26 



similar times and in uniform quantities, would be a 

 most mischievous and ill-judged practice. The ap- 

 plication of water should be regulated bj many con- 

 siderations. Prominently among these are the state 

 of the atmosphere and the season of the year ; during 

 the summer months, when evaporation and transpira- 

 tion are at the maximum, a corresponding degree of 

 moisture must, by artificial means, be created to secure 

 a growing atmosphere for the plants. Solar heat and 

 light moisture must be relatively and equally supplied ; 

 — the one without its due proportion of the others | 

 will soon produce disease, and ultimately death. The | 

 pine plant ought never to be soaked with water. It 

 would be an important improvement in watering, if it 

 could be calculated in its administration, to give no 

 more than just enough to moisten the soil in the pot, 

 without any escaping at the bottom. {Glendinning 

 on Pine Apple, 34.) 



When the fruit is in bloom, do not water over the 

 top ; for moisture will be liable to prevent the genera- 

 tive parts of the flowers from performing their neces- 

 sary functions. When the blossoms are past, and the 

 fruit begins to advance in magnitude, then the plants 

 may be watered all over without danger; with this 

 caution, however, not to do it in the middle of the 

 day. In the spring and autumn seasons, the morning 

 is the best time for watering the pine plants ; but in 

 summer the evening is preferable. 



