CULTURE 25 



may be given ; but if there is no ring, then water should 

 be withheld. 



With a little practice one soon becomes proficient in 

 this method of watering, and it is probably the best 

 system of testing the dryness of a plant. 



If the day has been hot and dry, a syringing in the 

 late afternoon will benefit the plants immensely. Rain 

 water should be used for all purposes; failing this, water 

 should be stor^i in large butts or cisterns open to the 

 sun's rays, which will help to soften it considerably, 

 making it more suitable for plant life. In many nurseries 

 large cisterns are placed on towers, from which all 

 supplies are drawn, and these cisterns are kept full by 

 either pumps or water laid on from a distance. In 

 districts where the water is largely impregnated with 

 lime this is a most useful course, for after being 

 exposed to sun and air it loses its hardness and becomes 

 more like rain water. Lime water often causes whitish 

 markings on foliage when used for syringing or dipping 

 purpose, unless allowed to stand a time as suggested. 

 Unremitting attention must be given the plants during 

 this season, tying in all growths to their supports that 

 are intended to carry blooms. All side and useless 

 growths should be removed at the earliest opportunity ; 

 if allowed to remain any time they take a certain share 

 of nourishment out of the plant, which should be care- 

 fully retained if good results are expected later. Use- 

 less wood is an abomination, whether in plant or tree. 



