1966 WASHINGTONIA 



Srinont! and U'. rohu.ita are found along the Pacific slope 

 of Mexico, on the mainland or on the peninsula of Baja 

 California. While the type locality of the former is 

 given as Guaymas, on the mainland of Mexico, the few 



ot Washingtonii 



specimens in cultivation have < 

 and though the type locality o 

 most of the specimens in thf 

 from Guaymas and Mazatlan o 

 In cultivation in California 

 gratefully to abundance of wi 



desert plants thcx- will tlii-i\- 

 Palm valley, in tli.' Siui .la.int, 



I from the peninsula, 



de apparently came 

 e mainland, 

 iihingtonias respond 

 iluring the dry sea- 

 i;ii Ill-cause they are 



miitiiiiis, where thev 

 111- luuiul only in the 

 vicinity of springs. jog. Burtt Daw. 



WATER ALOE. Stratiotes aloides. W. Arum is a 

 name sometimes applied to Calla paiustris. W. Beech. 

 Carpinns Caroliuiavri. W. Caltrops, or Water Chestnut. 

 Trapa natanx. W. Chinkapin, or Chinquapin. Nelnmho 

 hifen. W. Cress. .See (V,'.s,i- and A'asti<rtiiiin officinale. 

 W. Hyacinth. See Eirhhoniia. 



WATEBING. An abundant and convenient supply 

 of pure, fresh water should always be a first considera- 

 tion in locating a garden or greenhouse. Having this, 

 the next matter is knowing how to use it, for here, 

 good gardeners say, lies nine-tenths of the elements of 

 success. Certain it is, especially in the indoor cultiva- 

 tion of plants, that more depends upon knowing when 

 to give or withhold water than upon any other single 

 matter. The art of watering is unteachable; it requires 

 experience, judgment, skill. Some knowledge of the 

 commoner facts of vegetable physiology, physics and 

 soil physics will be helpful, but even then experience 

 will be necessary. Two common types of watering- 



WATERING 



cans are shown in Fig. 2718. In American gardens, 

 however, watering is usually performed with a hose 

 from a stored water supply. 



General Rules.— A fairly safe guide is: never water 

 plants until the soil has become dry, though not 

 "powder-dry." and then give them a thorough soaking. 

 Plants disliki- ;t rnniinunusly wet soil. In the care of 

 plants in iMitln Il^^ ai . v .^,i-ls, a useful test is to thump 

 the jar. If n rin.- iIh -nil is dry; if the sound pro- 

 duc'ed is cliill tin- >i.il i- sufficiently moi.st. Such rules, 

 however, are only for the novice. They presuppose 

 activity of growth, and take into account only one con- 

 sideration aside from this, and that is the condition 

 of the soil as regards moisture. The experienced gar- 

 dener reads his practice in his plants and the conditions 

 under which they are being kept. The following sug- 

 gestions are based upon the most important considera- 



Actively growing plants may be watered very freely, 

 as a rule, whereas in a dormant or semidormaut state 

 the same plants will require only occasional water- 

 ings. 



Soft-stemmed or rapid-growing plants ("soft-wood" 

 and "hard-wood" plants), and those with large leaves, 

 need, as a rule, an abundance of water when growing 

 actively. Hard-wood or slower-growing plants, wilh 

 smaller leaves, must be watired with greater care. Soft- 

 wooded plant ^.\\ iiti --.inr I ■-,11 jTi 111-, may at times even 

 flag somiwh: t It ■ ' •. anil recover without 

 perraanenr n i ily is given. Hard- 

 wooded plai,. , ,1 ii as and heaths, on 



the other haiul, ,.uil. i (aruiam i.i injury from becoming 

 too drv. It is safest to allow, no plant in active growth 

 to flag". 



The amount of foliage affects the plant's capacity for 

 using water. Plants which have been cut back, or 

 which from disease, insects or other cau.ses, have lost 

 most of their foliage, must be kept drier until they 

 have regained their foliage. 



Unhealthy plants are benefited, as a rule, by being 

 kept rather dry until they begin to show signs of re- 

 newed vigor. 



ly plants freshly potted or newly 

 in cnndition to use much water 

 :iv.- atta.-liii.l themselves to the 

 ill li 1- I" 1111. A thorough wa- 

 ! ; I 11 putting the plants, 



, l> shaded for a few 



iiiiit nniil they have become 



Small cuttings, or i 

 transplanted, are not 

 until the root-hairs 

 soil-particles and lti 

 tering at the tinn- ■■ 

 especially if they a 

 days, is usually sn 

 established. 



The character and bulk of soil should be kept in 

 mind. Porous and warm soils dry out much sooner, 

 while the heavier clay soils are in danger of becoming 

 water -logged and sour, unless watered with care. 

 When there is a large mass of soil in proportion to 

 root development, as in the case of greenhouse beds 

 newly set with young plants, care must be used ii. 

 watering until the soil is occupied with roots. 



Serious trouble often begins in the greenhouse from 

 a heavy watering at the beginning of a period of dark, 

 muggy weather. Not only does such watering do dam- 

 age to the soil and roots, but the excessive humidity of 

 the air about the plants and its weakening effect upon 

 their tissues, invites the attacks of various mildews, 

 fuiiffi and insect pests. 



The time of day is important. In the greenhouse in 

 winter free ventilai lull i uiiallx impossible. At night 

 there is a teudi la ' ,,; ihimp atmosphere. 



Careful florists, tin : < m the early part of 



the 



liiiLjs lati I •! I !■ ■'; ii;.- winter sea.soii. The various 

 (lani|.iii- nil ' II I 1 I I II. Ii'i- such treatment the condi- 

 Mon siniii , . Imnnent. Excessive humidity 



uu ilu- ini' ; , : , i ]ilant-house is most likely to 



occur in iniil. i ,ii. »i .uii. r. During severe weather the 

 condensation upon the glass is large and renders the 

 air of the house drier. During summer, when there is 

 free ventilation, the watering may advantageously be 

 done late in the day. Midday watering at seasons when 



