VEGETABLE PLANTS. 23 



til but a mere thread is left, which continues 

 to support the plant with considerable vitality 

 for some time, but finally effects its ruin. 

 This disease is seldom seen, however, except 

 among plants which have grown too rapidly 

 for their own good and have been at times 

 kept too warm. 



WATERING. Although the covering of glass 

 holds the moisture from escaping as vapor to a 

 considerable extent, the shallowness of the soil 

 will not enable it to hold water for a great 

 length of time during sunny weather, and the 

 beds have to receive an artificial watering fre- 

 quently. The best time to perform this work 

 is about four o'clock in the afternoon. 



PUMPS. The nicest manner of accomplish- 

 ing this is by use of a small force-pump and 

 sprinkler, which latter is but a small thumb- 

 nozzle on the end of a short hose, through 

 which the water is thrown after being drawn 

 by the pump from a pail. The pump known 

 as Page's does good work, 'but is constructed 

 of tin, and is consequently not very durable. 

 One manufactured by W. & B. Douglas, Mid- 

 dletown, Ct., which retails at 9, is the best 

 and most durable article of this kind we have 

 yet seen. The great advantage these have over 



