GLEANINGS FROM OLD AUTHORS. 271 



ARTICLE IV.— Gleanings from Old Authors. By 

 Snowdrop. 



of watering flants. 



" Now for the watering plants and flowers observe with me. 



u If you fear dry weather, do not defer too long before you 

 water, but do it gently before the earth is too dry, consideration 

 had to the depth of your roots and those that are deepest water 

 most ; and when you begin to water continue it as long as you 

 find occasion. 



" Use not Well water, for tender plants, for it is so strained 

 thro' the earth or rather barren sands or rocks, and for want of the 

 sun so chill and cold, that having no nourishment, rather the 

 contrary, doth more hurt than good ; Rivers that run quick and 

 long on sharp gravel are little better, but if you are forced to use 

 such, let it stand sometime in tubs in the sun mixed with dung. 



" Let the quantity and quality of the dung mixed with the 

 water, be according to the nature of your plants ; if your plants 

 be great growers and require heat, then put horse dung in your 

 water : If your water be bad, then put dung in to help it; Let it 

 stand in the sun and open air uncovered : If your plants be fine 

 and tender, then put Sheen or Cowes dung, Deer or Asses dung 

 into the water ; the worse the ground and more barren be sure to 

 put in the more dung. Take care you water no plants with stand- 

 ing stinking ditch water, nor no water that stinketh; for sweet 

 water, (not too clear) and fresh mould (not musty or tainted by 

 stinking weeds) is as proper for tender plants as sweet and good 

 I'uo.l, warm and clean lodging, for tender and fine bred persons. 



" Rain water is very good if not too long kept, but if your 

 Vfcssel be large, the oftener you stir it the longer it will keep 

 sweet. 



" Large and Navigable rivers, that receive much soil by wash- 

 ing Afreets and the many sinks that run into it, and which by its 

 own motion doth cleanse itself from that which is noxious, both to 

 man and plants, is an excellent water for all sorts of plants. 



" The larger the ponds be, the better the water is for plants, 

 the opener to the Sun the better, the mor# motion they have, by 

 Hor »es washing in them, or Qetffi and Ducks swimming, 'tis so 

 much the better. 



