CHAP, m.l KIND OF WATER. 55 



jurious, so long as the water is not too cold, 

 and is only given to the roots. Watering the 

 leaves when the sun is upon them will make 

 them blister, and become covered with pale 

 brown spots, wherever the water has fallen. It 

 is much better to water plants during sunshine 

 than to suffer them to become too dry; as, 

 when the spongioles are once withered, no art 

 can restore them. When plants have been 

 suffered to become too dry, the ground should 

 be loosened before watering it ; and water 

 should be given a little at a time, and fre- 

 quently, till the plant appears to have recovered 

 its vigour. A great deal of the good produced 

 by watering depends on the state of the ground; 

 as, when the ground is hard and compact, it is 

 very possible to throw a great quantity of 

 water upon it without doing any service to the 

 plants. 



The kind of water used should also be 

 considered. The best is pond water, as it is 

 always mixed with air, and is, moreover, gene- 

 rally impregnated with decayed animal and 

 vegetable matter; and the worst is clear spring 

 water, as it is always cold, and is seldom im- 

 pregnated w T ith air, or with anything but some 

 mineral substance, which, so far from doing 

 good, is positively injurious to the plants. Rain 

 water collected in open cisterns, and river 

 water, are both very suitable ; and, when only 

 spring water can be obtained, it should be ex- 

 posed for some time to the air before using - . 

 It is always advisable to have the water at 

 least as warm as the plants to be watered; and, 



