1S70.] A CHAPTER ON OVER- ATTENTION. 269 



A CHAPTER ON OVER-ATTENTION. 



Under this head may be enumerated a variety of bad practices, as 

 numerous, perhaps, as those which are classed under the general term 

 Neglect. Among these, the system of watering usually adopted takes 

 a prominent position. In hot weather, when the ground is dry, and 

 plants are beginning to droop from the heat of the sun, the uninformed 

 amateur usually sets to work and waters the whole of his flower-gar- 

 den, the water being carried in many cases direct from the pump. It 

 is consequently several degrees colder than the atmosphere or soil — 

 having much the same effect on the constitution of the plants as would 

 be likely to be produced on a human being by drinking a quantity of 

 cold water when in a state of violent perspiration. I said, li waters the 

 garden," but I mean the surface of it. So that the surface of the soil 

 and the foliage of the plants are wet, presenting a nice cool appearance, 

 the owner is satisfied ; he considers he has done a few hours' hard 

 work, and consequently a considerable amount of good. Now, in my 

 humble opinion, he had far better have amused himself in some other 

 way, and have let nature alone, unless he had considered how he could 

 have better imitated her. Watering should never be attempted unless 

 it can be properly carried out. Few things are more injurious to the 

 well-rooted plants than occasional sprinklings of the soil. Syringing 

 the foliage of plants with tepid water in the evening, in dusty weather, 

 is very beneficial, as it cleans the foliage, and acts in some measure 

 like heavy dews. When water is intended to be given, it should be 

 taken from a pool or brook. If neither is at hand, a sufficient quantity 

 should be pumped in the morning and allowed to stand exposed to the 

 sun for a day at least. Instead of just wetting the surface, the soil 

 should have a complete soaking, so as to reach below the lowest of 

 the fibres ; if such is not the case, the small white roots will be turned 

 upwards in search of moisture, and in a couple of days probably will 

 sutler from the burning sun. The roots of plants will always follow 

 after their food, and if left to cater for themselves will generally make 

 the best use of what is within their reach. As a test of this, let the 

 cultivator lay a slight covering of rotten manure on the surface of the 

 soil, in the vicinity of healthy plants, and in the course of a week, on 

 taking the manure away, he will perceive hundreds of small white 

 fibres attached to it, which have found their way there for the purpose 

 of feeding upon the food which is placed near them. The reader will 

 understand by this that it is better never to attempt watering estab- 

 lished plants in the open ground unless the plants are kept well sup- 

 plied with moisture, which, in such cases, can only be done by con- 

 stantly soaking the soil whenever it may become dry on the surface. No 



