150 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



The Soil and Watering : The nature of the soil is an 

 important consideration in watering, and although I deal 

 with the subject of Soils and their Management in a separate 

 chapter, I must say a few words about them here. 



It is well known that sandy soils dry up the quickest of 

 all soils, and that clay soils dry up a great deal slower. 

 But it is not always recognised that sandy soils are the 

 easiest to thoroughly moisten again if they get dry, and 

 that clay soils are very hard to moisten when once they 

 become solid and dry. Not only does the surface of the 

 soil become caked, but it also becomes cracked and air is 

 let into the roots of the plants, which is an additional 

 danger. When a clay soil is allowed to become dry and 

 caked, simple watering is of no good. The Canterbury 

 hoe and the digging fork must be used, and the surface 

 " chopped, prodded, and turned." This must be done 

 with great care, otherwise some of the roots of the plants 

 may also be " chopped, prodded, and turned." The soil 

 should only be broken into small lumps, not completely 

 broken up. The water-pot may then be applied, and the 

 water will very slowly soak in. It is necessary to give 

 two or three doses to ensure a proper soaking. 



The way, however, to avoid the possibility of such a 

 tragedy, is to improve the soil in one of the ways outlined 

 in Chapter XXIV. 



On account of its ready drainage a sandy soil usually 

 has to be watered much earlier in the summer than is 

 necessary with a clay soil, or good strong loam. And the 

 watering has to be continued longer in the season. Sandy 

 soils, however, are capable of being well strengthened as 

 described in Chapter XXIV. 



The Main Points : The main points to be remembered 

 are : 



The time to apply Early morning, or evening, when the 

 sun is not powerful. 



The amount to apply Varies considerably with the 

 nature of the plants. But give a good soaking. Not a 

 little to-day and a little more to-morrow. 



