WATERING AND MULCHING. 127 



come by changes in conditions and if everything 

 works in harmony perfect growth is the result. 



As the season advances the plants will require 

 more and more water, and every precaution will 

 have to be taken not to let them wilt or to get on 

 the dry side so often as to check growth. The 

 plants must be kept growing without a check of 

 any kind, so that by the middle of September they 

 practically cover the ground. 



From the time of planting constant care must 

 be exercised in the matter of syringing. Plants 

 ought to be syringed throughout the summer and 

 early fall not less than three times a week. We 

 will discuss this question more fully in the 

 chapter on insects and diseases as the syringing is 

 mainly to keep down red spider. Always select 

 bright days for the syringing so as to have the 

 plants dry off before night. As the season 

 advances arid the plants grow larger much care 

 must be exercised in syringing, otherwise serious 

 results may follow, as will be pointed out further 

 on. By the first or middle of October it will be 

 necessary to withhold all water from the foliage, 

 and if the spraying has been thorough this can be 

 done without fear of injury from spider. 



About the middle of August we like to give 

 the beds a thin mulching of finely rotted manure. 

 Horse manure is best for this purpose, as it works 

 up fine and dries out better on the bed. Put on 

 just enough to cover the ground and work it well 



