THE USE 



apply and when to apply it will soon settle 

 itself with the intelligent amateur who really 

 wants to learn. 



The nearest I have ever come to making a 

 rule to govern the watering of plants is this: 

 When the surface of the soil has a dry look, 

 apply water. And apply enough to saturate 

 all the soil in the pot. You can make sure 

 about this by giving so much that a little es- 

 capes through the hole in the bottom of the 

 pot. Unless this takes place you can never be 

 quite sure that there is not a stratum of dry 

 soil in the pot in which some of the roots of 

 the plant in it will fail to secure the moisture 

 they need. Therefore make it a rule, when 

 applying water, to apply it liberally, keeping 

 in mind the fact that if you have provided 

 proper drainage there is never any danger 

 from over-watering. 



Do not water again until the dry look of 

 which I have spoken appears on the surface 

 of the soil. Then repeat the operation as ad- 

 vised above. 



It will be understood, from what I have 

 said, that there can be no set time for watering 

 one's plants. Moisture will evaporate more 

 rapidly from small pots than from large ones. 



49 



