THE GARDEN 49 



plants are almost drowned out — and so on. But not so. There seems ta 

 be a great quantity of water flowing from that hose, but, after all, there 

 is nothing like the quantity that one imagines. After standing for an 

 hour or so, plying the hose, you may find how thoroly the watering business 

 has been accomplished by the simple expedient of poking a finger into the 

 flower beds. Often one will be horrified to find the earth barely wet, half 

 an inch below the surface. The roots have never been reached. Where 

 has all the water gone to? 



The true test of the quantity of water pouring from the hose will be found 

 out by filling a pail from the hose. How long does it take to fill one single 

 pail? It will surprise you. Try it! And how far does one pailful go, if 

 one were forced to carry the water by pailfuls? Not very far, indeed! 



And often the water from the spray has never reached the ground at 

 all, but has been scattered on the leaves. 



A splendid plan, especially where there are many old strong roots, 

 thickly covered with foliage, such, for instance, as paeonies, canterbury 

 bells, and such like, is to first spray the uper part of the plant, so that the 

 leaves may be gratefully refreshed after the heat and dust of the day, 

 then remove the mozzle, and placing the end of the hose close to the roots, 

 let the water simply well into the ground for the length of time that it 

 would take to fill three or four pails full. If this plan is followed at least 

 twice a week, really oftener is not needed, and the leaves washed ofC 

 quickly every evening, with a short refreshing drink before the sun is 

 hot, you will find your heavy roots improve wonderfully. The ordinary 

 careless spraying, night after night, does not begin to touch these deep 

 roots. 



Nor can a garden of any size be gone over thoroly every night. True, 

 it may be "sprayed," but that is not "watered." 



Take one portion of the garden every evening for a thoro soaking and 

 in this way the whole place can be gone over at least once a week. 



WATER THE GARDEN BEDS, EVEN NOW 



It is a mistake to put away the hose too soon. There are many young 

 perennials even now struggling for a little help in the way of moisture. 

 If these thirsty young things do not get a good long drink, how under the 

 still hot sun do you suppose they are going to continue the struggle? There 

 is some good growth in the ground, even this late in the autumn. 



There is no time in the year when growth has left the ground! 



But, just now, when most people think, "Oh! the poor garden is a 

 ruin" — just at this very time go out and give the poor things a good wet- 

 ting. Of course, some of your near neighbors will think you have taken 

 leave of what few senses you originally had — but the laugh will be yours 

 next spring. But, most especially, the laugh will belong to those panting 

 parched plants. , 



If you are not in a mood to believe this little warning just take a look 

 at some of your new perennials that you transplanted late in August. A 

 word to the wise — 



Coming home from a late holiday we found beds dry as dust, in spite 

 of the fact that others vowed to the highest heavens that they themselves 

 had daily drenched those same beds with the cooling spray — yes, daily, 

 night and morning. Yet the fact remains only too patent — most of our 

 precious, grey Scotch Pinks — you know those old-fashioned, spicy double- 

 fringed ones — have not only grown very bushy and top-heavy, so that to 

 an inexperienced eye they seem in the pink of health— but also, alas, poor 

 frail stems, brittle as glass, are ready to break at the slightest touch. And. 

 all for want of water. 



