76G 



THE phactical gardener. 



In giving water to the roots of the pines, the middle of the 

 day should always be chosen, at least from September till 

 May ; the intervening months being warm, the watering may 

 be performed either in the mornings or evenings. At all 

 times, when the plants are watered at their roots, the water 

 should be applied through a tube, having a funnel at the end, 

 into which the water is poured, and made into several pieces, 

 to be shortened or lengthened at pleasure ; the lower end, or 

 that next the plants, should be bent downwards, and perfo- 

 rated with many holes for the water to pass through. By using 

 this tube, the plants can then be conveniently watered from 

 the outside of the pits, without injuring them, or wetting the 

 bed too much. The plants should also be watered over-head 

 once a week with the syringe, and the steaming resumed, by 

 pouring water on the flues and floor of the house, while the 

 flues are sufficiently heated to produce that fine moist exhala- 

 tion so necessary to the growth of the pine and so destructive 

 to insects. 



Many cultivators of the pine water them during summer, 

 and some few during winter also, over-head with a rose water- 

 ing-pot ; this practice hastens the decay of the tan, or what- 

 ever other matter the bed may be composed of; and as all 

 plants in the same bed do not require the same quantity of 

 water at all times, we would recommend giving the general 

 waterings at the roots, as above, and the occasional waterings 

 over-head with the syi'inge ; this practice will consume a little 

 more time, but each plant will then be supplied according to 

 its wants. 



The temperature, at the times of regulation, should be kept 

 to from 65° to 70°, allowing an advance of 5° or 8° in the 

 middle of each day from sun-heat. 



As the winter approaches, care ought to be paid that no 

 water be allowed to remain in the hearts of the plants, either 

 from the watering-pots or from defects in the glass; when 

 such cases occur, the water should be drawn up with a tin 

 tube, or if it be only in a small quantity, it will pass off" by 

 evaporation, if the house be shut close up, and a brisk heat 

 thrown into it by the flues. During the summer, pines will 

 sustain no injury fi'om this cause ; but from this time until 



