hy Lindlei/s Theory of Horticulture. 433 



much, it is better to defer till rain comes. If tiie plants are 

 large, as evergreen shrubs, &c., the roots should be as little ex- 

 posed to the drought as possible, matted or tied with moss 

 where necessary, and the moisture as much as possible retained 

 in the ground, by performing the operation expeditiously. As 

 soon as the fibres are regularly spread, and a quantity of earth 

 put on, the ground should be firmly and solidly trodden with the 

 feet all round the roots, and the whole saturated completely all 

 round with water, to the consistence of puddle. When this has 

 had a little time to subside, spread the little dry earth left on the 

 surface above the moisture; this prevents evaporation and 

 crusting of the surface, and, if properly done, the plant will need 

 no water for a considerable time. Shading will, in all cases of 

 transplanting, be found beneficial. Where the plants have been 

 long established, and are beginning to suffer from drought, 

 shading very long is apt to draw them ; this may be helped by 

 elevating the screen to give as much air as possible, making it 

 thin so as to allow the passage of some light, and giving as long 

 exposure as possible in the night and morning. But it will some- 

 times be found, in long-continued droughts, that such as beds of 

 ranunculus coming into flower are apt to be drawn weak, and 

 the flower fail : before they begin to draw much we should 

 be at the trouble of covering the surface of the soil between the 

 rows with green moss; we may then expose to more of the 

 sun with safety, and even water more safely, though the sun 

 should be up at the time of watering; the moss keeps cool, 

 absorbs the water and gives it out as required. When large 

 plants, some time established, are beginning to fail, and require 

 to be watered, it will be found greatly to economise water and 

 have more effect, to pare off" the dry soil down to near the fibres 

 of the root, drench well with water to saturation, and then cover 

 up with the dry earth ; one such efficient watering will be as 

 good as ten surface waterings : if the leaves need a little sprin- 

 kling of water, do it in the evening, and shade, if necessary, from 

 the sun. The excellent rules given by the pi'ofessor in watering 

 house plants, to give most water when plants are commencing 

 their growth, and to discontinue as they ripen, &c., need not be 

 repeated here. As to the quantities of water required for in- 

 dividual plants, a general rule will be found, that the quantity 

 should be greatest according to the size and quantity of the 

 fibres ; but to this there are exceptions : the thorn is a plant with 

 but few fibres, and those hard and wiry ; but, in long-continued 

 dry seasons, it always sets up in the growth and gets mildewed 

 in the foliage ; in wet seasons, unless when very cold, as the 

 present, it will be found to grow twice as much as in dry seasons. 

 Mildew is often produced in frames by damp and want of air, 

 and I have often heard the mildew in peas ascribed to the same 



