GARDENING BY M YSELF. 3 5 



fingers, letting the drops glide softly off, 

 and holding my fingers quite close to the 

 soil ; for if the drops fall from too great a 

 height they pack and harden it. If the 

 seeds are large, and not easily disturbed, 

 hold your left hand close over the pot, hol- 

 low it slightly, and pour the water slowly in 

 there ; letting it trickle softly down between 

 the closed fingers. Another expedient (of 

 a professed gardener, this time) is to take 

 a clean paint brush, dip it in water, and 

 draw it through your hand in such a fashion 

 that the drops fall in a shower of fine spray. 

 But this needs practice. 



In the intervals of seed business, look 

 over your potted plants ; for they will begin 

 to wake up now, thinking of new leaves, and 

 possible blossoms : therefore give them all 

 the encouragement you can. Nip off the 

 leaves that are faded, prune in unruly 

 shoots, see if any need re-potting. For 

 when the old pot is getting crowded with 

 roots, it is then best to move. But let 

 the change be always to a pot just one size 



