248 GARDENING FOB THE SOUTH. 



to take it up. Watering directly at the base of a plant, 

 close to its stem and collar, will be likely to rot or injure 

 that vital part, and small, delicate plants are pretty sure 

 to damp off. Thus applied, much of the water never 

 reaches the absorbing extremities of the root. As a plant 

 increases in size, the farther from the stem should the 

 water be applied. 



Vines trained to verandas, or growing up under the 

 eaves of dwellings, often suffer from the want of water 

 applied to the foliage. Trained against the walls, evapo- 

 ration goes on very rapidly from the heat reflected upon 

 them, and but very little ram falls upon the foliage. 

 They also become covered with dust and their pores 

 choked therewith. When the sun shines warm and 

 brightly, plants should be watered only about the roots, 

 for if applied to the foliage, the drops remaining thereon 

 act as so many burning glasses, and scorch the leaves, 

 covering them with brown spots wherever the water rests. 

 But in the spring, when the earth is moist, if the air is 

 dry, and indeed at all times when the atmosphere is dry, 

 and particularly Avhen plants become covered with dust, 

 they will be greatly refreshed by syringing or sprinkling 

 the foliage in the evening or morning, if their leaves are 

 not susceptible of change by humidity. 



Plants in pots should be watered frequently and little 

 at a time. If the ball has become dry, do not deluge it 

 at once, as it will flow directly through the pot or out at 

 the sides, carrying with it the richness of the soil, while 

 the ball still remains dry. Give it a little water, and when 

 that soaks up, give, a few minutes after, a little more, 

 until the entire ball is in a suitable state of humidity. The 

 drainage must be good, or if much water is given to plants 

 in pots, the soil will become heavy, water-logged, and 

 impervious to the atmosphere. 



The best water to use is rain water, caught in open 



