428 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



for the well-being of the occupants of the house. A serviceable 

 home-made preparation is one composed of whiting and " size," 

 to which a little green colouring matter can be added at discretion. 



The watering of greenhouse plants in pots requires a good deal 

 of care and wise discrimination. It must not be done by rule of 

 thumb. It is obvious that more frequent watering will be neces- 

 sary during hot, sunny weather than during the dull, dark days of 

 winter, and it is just as certain that a plant will require more 

 water when its roots fill the pot in which it is growing than it will 

 need when its tender rootlets are just finding their way through the 

 soil. If a plant be fully developed and be growing away vigor- 

 ously, the best method of ascertaining whether it is in need of 

 moisture is to give the pot a sharp rap with the knuckles or a 

 piece of wood. If the resulting sound be dull and heavy no water 

 is required, if it be hollow and resonant water must be supplied 

 in sufficient quantities thoroughly to moisten the soil. 



In the height of summer it may be necessary to attend to the 

 watering of greenhouse plants three times a day. Early in the 

 morning the floor should be damped so that as the sun gains in 

 power the atmosphere may be rendered moist. The plants that 

 need it should be watered at the same time, and again at midday 

 and in the early evening. Frequent syringing among the pots 

 and on the staging will also help to keep the plants in good con- 

 dition, though care should be taken not to permit water to rest 

 upon fully developed flowers. Soft water is always to be pre- 

 ferred to hard, but where there is a difficulty in obtaining it in 

 sufficient quantities hard water may be softened by dissolving 

 an ounce of common soda in a quart of hot water and adding it to 

 ten gallons of water. Another excellent arrangement is to have 

 a water tank in the greenhouse with pipes leading into it from the 

 gullies at the sides of the roof. In this way a good supply of rain- 

 water can frequently be obtained. When the supply becomes 

 scarce, the tank can be filled with hard water which will become 

 warmed to the temperature of the house and be ready for use in 

 twelve hours or so. 



If the waging of a determined warfare against insect pests is 



