WATERING. 47 



There are in this volume many excellent general 

 directions for the ordinary garden labours, some of 

 which we shall notice, interweaving them with 

 further observations of our own. 



Watering is the mainstay of horticulture in hot 

 climates. When King Solomon, in the vanity of 

 his mind, made him " gardens and orchards," he 

 made him also " pools of water to water therewith 

 the wood that bringeth forth trees ;" and the pro- 

 phets frequently compare the spiritual prosperity of 

 the soul to " a watered garden." It is with us also 

 a most necessary operation, but very little under- 

 stood. Most young gardeners conceive that the 

 water for their plants cannot be too fresh and cold ; 

 and many a pail of water that has stood in the sun 

 is thrown away in order to bring one " fresh from 

 the ambrosial fount." A greater mistake could not 

 be made. Rain-water is best of all ; and dirty and 

 stagnant water, and of a high temperature anything 

 is better than cold spring- water. Mrs. Loudon re- 

 commends pump-water to be exposed in open tubs 

 before it is used, and to be stirred about to impreg- 

 nate it with air; perhaps the addition of liquid 

 manure or any other extraneous matter would be 

 useful. Those who have found how little service 

 their continual watering has done to their plants in a 

 dry summer would do well to attend to these simple 

 rules. 



Lawns and gravel-walks, the pride of English 

 gardens, can hardly have too much care bestowed 

 upon them. Oftentimes more of the beauty of a 



