384 



WATERING. 



hours the temperature of the border was still 78°, or had suffered no change 

 of temperature from the watering it had undergone. 



" It is very clear from these facts, that whilst spring water greatly cooled 

 the soil, that from the pond exerted no such operation, but on the contrary 

 often raised its temperature." — {Rort. Trans. ^ vol. ii. 2nd series, p. 57-) 



Hence in our opinion every complete kitchen garden, and every flower 

 garden whatever, ought to have a basin, or basins of water in a centrical 

 situation fully exposed to the sun. In every plant structure there ought to 

 be a cistern to receive the rain water which falls on the roof ; and if con- 

 venient, another for pond or well water, which should only be used when 

 there is a deficiency of rain water. In plant structures where little air is 

 given, and the atmosphere kept constantly moist, as in the propagating 

 houses of Mr. Cunningham of Edinburgh (574), the water which falls on 

 the roof is found abundantly sufficient for every purpose for which it is 

 required within throughout the year. 



824. The distribution of water in gardens is in some cases effected by open 

 surface gutters of hewn stone, as was the case in the gardens at Douglas 

 Castle, in Kirkcudbrightshire, in 1804 and for many years afterwards, and in 

 others by leaden pipes under the surface, the gutters or pipes communicating 

 with small basins, or sometimes with sunken casks, conveniently distributed 

 over the garden. When these basins do not exceed eighty feet or one 

 Iiundred feet apart every way, the entire surface of the garden may be 

 watered from them by means of a portable engine, (fig. 83 in p. 155). In 

 some cases a cistern or reservoir is placed on an eminence exterior to the 

 garden, or in a tower connected with its walls or its plant structures ; and 

 the water is conveyed by pipes to different places throughout the garden 

 and hot-houses, from whence it may be drawn into watering pots or engines 

 by means of cocks ; or leathern hose may be screwed on to the cocks, and 

 the water, in consequence of the elevation of the cistern or basin, distributed 

 at once among the plants. In some instances where the basin is considerably 

 higher than the top of the walls, the water is delivered with such force from 

 the orifice of the hose, as to wash the trees as effectually as is done by a 

 syringe or an engine. Gardens situated on declivities are favourable for 

 this kind of arrangement, which is not unfrequent in the north of England 

 and in Scotland. Where there is an abundant supply of water from a source 

 40 or 50 feet above the level of the garden, a series of pierced pipes might be 

 distributed over it, about the height of the walls, and thus a shower over 

 any pai't of the garden commanded at pleasure, on the same principle as in 

 the hot-houses of Messrs. Loddiges. (513.) 



825. The ordinary mode of giving water to plants is by watering pots (425 

 and 426) and by watering 

 engines (440). On a large 

 scale it is sometimes con- 

 veyed in barrels on carts, y-. ...u.- .■. ' .'".•T 

 and distributed over lawns, 



and plantations of straw- Fig. 326. fra<er-d/.«»77;M«or/o»- 



. , ^ , the watering barrovis. 

 berries or other low plants 



Fig. 325. TFaf^H^^^I^otll/or "^o^^^ by the same means as in watering roads ; 



strawberries. or by such barrels as fig. 325. To this barrel is 



joined the perforated cylinder fig. 826, which projects about two feet from one 



side ; a plug b prevents the escape of the water till the barrel is wheeled to the 



