CHAPTER XVIII. 

 WATERING. 



IT is not without some misgivings that I take up my pen 

 to write a chapter on this important subject. There are 

 many theories, indeed every experienced gardener has 

 his own ideas on the subject of watering, and so far as 

 experiments go these theories have all of them some 

 practical value. The object of watering is to give water 

 to thirsty plants. Some say that " a plant cannot get 

 the greatest benefit from watering unless the water is 

 applied to its foliage as well as to its roots." Others that 

 " the sun must be shining to enable a plant to derive 

 benefit from combined foliage and root watering " ; that 

 "it is extremely dangerous to apply water to the foliage 

 of plants at all when the sun is shining " ; that " plants 

 should only be watered in the early morning " ; that 

 " plants should only be watered in the evening " ; that 

 " rain water alone should be used " ; and that " tap water 

 alone should be used." 



The subject is full of, nay, overflowing with pet theories. 

 A simple subject is made unnecessarily complex, and the 

 amateur is so much perplexed. We must respect the work 

 of others, if we do not agree with it, and perhaps it will 

 be best if I give a few of the results of my own work. 



For several years small experiments have been carried 

 out in my own garden with the following results : 



The Time to Apply : My experiments have repeatedly 

 shown that it is harmful to water plants when the sun is 

 shining brightly. This is true both as regards watering 



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