74 The Principles of Vegetable -Gardening 



watering tends (1) to pack or to puddle the soil, (2) 

 to chill the plants, and (3) to soak the manure and to 

 check its fermentation. If watering is done from a 

 hose, the danger of packing the soil is greater than 

 when a watering pot is used, since the water is applied 

 with greater force. Hotbed soils should be rather 

 loose and fibrous in order to prevent the puddling. As 

 compared with outdoor or field conditions, the amount 

 of water applied to a hotbed is usually excessive, and 

 the physical texture of the soil is likely to be injured 

 unless one exercises considerable care. It is better, as 

 a rule, not to water hotbeds towards night or when the 

 temperature is falling, for the application of water and 

 the subsequent evaporation tend to still further cool 

 the bed. It is particularly inadvisable to allow the 

 plants to go into the night with wet foliage. This 

 caution applies with especial force to cucumbers, 

 melons and other " warm " plants ; and also to the 

 early season, when it is necessary to keep the frame 

 close. It is' better, as a rule, to water in the morning, 

 or at least when there is still enough sun heat left to 

 warm the soil before nightfall. It is well also to avoid 

 ice-cold water, for the application of water at such 

 temperature is a decided check to plants. The water 

 should have a temperature of 60 to 65, if possible, 

 particularly for warm -growing plants and early in the 

 season. Avoid dribbling or merely wetting the surface 

 of the soil. The soil should be wet thoroughly at each 

 watering, and not wet again until the plants need it ; 

 but, on the other hand, one should avoid drenching the 

 soil. 



