3 1 8 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



cracking from the side of the pot, hollow ringing of the pot when 

 rapped with the knuckles. The last is a good test, and should be 

 used in order to anticipate the two others, which may lead to 

 disaster. If flagging and soil -cracking accompany each other it is 

 useless to attempt to put matters right by ordinary watering, as 

 the water will all run through. The pr>t should be stood in a pail 

 of water for a few minutes, when the soil will swell again. Water- 

 ing will be necessary almost every day in summer, for one plant or 

 other, but not in winter, except in heated houses where the plants 

 are in active growth. As little watering as possible should be done 

 in winter, especially in cool houses, and no water should be spilled 

 about. In summer, on the contrary, syringing is a valuable 

 auxiliary to watering. Room plants should not be kept in saucers 

 of water, except perhaps in very hot weather. It does foliage plants 

 good to sponge the leaves with soft tepid water once a week. Soft 

 water is always preferable to hard. Tea is of no benefit to plants; 

 but half an ounce each of nitrate of soda and superphosphate per 

 gallon turns water into a valuable liquid manure. A good plan of 

 watering seedlings is to moisten the soil from below by holding the 

 pot or pan up to the brim in a vessel of water. It is a good plan to 

 use water of the temperature of the house in watering hothouse 

 plants. 



Watering-pots or cans. A selection of these is useful in every 

 garden. A small one with a long spout is handy for use in green- 

 houses with wide stages. The pots should be used carefully, in 

 order to avoid sending a flood of water among young plants that 

 have not a very tight hold of the soil. A larger can is useful for 

 feeding water into the small one where there is no cask or tank 

 handy to dip from. The watering-pots should be supplied with 

 roses in case it is desired to spread the water in a shower ; and it is 

 advisable to have both a coarse and a fine rose, the latter for use 

 with seedlings. Water-cans should be turned upside down when not 

 in use. See also Watering. 



Water Lily. See Nymphaea and Flower Garden. 



Water Plants. See Flower Garden Aquatics. 



Water Reed. See Arundo. 



Water Soldier, Stratiotes aloides. 



Water Violet, Hottonia palustris. 



Watsonia (watso-nia, after W. Watson. Ord. Irideae). See 

 Bulbs. 



Wattle. See Acacia. 



Wax Flower. See Hoya. 



Wayfaring Tree. See Viburnum Lantana. 



Weeds. The fight with weeds may begin when the ground is dug 

 in winter; perennial weeds such as Couch, Dandelion, Bindweed, 

 Daisy, Plantain, Shepherd's Purse, Thistle, Coltsfoot, and Horsetail 

 may then be picked out, thrown into a heap and burned. As fast 

 as annual weeds show in spring they should be hoed up into the 



