1966 



WASHINGTONIA 



Sonorrp and W. rohusta are found along the Pacific slope 

 of Mexico, on the mainland or on the peninsula of Baja 

 California. While the type locality of the former is 

 given as Ouaymas, on the niainlaml of Mexico, the few 



2Jn. Old tree o\ Washingtonia filifeia 



Specimens in cultivation liavr come from the peninsula, 

 and thouf?h the type locality uf the latter is unknown, 

 most of the specimens in the trade apparently came 

 from Guaymaw and Mazatlan on tlie mainland. 



In cultivation in California Washinetonias respond 

 gratefully to abundance of water during the dry sea- 

 son. It is a mistake to supyjose that because they are 

 desert ])lants they will thrive without moisture; in 

 Palm valley, in the San Jacinto mountains, where tliey 

 grow luxuriantly, they are said to be found only in the 

 vicinity of springs. jos. Buktt Daw. 



WATER ALOE. Siratiotes aloUles. W. Arum is a 

 name soi"uetimes applied to C'lUa pa/iistris . W. Beech.. 

 (/iiri'iuiiR Carolui'uDKi. W. Caltrops, or Water Chestnut. 

 Tni/xi initmis. W. Chinkapin, or Chinquapin. Nfhi)»l>o 

 InU'i. W. Cress. Shp <'n-ss und jy<-( sticrf ill in offlci)nile. 

 W. Hyacinth. See EivhlnjniUi. 



WATERING. An abundant and convenient supply 

 of puff , fresh water should always be a first considera- 

 tion in locating a garden or greenhouse. Having this, 

 the next matter is knowing how to use it, for here, 

 good gardeners say, lies nine-tenths of the elements of 

 success. Certain it is, especially in the indoor cultiva- 

 tion of plants, that more depends uyjon knowing when 

 to give or withhold water than uj)on any other single 

 matter. The art of watering is unteachable; it requires 

 experience, judgment, skill. Some knowledge of the 

 commoner facts of vegetable physiology, physics and 

 soil physics will be helpful, but even then experience 

 will be necessary. Two common types of watering- 



WATERING 



cans are shown in Fig. 2718. In American gardens, 

 however, watering is usually performed with a hose 

 from a stored water supply. 



General Bules.-A fairly safe guide is: never water 

 plants until the soil has become dry, though not 

 "powder-dry," and then give them a thorough soaking. 

 Plants dislike a continuously wet soil. In the care of 

 plants in earthenware vessels, a useful test is to thump 

 the jar. If it rings the soil is dry; if the sound pro- 

 duced is dull the soil is sufficiently moist. Such rules, 

 however, are only for the novice. They presuppose 

 activity of growth, and take into account only one eon- 

 sideration asiile from this, and that is the condition 

 of the soil as regards moisture. The experienced gar- 

 <leuer reads his practice in his plants and the conditions 

 under which they are being kept. The following sug- 

 gestions are based upon the most important considera- 

 tions. 



Actively growing plants may be watered very freely, 

 as a rule, whereas in a dormant or semidormant state 

 the same plants will require only occasional water- 

 ings. 



Soft-stemmed or rapid-growing plants ("soft-wood" 

 and "hard-wood " plants), and those with large leaves, 

 need, as a rule, an abundance of water when growing 

 actively. Hard-wood or slower-growing plants, with 

 smaller leaves, must be watered with greater care. Soft- 

 wooded plants, with some exceptions, may at times even 

 flag somewhat for want of water, and recover without 

 permanent injury when a fresh supply is given. Hard- 

 wooded plants, as camellias, azaleas and heaths, on 

 the other hand, suffer permanent injury from becoming 

 too dry. It is safest to allow no plant in active growth 

 to flag. 



The amount of foliage affects the plant's capacity for 

 II sing water. Plants whieli have been cut back, or 

 which from disease, insects or other causes, have lost 

 most of their foliage, must be kept drier until they 

 have regained their foliage. 



Unhealthy plants are benefited, as a rule, by being 

 kept rather dry until they liegin to show signs of re- 

 newed vigor. 



Small cuttings, or any plants freshly potted or newly 

 transplanted, are not in condition to use much water 

 until the root-hairs have attached tbemselves to the 

 soil-particles and growth has begun. A thorough wa- 

 tering at the time of potting or repotting the plants, 

 especially if they are subsequently shaded for a few 

 days, is usually sufficient until they have become 

 established. 



The character and bulk of soil should be kept in 

 mind. Porous and warm soils dry out much sooner, 

 while the heavier clay soils are in danger of becoming 

 water -logged and sour, unless watered with cure. 

 When there is a large mass of soil in proportion to 

 root development, as in the case of greenhouse lieds 

 newly set with young plants, care must be used in 

 watering until the soil is occupied with roots. 



Serious trouble often begins in the greenhouse from 

 a heavy watering at the beginning of a period of dark, 

 muggy weather. Not only does such watering do dam- 

 age to the soil and roots, but the excessive humidity of 

 the air about the plants and its weakening eft>r-t upon 

 their tissues, invites the attacks of various mildews, 

 fungi and insect pests. 



The time of day is important. In the greenhouse in 

 winter free ventilation is usually impossible. At night 

 there is a tendency toward a damp atmosphere. 

 Careful florists, therefore, water in the early part of 

 the day at this season, so that the house will have 

 become somewhat dried out by nightfall. It is seldom 

 advisable to let plants go into the night with wet foli- 

 age. It gives the fungi a chance. Especially hazardous 

 is it to water cutting benches or boxes of young seed- 

 lings late in the day in the winter season. The various 

 damping-off fungi find under such treatment the condi- 

 tion suitable for their development. Excessive humidity 

 on the interior of a closed plant-house is most likely to 

 occur in moderate weather. During severe weather fhe 

 condensation upon the glass is large and renders the 

 air of the house drier. During summer, when there is 

 free ventilation, the watering may advantageously be 

 done late in the day. Midday watering at seasons when 



