THE GARDEN AT HOME 



The stems decay and the seedlings collapse. One dis- 

 eased seedling quickly affects another. This collapse is 

 known as " damping off." It is encouraged by careless 

 watering and by keeping the plants in too close and moist 

 an atmosphere. I feel obliged to explain further that 

 the atmosphere becomes " close " when the ventilators of 

 the greenhouse are kept closed. 



Dewing. Dewing is a far pleasanter work than 

 dusting (which see), and can scarcely be otherwise than 

 refreshing to the plants, for it consists in directing a 

 gentle spray of water over them through a syringe. 



Drawn. A " drawn " plant is not necessarily one that 

 is pictured, but one that is so far from the glass roof that 

 it becomes weak and attenuated, lanky and without 

 vigour, like an overgrown schoolboy. Unfortunately, in 

 contradistinction to the schoolboy, the " drawn " plant 

 never becomes strong and sturdy in later life. 



Dressing. A " dressing " indicates a sprinkling of fer- 

 tiliser on the soil. When soil or farmyard manure is used, 

 " dressing " becomes metamorphosed into " top dressing." 



Dusting One's recollection of a good " dusting " at 

 school is very different from the interpretation placed 

 upon the phrase by the gardener, although it may be 

 just as unpleasant for the plant if one only knew it. For 

 the stuff that is used to " dust " (i.e. sprinkle over) the 

 plant is commonly soot or tobacco powder, or some other 

 equally obnoxious material. But it is done in a good 

 cause that of killing insects or fungoid diseases. 



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