GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 299 



used in which there is any feeding substance it is washed down to the 

 roots of the plants by heavy rains. Cultivating acts in a similar man- 

 ner to mulching, as the soil which is loosened may be said to be a mulch 

 of loose soil ; but to be of the greatest service this operation should be 

 performed after every shower of rain. Plants in pots need the surface 

 stirred occasionally, partly for the same reason that plants in the open 

 ground are benefited by frequent cultivating. The top layer of soil in 

 the pots gets into a caked condition; this is indicated at times by the 

 water standing on the surface longer than usual, and is caused by the 

 particles of soil being reduced by the action of the water to a muddy 

 state, forming a kind of puddle through which water takes a long while 

 to percolate. When potting, a little rough sand scattered on the surface 

 is an excellent preventive, keeping the whole mass porous and doing 

 away with the necessity of frequent stirring. 



WATERING. 



This is the most important work that -falls to the lot of the plant 

 grower. It cannot be learned by reading a paper or a book on the sub- 

 ject, and the man who wields the watering can, or hose, no matter how 

 intelligent he may be, will water plants for years after a fashion, and 

 yet have a great deal to learn. About all that can be said on the sub- 

 ject is to water a plant when it needs it. The trouble lies in knowing 

 when it needs it. The operator should first know the plant, all about 

 it, where it comes from, whether it inhabits a bog or a mountain top, 

 whether it is rapid or slow growing, its natural periods of growth and 

 rest, and the same under cultivation. Next he must know the condi- 

 tion of the roots, the kind of soil it is potted in and when potted- 

 Among other things he should know will be the chemical composition 

 of the water, and whether it is suitable for the plants he is watering. 

 The temperatures of the soil and water during the operation is another 

 important item. Next he should frequently go over different plants in 

 different soils, knock one out of its pot here and there an hour or so 

 after watering, to ascertain whether the ball has been wet an inch or 

 two below the surface with the remainder dust dry, or if the happy 

 medium has been struck. In short, it may be said that the successful 

 cultivator understands how and when to water only after years of 

 experience. Watering with the hose is often the cause of a good deal of 

 harm, both to plants on benches, in the open ground, and in pots, owing 

 to the manner in which water is applied. It is a favorite method with 

 some to force the water out of a small nozzle to a distance of 20 feet, or 

 a less distance, with the finger partly over the end of the hose. A better 

 method than this could not be designed for the packing of the soil, 

 washing it into cakes by breaking it up into fine particles and filling up 

 the interstices with thick muddy water; and when the sun shines, if the 

 ground be not gone over with the cultivator or loosened up in some 

 other way, the surface soil gets as hard as a brick, and the roots near 

 the surface are subjected to a temperature far above what is good for 

 them. To do away with the necessity for this method of watering the 

 hose should be short in length, and stop cocks more frequently placed. 



