CH.V1-. II VILLA GARDENINU 153 



year may be — whether winter or summer. Hard-wooded plants 

 must never be allowed to become dust dry, for many of them have 

 fine hairlike roots, which perish if permitted to become thoroughly 

 dry. Indeed the root structure of a plant will furnish us with 

 a good hint, if we take it, as to its needs in both food and 

 drink. Though there is no certain guide to indicate when a plant 

 requires water, there are several circumstances which, if small in 

 themselves, are, when taken together, sufficiently reliable. The 

 same person should of coiuse always do the watering. Chopping 

 and changing about will lead to mischief. When one and the 

 same person waters any given lot of plants regularly, he will 

 remember when such and such a plant was watered last • he will 

 also know when and how they are potted, and the present condi- 

 tion of their roots — -very necessary knowledge to possess. He will 

 also have an eye to the weather, as in bright or drying windy 

 weather plants dry much faster than when that of an opposite 

 character prevails. Rapping the side of the pot smartly with the 

 knuckles is usually a reliable test in the case of large specimens, 

 as when the ball is dry a hollow sound is given out, and when 

 wet the sound is dull and heavy ; small specimens may be lifted 

 in the hand, and the weight is a sure test as to the condition of 

 the ball. In the com-se of a short time, by taking pains, by observ- 

 ing and noting all the siurounding circumstances, experience will 

 be gained which is of great value in the management not only of 

 hard-wooded, but of all plants. The danger arises from falling into 

 a careless habit of acting first and thinking afterwards — of giving 

 water before we are quite sure as to its necessity. Much more 

 harm is done by giving too much water than too little, tliough I 

 have met with cases where giving too httle water at a time has 

 been injurious. Instead of giving enough water to soak all the 

 ball, only a little was poured on the top, wliicii failed to moisten 

 the soil beyond 2 or 3 inches deep. Repeated doses on the 

 top in this way will soon do serious harm, as the roots at the top 

 of the ball are sufiering from repletion, whilst the bottom of the 

 ball is as dry as dust, and consequently neither set of roots are 

 able to perform their functions properly, and the plant dies. In 

 the case of hard-wooded j^lauts death soon ensues. I have men- 

 tioned this circumstance to show how errors may arise, and what 

 fatal consequences sometimes spring from what appears a very 

 small matter indeed. 



New Holland Plants in the Border. — Those who have 

 visited the large teiuperate house at Kew will have seen how well 

 for the most part these plants thrive planted out in the borders of 

 a large house ; and in many a conservatory in the country, long 



