154 MOZAMBIQUE 



extremities of the root system, not through the 

 large anchoring roots which radiate from 

 the trunk. In an orchard of full-grown trees 

 water should be led down the middle of the rows, 

 and the soil round the trees, especially on low 

 alluvial land, kept well stirred with the hoe to 

 permit of good aeration. 



While on the subject of irrigation a word may 

 be said about overwatering plants, the frequent 

 cause of mortality in the greenhouse or nursery. 

 The evil effects of the practice were described by 

 the Government Botanist of Cape Colony, in 1891, 

 in the following amusing paragraph : — 



" Madam sets out her flower-stand at the 

 window with half a dozen fuchsias or geraniums, 

 purchased in high condition from the nurseryman. 

 She knows that plants want water, so every 

 morning she pours the best part of a pint into 

 each flower-pot with religious regularity. You 

 know what happens in a few months. The 

 fuchsias look ready to perish and begin to drop 

 their leaves ; the geraniums stop growing and 

 buckle up. Then the gardener is called in to 

 advise. He knocks the ball of earth out of the 

 pot, and shows madam that all the roots have 

 been sidling away from the heart and have made 

 a close network, lining the sides of the pot. He 

 points to the soil compacted at the surface and 



