REPLANTING OR POTTING PLANTS. 81 
The water should never be allowed to remain in the 
pan under the pot, as it tends to rot the roots. It may be 
well to observe that plants should be watered with a rose 
on the spout of a watering pot, and the more finely it is 
perforated the better, so as to sprinkle the water lightly 
over the flowers and leaves, without bending them down 
with its weight. 
Many persons think it sufficient to water the roots, 
which is a great mistake. It materially contributes to 
its health and beauty to sprinkle the whole plant: 
—‘“‘ Comforting the garden, woods, and flowers 
With the cool spray of artificial showers.”—Garcilasso, 
Of such plants as are succulent, it is generally advised to 
water the leaves but seldom, lest a redundancy of moist- 
ure should rot them. The best way in watering all 
plants, is rather to cast the water at, than to pour it on 
them, as it falls more lightly. It will be observed that 
more water, as well as more shelter, must be necessary 
for potted plants than for those in the open ground. 
AIR AND LIGHT. 
Flowers must not be denied the light, towards which 
they naturally turn; the want of it will injure their health 
as much as the want of water, air, or warmth. 
They must also be allowed air, even those that will not 
bear the outer air must have the air of the room fre- 
quently freshened by ventilation, to preserve them in 
health. Care should be taken not to let plants stand in 
a draught, for, when so situated, one strong gust of an 
easterly wind will often prove sufficient to destroy them. 
