GARDENING. 29 



saucer, which may be emptied as fast as filled. In warm mild weather when plants 

 absorb a great deal of moisture it will do no harm to leave a little in the saucer. 

 Among other details to be observed in watering, the following items of caution 

 are to be observed : Some plants should never be wetted on the leaves. Take the 

 Begonia Rex, whose foliage, so large and grand, has an exquisite coloring; if its 

 leaves were to be sponged with cold water, and the plant left out on the balcony 

 or open air, it would probably die very soon ; but a Camelia can be treated the 

 same way and not be injured in the slightest. The reasons for it are good. The 

 last plant has a hard shiny leaf, which can resist rough treatment ; but the other has 

 a succulent tender leaf easily affected. The novice then may generally find it 

 true that plants with soft porous and hairy leaves should be very cautiously wet- 

 ted overhead, but plants with hard varnished leaves may be watered frequently. 

 Tepid water should be invariably used even down to the height of summer. If 

 plants get infested with vermin, a sponging with soap and water made into a lather, 

 will clear them. Then follow with clear water to remove the soap. It is also a 

 good rule to observe that the colder the weather the less water must be given ; 

 and when plants are at rest, done growing, they need very little indeed 



Plants in cases may be watered once a week, for evaporation there is confined, 

 but in open rooms once a day is sufficient. Some plants, who delight in very 

 moist situations, need it twice a day. Never water when the sun is hot. 



If the soil of the pot gets too hard, loosen it a little with a fork, or plunge it 

 into a tub of water. Take pains to have good drainage, and beyond this little 

 trouble will be experienced. 



The Philosophy of Watering 



is worth studying. Plants are constantly throwing off or evaporating moisture 

 from their leaves, and at the same time the roots must be taking up an equal sup- 

 ply. If then on examining the soil in a flower-pot, you discover that it is moist 

 for an unusually long time, you may be sure that something is Wrong, either the 

 roots do not take it up readily, or drainage is imperfect. Healthy plant action 

 needs -ir as well as moisture. A soggy soil excludes air, and, as a result, our 

 plants soon show drooping leaves and unhealthy branches. Drainage is to plants 

 what digestion is to the human system, keeping everything in perfect action. 

 Water and air enjoy a healthy circulation unimpeded, and plants which are 

 growing freely and vigorously, with strong roots, will take up the moisture of 

 the pots regularly. Mr. Meehan, who has studied plant physiology more thor- 

 oughly than any other American, sums up this subject in the following concise 

 paragraph : 



" A wet soil is totally unfit for plant growing. A plant standing 24 hours in 

 water is irreparably injured. A Hyacinth, to be sure, will live one season in 

 water; but all the matter of the flower which goes to water is prepared the year 

 before, and after flowering, the bulb is exhausted and almost worthless. 



"A good soil for plant growing, therefore, is not one which will hold water, 

 but one in which water will pass away. 



