Notes on Greenhouse Plants, 6fc. 301 



bestowed will keep it in a healtliy state. There is no single 

 requisite in the management of plants of so much importance, 

 or requires more skill and experience to perform aright, than 

 this. It is a notorious fact that unskilful watering is the 

 prevalent error in the culture of potted plants. Even among 

 practical gardeners, so much is it considered a daily routine 

 necessity to " water the plants," and often indiscriminately, 

 without regard to their particular wants, that any one able to 

 carry a pot of water is intrusted to do it. The results of this 

 practice are too apparent in many collections. These daily 

 dribblings only serv^e to keep vegetation in a state of suspense 

 between death and life, as the supply is seldom copious 

 enough to thoroughly moisten the whole mass of earth in 

 the pot, consequently the roots nearest the surface are fre- 

 quently soddened while the lower section are literally dry as 

 dust. So much depends upon the natural constitution and 

 state of the plant, the condition of the soil, the state of the 

 atmosphere, and the season of the year, that it is impossible 

 to lay down a special rule, equally adapted to all. We will, 

 however, venture a few general remarks on the subject. 



The importance and necessity of water to plants need not 

 be dwelt upon, seeing that it enters so largely into their con- 

 stitution, and being the medium through which they absorb 

 their nourishment ; but many collections are injured to a 

 considerable degree by the bad quality of the water. An 

 unfailing supply of rain-water should be a paramount ques- 

 tion in building greenhouses. The water that falls on the 

 roof, if collected in a suitable sized tank, will afford an abun- 

 dant supply throughout the season. A brick tank, carefully 

 cemented, of a capacity to hold 3000 gallons, will afford a 

 constant supply for a house 50 feet long. This is most con- 

 venient when placed underneath the stage, and also keeps 

 the water of a genial temperature. Many kinds of spring 

 water are exceedingly injurious from the saline substances 

 they contain, according to the nature of the soil through 

 which the springs rise. When such is unavoidably used, it 

 should be exposed to the atmosphere, at least, 48 hours pre- 

 vious to use. Water evaporated from the earth by the heat 



