GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 393 



All plants should be kept clear of weeds, not for neat- 

 ness alone, but because they exhaust the nutriment which 

 should feed the plant. 



WATER. 



The best water for plants is undoubtedly rain-water ; if 

 this cannot be obtained river-water will do : pond-water is 

 not so good ; but the worst of all is hard spring water. In 

 winter, and, for delicate plants, even in summer, water 

 should be placed in the sun till it becomes tepid before it 

 is used. 



The water should never be allowed to remain in the pan 

 under the pot ; it tends to rot the roots. It may be well 

 to observe that plants should be watered with a rose on 

 the spout of the watering-pot ; and the more finely it is 

 perforated the better, so as to sprinkle the water lightly 

 over the flowers and leaves, without bending them down 

 with its weight. 



" E spesso irrigherai le lor radici, 

 Prendendo un vaso di tenace creta 

 Forato a guisa d'un minuto cribro, 

 Che i Greci antichi nominar clepsidra, 

 Per cui si versan fuor milla zampilli. 

 Con esso imitar puoi la sottil pioggia, 

 Ed irrorar tutte le asciutte erbette." 



LE API DEL RUCELLAI. 



" And you should often water their roots ; take a vessel of hardened 

 clay perforated in the manner of a fine sieve,, such as the ancient 

 Greeks called a clepsidra j through which may be shed a thousand 

 streams. With this you may imitate a light shower., and water all the 

 dry herbs." 



Many persons think it sufficient to water the roots, 

 which is a great mistake ; it materially contributes to their 

 health and beauty to sprinkle the whole plant. Bathing 



