WATERING PLANTS. 195 
well as regards both foliage and flower for many years 
without shifting, by supplying them with an abundance 
of water ; while on the other hand too much water given 
to plants not so circumstanced would cause them to 
suffer. 
It is not only requisite to know the physical consti- 
tution of the plant, but also the circumstances connected 
with its root. A plant, for instance, that is well esta- 
blished in the pot, z.e. the pot being full of root and the 
plant coming into or being in flower, will require more 
water than it would whenit was first potted into fresh seil 
and was in a more inactive stage of growth. As an ex- 
ample, a Geranium that has just been cut back and re- 
potted does not require half the water that it does when 
it begins to show flower. Again, the Cactus is an in- 
stance of what is required by way of abundant watering 
and then a period-when no water should be given. The 
Heath is an instance of careful watering ; too much or 
too little will surely prove fatal to it. 
The Heath may be considered a safe guide for care- 
ful watering, a sort of medium rule in the matter; and I 
think if this tribe was made a sort of criterion in this 
respect, no great harm would ever arise from the opera- 
tion; for there are few plants indeed but require some 
such regular root treatment in watering. There are how- 
ever some exceptions, and these consist of the Cactus 
tribes, the Tydzeas, Orchids, Agaves, &c. which require 
an entire season of rest, when no water is required, 
while on the other hand aquatics always require water 
in abundance. Still the Heath may be taken as a rule 
for careful watering in general; but note this: no 
plants require half so much water during the winter as 
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