CHAP, ill.] SHADING. 43 



suffering from the effects of evaporation ; and 

 when circumstances oblige them to be trans- 

 planted with their leaves on, thev should be 

 shaded and watered over the leaves frequentlv, 

 as the leaves are furnished with pores by which 

 they can absorb both gaseous and liquid food, 

 and the quantity of nourishment taken in by 

 them should be increased as much as possible, 

 to make amends for the smaller quantity taken 

 up by the roots while they are in an enfeebled 

 state. 



Shading is necessary after transplanting any 

 plant that retains its leaves ; as the evaporation 

 from the leaves, if exposed to the full action of 

 the light, would be greater than the plant could 

 support with a diminished number of spon- 

 gioles. If it were possible to transplant with- 

 out injuring the fibrils, and if the plant were 

 immediately supplied with plenty of water, 

 both for the roots and leaves, shading would 

 not be required ; and, indeed, when plants are 

 turned out of a pot into the open garden with- 

 out breaking the ball of earth round their roots, 

 they are never shaded. The reason for this is, 

 that as long as a plant remains where it was 

 first sown, and under favourable circumstances, 

 the evaporation from its leaves is exactlv adapted 

 to its powers of absorbing moisture; it is there- 

 fore evident, that, if by any chance the number 

 of its mouths be diminished, the evaporation 

 from its leaves should be checked also, till the 

 means of supplying a more abundant evapora- 

 tion are restored. 



T7ie use of watering a transplanted plant is 



