264 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tissues, or from sunshine on their leaves and steins, especially after dull 

 weather, and yet not need watering. The question is often asked : Which is 

 the best time of day for watering? Xo doubt during the summer months the 

 evening is the best time, as at night every part of tlie plant is lilled uj) with 

 moisture, and the morning finds it enlarged in stature, or in size, and much 

 renewed in Ileal th and vigor. 



Thougli many of tlie objections to watering in sunshine are largely theoret- 

 ical, and appear only in the writings of those who have had but little actual 

 experience. The real objection to watering in sunshine is,- that the water is 

 rapidly dissipated, and this prompt evaporation induces such an amount of 

 cold, that retards rather than stimulates growtii. Whether plants grow most 

 by day or night, may still be a doubtful question, though cultivators believe 

 they grow most at night; certainly niglit growth would be still more effective 

 wore plants watered near sundown, as evaporation is so much less rapid at 

 night, and this loss of heat is avoided. 



How to Water Plants. 



AVhen water is given to tiie soil, let it be in such quantity as to reach every root, 

 and theu wait until the soil becomes dry again. Mere surface watering leaves 

 you in ignorance as to the state of the bulk of the soil. To a great extent the 

 same rule applies out of doors, encouraging surface roots at one time to render 

 them liable to be scorched at another, while the mass of roots below is rendered 

 torpid and inactive. 



^yhat Water to use. 



Ilainwater is best, as nothing is more certain than that hard water will kill 

 hard-wooded, fine-rooted plants. It should be used at a temperature some- 

 wluit near that of the room, and is improved by exposure to sun and air. 

 When kept in tanks below ground, it is frequently rendered as hard as spring 

 water from its absorbing magnesia or lime from the materials of which the 

 walls of tlie cistern are composed. Stronger liquids, containing some manurial 

 matter in solution, if given, should generally be done at the period of flower- 

 ing. Such solution should be weak and clear. All over stimulation of the 

 plant-system should be avoided, some plants bear it, but others, as in the car- 

 nation and the rose, a distortion of the flower may ensue. The stamen, may 

 change into petals, petals into leaves, or the flower may become altogether 

 double if the soil is too rich. 



Table. 



Plants in rooms are best grown in hollow tables lined with zinc, and deep 

 enough so that the tops of the pots may be covered with moss. What we will 

 now discuss has reference chiefly to those operations necessary to keeping 

 ])lant8 from season to season, and to providing ourselves with young plants 

 from seeds or cuttings, a matter of no small moment to window gardeners, as it 

 is seldom desirable that our plants should assume large proportions. 



Potliiifj Plants. 



Many of the plants we have tended with so much care are now demanding 

 more pot room, or fresh earth, in similar or smaller sized pots, by getting rid 

 of a part of the old soil. As a general rule, pots ranging from three to six 

 inches in diameter are large enough for windows, increasing the size of the pot 



