Growing Flowers 193 



Strong salty water may be used but it may take 

 several applications, and also care should be taken 

 that it does not spread to other nearby plants. 



Watering 



When watering flowers, water them thoroughly. 

 Merely to sprinkle water over the surface of the 

 earth will do little good. Water should penetrate 

 to the roots in order that it may be taken up by 

 them and sent through the plant. 



When only the surface of the garden bed is wet, 

 the soil will grow hard when dry and will tend to 

 exclude air. It is better by far to water thoroughly 

 every three or four days than to water lightly every 

 day. A good rain should be imitated when using 

 the hose or the watering can. 



An excellent way to water plants is to flood the 

 garden or the garden bed. Particularly is this good 

 when watering young plants, plants which have 

 just been transplanted, and seed. Flooding will 

 cause the water to penetrate to the roots with no 

 danger of washing up the plants or breaking tender 

 branches. A small trench should be made at 

 each side of the bed and the water poured into it. 



13 



