ground will scarcely take in more, is the 

 best mode for general adoption ; and as, when 

 the soil is returned, the surface is compara- 

 tively dry ; it has the advantage of not produc- 

 mg an excess of cold at night from evapora- 

 tion. For raised flower-beds, from which the 

 water is apt to run off when poured on, a 

 good plan is to perforate the surface thickly 

 from 6 to 1 2 inches deep, with an ordinary 

 dibber, or sharp pointed stick, taking care in 

 doing so not to injure the roots, and then 

 water so as to fill the holes repeatedly till the 



soil is perfectly saturated. For rhododendrons 

 and other special plants, growing in grass 

 lawns on steep banks or elsewhere, it has 

 has been recommended to water them by 

 means of bottles or other vessels, wholly 

 and permanently sunk into the earth, having 

 each a small hole in the bottom, with an 

 easily applied top cover; and these being 

 filled with water it escapes gradually into the 

 root-surrounding soil. Another and some- 

 Avhat similar mode is to use earthenware or 

 other pans likewise pierced in the bottom, 

 but set on the surface, and consequently re- 

 movable at pleasure. We may here re- 

 mark that there is nothing so effectual in 

 preventing and curing mildew in roses, 

 peas, brassicae, and other plants, as a 

 thorough soaking of the ground when it has 

 become too dry ; but, as before mentioned, 

 it should never be applied when lower in 

 temperature than the soil, while, if possible, 

 it is better that it should be from ten to 

 twenty degrees higher, for let it be remem- 

 bered that in dry summer weather dd^ is an or- 

 dinary temperature for the soil, at about a foot 

 below its surface, and rain-water is then often 

 warmer, but seldom colder, whereas spring- 

 water may be quoted at between 46° and 50° ; 

 hence it follows that the direct application of 

 the latter, whether to the roots or leaves, 

 must impart to them a highly injurious, and, 

 in the latter case, a long-continued chill. 



When to apply water must be judged of by 

 observing a cessation of growth in the plant, 

 a flagging or withering of its foliage, com- 

 bined or not with the appearance of mildew, 

 The time of day at which it is best to water, 

 is a subject regarding which there exists 

 much diflference of opinion. It is not ad- 

 visable, if it can be avoided, without much 

 inconvenience, to water either the foliage or 

 surface of the ground during hot sunshine, as 

 the former is apt to become spotted or dis- 

 coloured, while the latter, and more especially 

 if it is heavy in texture, is liable to become 

 hardened or surface bound. When the water 

 is applied to the roots in such a manner as 

 to leave a minimum of wetted surface, it 

 signifies little at Avhat time of the day it is 

 given ; but when the air is dry and clear it is 



