54 WATERING. [CHAP. IIL 



nourishment, it becomes stunted in its growth. 

 Water is essential to the formation of woody 

 fibre, which is found to consist of carbon, with 

 oxygen and hydrogen combined in the same 

 proportions as they are in water. Thus water- 

 ing forms an important part of culture, the 

 health of the plant depending in a great mea- 

 sure upon the manner in which it is supplied 

 with water or rain. It must be observed, 

 however, that the quantity of water requisite 

 depends partly on the kind of leaves that the 

 plant unfolds. A plant with large broad leaves, 

 like the tobacco, requires twice as much water 

 as a plant with small pinnate leaves, like an 

 acacia. Plants exposed to a strong light, also, 

 require more than plants grown in the shade; 

 because the evaporation from the leaves is much 

 greater; and plants in pots require more water 

 than plants in the open ground. In watering 

 plants in pots, a great deal of water should be 

 given at once, as if only a little is given it 

 generally runs down between the outside of the 

 ball of earth and the inside of the pot, and 

 never touches the middle of the ball of earth 

 at all. The pot should never be suffered to 

 stand in water, but enough should be given to 

 saturate the earth in it. 



The time for watering plants varies accord- 

 ing to the season. In spring and autumn it is 

 best to water plants in the morning, but in 

 summer the usual time is the evening ; while, 

 in winter, the very little that is required should 

 be given in the middle of the day. Many per- 

 sons object to watering their plants when the 

 sun is upon them; but this is not at all in- 



