WATERING 149 



thoroughness is needed in using a hose pipe. The soil 

 may look wet, but scrape down a few inches and it may be 

 as dry as a bone. It is necessary to go over the garden at 

 least twice to ensure a proper soaking. The bare nozzle 

 should be used for the watering of such perennials as 

 Lupins, Peonies, Delphiniums, etc., which have grown 

 into large clumps. But the pressure of water in such cases 

 should be considerably reduced by turning the tap, or 

 much soil will be thrown about and the roots exposed. 



The Watering Can : If the gardener has no hose pipe, 

 he must rely solely on the watering can. There are various 

 makes. Even a small garden should have at least three 

 cans. 



Their capacity is a matter for careful consideration. 

 Those holding 2 gallons each are convenient, but a fairly 

 strong man will be able to carry a couple of cans with 

 a total capacity of 6 or 7 gallons. There should be one 

 can holding a single gallon ; this is light for his " better 

 half," and may also be used as a measure for mixing liquid 

 manure. 



I advise two " roses " for each can, a coarse one and 

 a fine one. This is not extravagant, and many can have 

 a ring soldered on to one side of them, upon which the 

 extra rose can be screwed. 



Certainly one of the six roses should be very fine indeed, 

 that is, the holes in it should be very small. Such a rose 

 is extremely useful for sprinkling. The coarse roses are 

 used for watering established annuals which have grown to 

 a fair size, and for small clumps of perennials. The fine 

 roses should be used for seedling annuals which have just 

 been planted out or are just coming up in the seed bed ; 

 if a coarse rose were used many of them would be drowned, 

 washed out of the soil, or broken down. 



A rosed can is of no use for watering big clumps of 

 perennials. To do this effectively, remove the rose and 

 pour the water into the centre of the clump from the 

 spout ; it should not wash soil off the roots if done very 

 carefullv. 



