General Notices. 451 



recommend this stock ; but for a wall with a southern aspect, the pear 

 stock is to be preferred ; for on the quince, the probability is, that its fruit 

 would be over-ripened. So wonderfully prolific is this pear when grafted 

 on the quince, that plants only from one to two feet high will — if removed 

 or root-pruned the first season after grafting — bear most abundantly the 

 third season. I feel assured, that on this stock it may, with facility, be 

 cultivated in large pots. 



The most eligible modes of cultivating this really good late pear are, as 

 espaliers and as pyramidal trees; and, for this purpose, care should be 

 taken that the plants are grafted or budded on the quince. {Gard. Chron. 

 1845, pp. 22.3—224.) 



Watering Plants. — In a late number we copied some most excellent 

 remarks on potting plants, which we recommended to the repeated atten- 

 tion of all cultivators. We now present another article on loatering plants, 

 by the same writer, and advise a most careful perusal of it by every one, 

 who has a single plant under his care. Indeed, it should be studied well, 

 that the information it teaches may not be forgotten. If plants are well 

 potted and judiciously watered, they cannot fail to grow strong and healthy. 



As good potting is the first step in plant growing, so good watering is 

 most assuredly the second ; the former, even when rightly accomplished 

 and with the best materials, may be defeated through want of skill in 

 watering. Imperfect knowledge or carelessness in the due administration 

 of this essential element kills more plants, or keeps more in suspense be- 

 tween life and death, than utter ignorance in all other matters relating 

 to plant growing. Let us not imagine, because we have put a root to a 

 plant, and placed it in a pot in the right way and in the proper kind of soil, 

 that the object of our solicitude is accomplished, and that our duty is ter- 

 minated ; for the contrary is the fact, if we have ambition enough to desire 

 our achievements to be admired or recorded. 



It may be superfluous to state, that plants either suffer from too much or 

 too little water ; but it is not so, to show that this is frequently the case in 

 the same pot at the same time ; that is an evil far more extensive, in a 

 general collection of plants, than may be supp )sed, and a point opposed to 

 good cultivation earnestly demanding our attention. When the surface-soil 

 in the pots becomes dry, a careless hand adds at once a fresh supply, with- 

 out ascertaining whether the soil, in which the roots are, at all requires it, 

 and again, on the other hand, the top soil frequently appears perfectly wet, 

 while the bottom of the ball is as dry as dust. This is a most calamitous 

 circumstance, and one of common occurrence, especially amongst newly- 

 potted plants. When a plant is just potted, it should have a sufficient sup- 

 ply to penetrate every part of the ball, and then remain until another supply 

 is positively required, that is, till the ball has parted with the greater por- 

 tion of its moisture and the plant is upon the point of flagging, the inter- 

 stices being all filled with air as it should be. This air again requires to be 

 driven out by a fresh supply of water, thus keeping up a vigorous and 

 healthy action by continual interchanges of air and water, but at the same 



