MARCH: SECOND WEEK 65 



badly wilted and the soil has become dust dry or baked into 

 a hard cake. 



Every effort should be made to keep the soil in either 

 flats or pots in as even a state of moisture as possible. 

 Extremes injure the plants' growth, and after the soil dries 

 and parts from the edge of the box or pot it is exceedingly 

 difficult to get it moist clear through again. If your plants 

 do get dried in this way let them get a thorough saturation 

 by soaking up water from below in a pan or tub. Or apply 

 a httle water at a time at intervals of half an hour or so 

 until the soil is again in good condition. 



Early in the season, when the soil does not dry out so 

 quickly and there is more danger of overwatering than of 

 underwatering, water the plants early in the morning on 

 bright days so the foUage can be dried off before night. 

 Later, when it is difficult to keep the soil wet enough, water 

 late in the afternoon. 



It is important, whenever it is possible, that the air as 

 as well as the soU be kept reasonably moist. In the green- 

 house this can be accomphshed by an occasional sprinkhng 

 of walks and benches. In the hot-bed or cold-frame, where 

 outside air has freer access, there is not Kkely to be trouble 

 from overdry air. 



As to how often to water there can be no special rule of 

 thumb; it will depend upon the condition of the soil, which 

 will begin to get light colored and dry on top as the moisture 

 content gets too low. When this is the case give a thorough 

 watering that will soak the soil clear through to the bottom. 

 If you are not sure Just how much to give go over the pots or 

 flats some fifteen minutes after the watering and examine 

 the soil carefully to make sure that it is wet clear through. 

 Plants set in beds or in cold frames will not need watering 

 so often as those in flats and pots. 



Fresh Air Essential for Healthy Plants 



Air. Plenty of fresh air must be given at dl times if the 

 plants are to be kept healthy. Especially is this necessary 



