STAKING, TYING AND WATERING 288 



douches of icily cold water through the hose pipe on his beds and 

 borders. In contemplative mood he smokes his pipe and, almost 

 oblivious to the task in hand, directs the silver stream, straight 

 from the "main," at the foliage and stems of his sweet peas, 

 and then discovers to his dismay a day or two later that they 

 have collapsed and been utterly ruined. Plants are in many ways 

 as sentient as a human being, and the cold douche may have 

 produced a chill a veritable shock to the system from which 

 there is no hope of recovery. 



The moral is plain. Use soft ram-water for the supply of 

 necessary moisture to plants wherever and whenever it is pro- 

 curable. But failing that, and being compelled by circumstances 

 to depend upon cold hard water, direct the stream to the sur- 

 rounding soil rather than straight at the base of the stem. If it 

 be afforded in generous enough quantities it will find its way to 

 the roots, and as it percolates through the soil will become suf- 

 ficiently warm before it reaches its destination to afford the 

 maximum of benefit to the growing plant. 



Except in the case of tiny seedlings whose roots have not yet 

 penetrated far below the surface of the ground, and whose pros- 

 perity depends upon a frequent application of moisture in dry 

 weather, the constant use of the hose and the watering-pot ought 

 not to be necessary so frequently as the beginner hi gardening 

 supposes. Even in the event of a fairly long drought and by 

 this I mean a couple of weeks, for a longer period of dry weather 

 hi this country is a very rare event water should be withheld as 

 long as possible. The day when watering becomes absolutely 

 necessary may be postponed for a time if the gardener will only 

 make more frequent use of the hoe and the small fork. Keep the 

 soil porous and you will help to keep it moist. 



But when once you start watering do it thoroughly a mere 

 sprinkling with the watering-can will be worse than useless. 

 Pour the water round the bases of rose, phlox, delphinium and 

 dahlia in generous quantities so that the roots may really benefit 

 by the supply. 



