272 GLEANINGS FROM OLD AUTHORS. 



I v.f Water all seeds with the smallest or rain like drop-; you 'can, 

 and not too much at a time or too fiercely, lest yon discover tlvem. 



'•' For flowers and plants whose leaves lie on the ground, water 

 them at some distance, by making a hollow circle about the plant 

 and pouring water into it, by which means you avoid annoying the 

 leaves by discolouring water, or chilling the roots bv too sudden 

 coldness. 



" Use not any liquors, for watering either naturally hot as 

 sphits, or artificially made so by heating over the fire, 

 brrf" In Summer time or all warm seasons, the evening is best for 

 watering, because the water will have time to sink into the earth, 

 and the plant attract it, before the Sun's heat exhales it ; But in 

 Winter or cold weather the morning is the most proper time, that 

 the superfluous moisture may be evaporated ere the cold night 

 overtake you, and chill perhaps kill a tender plant. 



9 A Plant that delights in moisture, or a drooping plant that 

 you think water will preserve may be watered by filtration, ■/. c 

 set an earthen or wooden vessel on a brick full of water near your 

 plant, that all the water may be higher than the earth ; wet a thick 

 woollen list, put one end with a stone or bit of lead to it into the 

 water, that it may keep to the bottom ; lay the other end on the 

 ground near the root of the plant, and the water will distil out of 

 the boul or pot through the list, because that part of it out of the 

 pot of water, hangs lower than that within, &c. 



" All sorts of fibrous roots are assured in their growth by con- 

 venient watering ; but for bulbous and tuberous roots, the Gardi- 

 ner's hand ought to be more sparing." 



Samuel Gilbert, Phileremus. 

 . 



In the above extract no mention is made of watering over the 

 foliage. To newly removed plants it certainly is most beneficial, 

 and very much promotes their growth. In smoky neighbour- 

 hoods, watering or syringing over the leaves, in dry weather, 

 cleanses them from soot, and dust, and enables them to perform 

 their proper functions with vigour. It must, however, be carefully 

 borne in mind that the (op watering can only be safely performed 

 when the sun has left the plants in the shade. The only plants 

 that I am aware of that form an exception to this rule are the 

 Chinese Chrysanthemums, the foliage of which is very much be- 



