LESSONS I'Ko.M THK (iKKA'l' Dliol fiilT Ol' 1898. 13i) 
a hoe or fork, and then to give the ground the soaking it requires. Of 
course much lahour is saved by beginning to water sulliciently early, so 
that this obstinate layer of dusty soil may not have time to form. In 
watering fruit trees and shrubs it will be necessary to extend the 
watering for some distance away from the tree, according to its size, and 
not, as is often done, confine the watering to the roots near the main 
stem. When planting during dry weather it is of little use applying 
water after the plant is in position, but the hole made for its reception 
should be filled with water previously, so that the soil beneath its roots 
may become completely saturated. When this is done no further 
watering will in most cases be required. In sowing seeds the object 
should be the same, viz. to secure an ample supply of moisture in the 
ground beneath the seed bed. 
Selection of Drought-resisting Plants. — In dry localities, the careful 
choice of varieties of plants which have been found by experience to be 
deeper-rooting and of more vigorous constitution than their fellows will 
be found of the greatest assistance, and especially will this hold good in 
the kitchen garden. I feel sure that our troubles during a dry season 
would be much reduced if only due attention was paid to this ; whereas 
most of us persist in growing, year after year, vegetables, flowers, shrubs, 
and fruit trees altogether unsuited to the soil and climate of the 
particular district in which our garden happens to be situated, and con- 
sequently suffer accordingly. 
I have already trespassed too largely on your attention ; but there is 
one more question which I must just refer to in conclusion, and that is 
the importance of every garden being provided with an ample supply 
of water for all emergencies. There are now so many labour-saving 
appliances available in the way of raising, storing, and distributing water 
that there can be no good reason why this should not be done. 
In addition to those already given, the lessons to be learnt from last 
year's drought are the following : — 
In order to check evaporation from the ground, a loose layer of soil 
should be always kept on the surface by frequent hoeing. 
Should this not prove sufficient for the purpose, a suitable mulching 
should be applied. Watering should never be resorted to unless abso- 
lutely necessary, but if undertaken, sufficient water should be given to 
saturate the soil to the depth of six or more inches. 
In dry districts the most vigorous and deep-rooting varieties of each 
kind of plant should as far as possible be alone grown. 
Lastly, every garden should be provided with an ample supply of 
water to meet the requirements of even the driest seasons. 
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