WA TERINO. 353 



border was still 78, or had suffered no change of temperature from 

 the watering it had undergone. 



" It is very clear from these facts, that whilst spring water greatly 

 cooled the soil, that from the pond exerted no such influence, but on 

 the contrary often raised the temperature." (' Hort. Trans.,' vol. ii. 

 2nd series, p. 57.) 



Hence in our opinion every complete kitchen garden, and every 

 flower garden whatever, ought to have a basin, or basins of water in a 

 central situation fully exposed to the sun. In every plant structure 

 there ought to be a cistern to receive the rain water which falls on 

 the roof; and if convenient, another for pond or well water, which 

 should only be used when there is a deficiency of rain water. 



The distribution of water in gardens is in some cases effected 

 by open surface gutters of hewn stone, running streams, lead or 

 iron pipes, open basins, elevated lakes or reservoirs at a distance, 

 flexible tubing fixed on town mains, portable engines, water-barrows, 

 pails, water-pots, leather hose, &c. It is of the utmost importance 

 to have the source of the water so high as to enable it to dis- 

 tribute itself through any kind of pipe by the force of gravity, instead 

 of having to raise, carry, and distribute it by steam, horse, or man 

 power. In some gardens it is only needful to screw on a hose at any 

 point, and with a rose or spreader pour a stream on any crop, or over 

 the highest trees at will. The Parisians have displayed considerable 

 ingenuity in arranging contrivances for watering their gardens. The 

 chief feature of the system is that each length of perforated hose is 

 supported upon two pairs of small wheels. The choicer gardens are, 

 however, watered with watering-pots with wide spouts ; the operator 

 using two pots at once, and the water being pumped up into tanks or 

 barrels. A well is indispensable in French market gardens, as the dry 

 climate renders copious waterings so essential. 



The ordinary mode of giving water to plants is by watering-pots of 

 different sizes, and hand or horse barrows. On a large scale it is 

 sometimes conveyed in barrels on carts, and distributed over lawns, 

 and plantations of strawberries or other low plants in rows, by the 

 same means as in watering roads. To such moveable barrels or other 

 contrivances a length or lengths of gutta-percha tubing can be attached 

 with a common spreader, which enables a man to water with great 

 rapidity. When the leaves of plants are to be cleaned from dust or other 

 matters that water alone will bring off; or when liquid compositions, 

 such as lime-water, tobacco-water, soapy water, &c., are to be thrown 

 on them, the syringe or engine is used, and when water is applied to 

 small plants, or very small seeds newly sown, recourse is had to a 

 small watering-pot with a very fine rose. 



When it is proper to water, and how much water to give, must be 

 determined by the circumstances in which the plant is placed. In 

 nature the atmosphere is very rarely otherwise than saturated with 

 moisture, when it rains ; but as artificial watering is a substitute for 

 rain, it mu^t not be withheld when the plant requires it, on account of 

 atmospheric dry ness. As the nearest approach to the state of the 



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