i8g8. 



GARDENING. 



181 



CARNATION MAYOR PINGRBE. 



crops of vegetables. But that the carna- 

 tion will respond to this method as have 

 other plants, there can be no doubt. 



One other point needs mention in this 

 connection. The physical character of the 

 soil has much to do with successful culti- 

 vation. Some writers maintain that it is 

 quite as important an item as the food 

 supply. With sub-watering the soil 

 remains light and friable, readily perme- 

 ated with oxygen from the atmosphere, 



easily penetrated by roots, and at all 

 times in the best of condition for serving 

 the plant. The soil of the bench once 

 suitabh' prepared for the reception of the 

 plant remains so, or even improves on 

 account of the upward movement of the 

 water through it. This is in marked con- 

 trast to the compacting that follows 

 every application of water to the surface. 

 Surface watering drives out the air from 

 the soil at each watering, keeps the upper 



layers wetter than beneath, and makes it 

 difficult to provide for the needs of the 

 deeper roots. 



Beside the advantages in sub-watering 

 which I have mentioned, there are others 

 which are incidental features, but by no 

 means unimportant. One of these is the 

 freedom of the surface of the soil from 

 weeds, moss and slime. The surface 

 layer can even be kept quite dry, and act 

 as a mulch, if desired, and at any rate it 



