WATERING PLANTS IN POTS. 



and rot the stem of tlie plant. Many herbaceous plants, with thick large foliage, should, 

 in ver}' liot weather, be shaded the whole of the day, or only have the morning sun for an 

 hour or so. 



4th. Bulbous Rooted Plants. — Many of this class of plants vegetate and bloom in the 

 fall and winter months. At whatever season of the year a bulb vegetates it should be 

 planted in moist soil; but very little water should be supplied until it has shot up an inch 

 or two; then the water should be given more liberally, and increased in quantitity as the 

 plant grows. When in full bloom, the water may be lessened, (taking care, however, to 

 keep the soil constantly moist) in order the longer to enjoy the beauty of the flower. As 

 soon as it is out of bloom, water must be freely supplied in order to enable the 

 leaves to be matured, and the bulb to become thereby re-established. Most young florists 

 err upon this subject. Upon the proper growth and maturity of the leaves, after bulbous 

 rooted plants are out of bloom, depends thejormation of the flower-hud within the bulb for 

 the e7isuv)ig year; and unless this important point is duly attended to, no after treatment 

 can induce the blooming of that bulb, until an intervening 3'ear's growth of leaves has 

 given the plant the opportunity to form its bloom. 



After a plant is out of bloom, therefore, water should be continued in good quantity un- 

 til the ends of the leaves turn yellow, which, under such circumstances, is a certain indi- 

 cation that the bulb is matured preparatory to its state of rest. This, in common bulbs, 

 as Hyacinths, Narcissus, &c.. will be in from one to two months after their bloom. From 

 that period the supply of water should be gradually lessened, and in a few days altogether 

 discontinued. Then the pots may be laid on their sides, when the soil will dry, and the 

 leaves and true roots will wither. The bulbs may then be taken up and put away, to be 

 rejilanted at the proper season. 



5th. Aquatics. — Plants of this class are either such as are wholly submerged under the 

 water, throwing their leaves and flowers to the surface, or such as, when in a growing state, 

 like to have their roots only constantly in water. Of the former sort but few enter into 

 the amateur's collection, and they require but little notice, because they either in their 

 natural state remain evergreen, or they retain their submerged situation during their dor- 

 mant state. The other class of aquatics will, many of them, submit to the ordinar}' treat- 

 ment of herbaceous plants whilst in their state of growth. The well known lily of the 

 Nile, or Calla, will serve for an example of them. But this class is much benefitted b}' 

 having a feeder or dam of water constantly under their pots, for the whole of their season 

 of growth; the ceasstion of which is indicated by the ends of the leaves turning yellow, as 

 witli the bulbs. Whilst in a dormant state the soil should be kept just moist ; by which 

 term I mean that it should only contain so much water as will allow of its being crum- 

 bled between the fingers without adhering to them. 



Yours, An Olb Amateur. 



