138 THE FLORIST AND 
river sand, which I find the best ; the sand from streams or mines, whether 
calcareous or ferruginous, or even the sand from fields. The planting being 
done, fill the tubs with water by means of a watering pot, with a very fine rose, 
until it runs over. This operation, which is always to be regulated by the state 
of the atmosphere, and the evaporation which can take place, has for object? 
the prevention of the corruption of the water, to keep it clear and limpid, 
a condition essential to the health and vigor of the plant. These waterings 
should take place every three or four days during the spring and autumn, 
and much oftener during the very hot Aveather, always for the purpose of 
preventing putrefaction. If, in spite of all these cares the water becomes 
foetid and of a rusty color, one or two handsful of marsh lentils, [lenticula 
palustris,) thrown into each tub, and multiplying these with remarkable 
rapidity, will restore the water in a few days, to its ordinary clearness ; 
pools and streams of the largest size may be made healthy without trouble, 
by this simple and easily accomplished process. 
Vegetation, is more ready in tubs and boxes than in streams and basins, 
because that the mass of water being less, warms more readily under the 
same temperature. Flowering does not take place until the second year of 
planting ; whoever will cover his tubs with glazed sashes until the fifteenth 
of May, will obtain an earlier flowering, which will last until frost. I have 
not yet employed this process, which seems however to be advantageous. 
When the frosts become more severe, so as to form ice the thickness of a 
dollar, cover them with a bed of leaves, of moss or straw, which must be 
fixed with some fagots for greater strength. If the frost become very in- 
tense, these coverings should be increased according to need to be taken 
off in February and March when the weather is milder. Take away then 
all the rubbish, and add two inches of new earth and renew the treatment 
recommended above. 
Water which has been exposed to the sun, and which has run over the 
ground, is generally preferred for watering all vegetables ; on the contrary, 
aquatic plants generally prefer spring water, subterranean, or even well 
water ; river water or that from running streams is excellent ; that of ponds, 
where the Lenticula palustris grows is good, but in either case to use foetid 
or corrupt water will be to experience serious inconveniences. 
I have dwelt a long time on the cultivation in tubs, for the purpose of 
making it agreeable to the inhabitants of towns, and to the amateur, who 
has at his disposition only a small space of ground, burned by the sun in 
summer, and unfit for any other culture. I will now occupy myself with 
the cultivation in streams, basins, ditches, lakes, etc. 
