400 On watering and shading in dry Seasons. 



Water is used too freely in dry seasons upon the stem of 

 the plant, both by young gardeners and cottagers in their 

 gardens : the former pours it on them without any other 

 thought than what is necessary for the performance of the 

 operation ; while the latter thinks that in watering so much 

 he is doing great things, although his cabbages are in the 

 last stage of consumption before his eyes. All this is wrong ; 

 a variation in this, as in many other points of gardening, is 

 better than uniformity of treatment. I have found that in 

 the evenings sprinkling low-growing vegetables over their 

 leaves, and alternately watering their roots, is a good method, 

 if the surrounding air be in a moist state : but if the drought 

 increases with much sunshine, it is better to withhold water 

 for a time ; then again to vary the system, by watering between 

 the rows of vegetables, alleys, &c, which tends, in some 

 degree, to produce a moist air and dew. This, however, 

 should only be done in calm evenings, in order that atmo- 

 spheric dews, and all exhalations from the earth, water, and 

 vegetation may be promoted. Watering when clouds inter- 

 vene is attended with good effects, and also when it actually 

 rains ; vegetation is, in the latter case, accelerated in a great 

 degree. 



Different kinds of shade have been used by gardeners in 

 hot summers to protect vegetables, and I believe not without 

 success. The practice of growing vegetables between beds 

 of asparagus is, I think, a good one. I have, last year and 

 the present, had cabbages, cauliflowers, dwarf peas of the 

 Spanish sort, spinage, French beans, and lettuces, between 

 asparagus beds, for a great part of both seasons, when they 

 were scanty crops every where else m the garden. Therefore 

 I consider that the above useful vegetable is not cultivated to 

 the extent it ought to be, as, independent of its own use, it 

 is also an excellent protection for vegetables in dry weather. 



If, Sir, you think the above hints worthy of a place in the 

 next Number of the Gardener's Magazine, I shall be glad of 

 having, in some degree, contributed towards a work which 

 seems to have for its chief object the improvement of garden- 

 ing and the advancement of gardeners. 



I am, Sir, &c. 



George Fulton. 

 Northwick Partr, near Moreton in the Marsh, 

 August 15. 1826. 



