70 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Let me tell you that too frequent watering is most injurious. To 

 avoid this evil it is necessary to have a rule to guide you. Well, 

 then, never water plants unless they really require it ; you will soon 

 learn to know hy experience when they do want watering. A good 

 rule to know the proper time by is when the surface of the ball 

 looks dryish. But an unfailing guide is to rap the side of the pot 

 with your knuckles : if it gives out a ringing sound, the plant is dry, 

 and you should water immediately ; but if the sound is dull and solid, 

 then no watering is required. To learn the distinction between the 

 two sounds, fill two pots with soil, one dry and the other damp ; 

 water the damp one, and you will learn at once, by rapping them, 

 the difference in the sound which they give out. 



The roots of plants have a very limited range in flower-pots, so 

 particular attention should be paid that they do not get too dry ; 

 and when you do water, give sufficient to soak the ball thoroughly, 

 and then withhold it till requited again. A little water on the 

 surface is almost useless. In winter plants need watering very 

 seldom, as they naturally sink into a state of rest during that season. 

 In the summer season they will require water very often — every day, 

 in fact, if the weather is warm. The best time to water in the 

 summer is the evening, for during the night the plants get refreshed 

 and enjoy the benefit of the watering before the sun rises on them 

 again. As watering is the very life of the plant you should now and 

 then put a little guano into the water, but be very careful not to 

 give too much, as it may burn the roots ; a thimbleful to a quart of 

 water is quite sufficient, and twice a week often enough during the 

 season. A very safe and cool liquid manure may be made by sheep- 

 droppings dissolved in water ; just enough to give it a dark appearance 

 — not muddy. This is a safe and capital liquid manure for plants. 

 Liquid manure should not be given oltener than twice a week. 



The extremities of the fibrous roots act as so many mouths, 

 extracting all the food contained in the water; the water at the 

 same time converting the nourishing matters contained in the soil 

 into a fit state for absorption by the many little mouths into the 

 body of the plant, passing into and creating beautiful foliage and 

 blossom in endless A'ariety to delight our eyes. And so on goes 

 Nature — the mother of change — in her ceaseless round of absorption 

 and creation, filling the contemplative mind with wonder and aw T e at 

 the mighty power present in its hidden workings. 



In filling window-boxes with soil after the drainage is in, the box 

 should be heaped up at once, and the whole shaken down and pressed 

 together, so that the soil may be of the same firmness through- 

 out, care being taken to press it well into the corners. Every 

 morning and evening your plants should be sprinkled overhead to 

 keep dust off them and induce a robust, healthy vigour in their 

 growth. 



Rain water is the best for watering all kinds of plants. It is 

 Nature's own providing, and contains far more nourishment than 

 hard water. Always use rain water if you can get it ; if not, put a 

 little bit of soda into the hard water, and let it stand in the sun some 

 time to soften. You should never water your plants with water 



