224 Watering. 



ly down to the bottom of the pot, and do not give them" 

 more until they become dry again. Pour the water on tl? 

 top of the pot, and let it soak down to the roots, but do not 1 * 

 it stand in the pans under the pots, for it causes the root 

 decay, and injures them very much. Of course, this does 

 apply in the case of aquatic plants, and such as require a m 

 plentiful supply in the time of flowering. The water for th" 

 purpose should not be taken fresh from the pump or cistern ' 

 the winter season, but should stand in the room some time 

 be a little warmed to take off the chill. When the weather i 

 warm and dry, as it usually is at times in the spring and sum 

 mer, and the plants in full flower, they will require watering 

 freely every day, especially such as are in small pots, and the 

 pots full of roots. Those in larger pots, with more room for 

 their roots, will not require it so often. The best time to water 

 plants in summer, is in the evening, as they will have the night 

 to refresh themselves in ; and in the winter season in the morn- 

 ing, that the pots may be warmed in the sun, and they will not 

 be subject to be chilled ; although in rooms heated by furnaces 

 where a regular heat is kept, it will make but little difference- 

 they may be watered when most convenient. As some plants 

 evaporate their moisture much faster than others, they will re- 

 quire watering more frequendy, which will be indicated by the 

 drooping of their leaves. In cloudy or rainy weather they 

 will not need so much water, unless they are in the house, or 

 the soil is dry. Plants accustomed to the house should not be 

 set out in heavy rains in winter, or early in spring, as the raia 

 is cold, and if they become saturated, it gives them a chill from 

 which they are some time in recovering ; but in a warm rain 

 in summer they may be set out for an hour or two, and then 

 taken in again, which will greatly refresh them, and persons 

 having only the house to keep them in, will find them much 

 benefited in summer, by setting them out in the evening, to re- 

 ceive dew, and taking them into the house again in the morn- 

 ing. Plants in warm rooms at all times require to be kept a 

 little moist, though they need most water when growing and 

 flowering. 



