426 THE GREEN-HOUSE. [June. 
Examine the evergreens and flowering shrubs, and where any 
have made disorderly shoots, let such be cut ©lean out, or shortened, 
as you may deem expedient; in order to preserve the heads in due 
form and of an elegant appearance. 
Watering. 
Occasional waterings must be given to all your late planted shrubs 
and flowers, and particularly to the annual, perennial, and biennial 
flower plants, newly planted out into nursery beds. 
Your entire stock of plants, in pots and boxes, seedlings and 
others, must be watered as often as the earth about them becomes 
dry and unfriendly to vegetation; and your carnation and other 
layers, must be duly attended to in this respect, to preserve the earth 
about them moderately moist, and only so. 
For some useful observations, in respect to watering, see page 
389. 
Grass and Gravel Walks. 
The grass and gravel-walks, &c. must be treated constantly dur- 
ing the summer and autumn, as directed in page 399. 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
General care of the Green-Home Plants. 
The plants being now out and fully exposed to the air, will 
require a constant supply of water; it is impossible to say how of- 
ten it ought to be administered, or how much should be given at a 
time, as the state of weather, the different constitutions and habits 
of the plants, and also the size of the pots or tubs as well as of the 
plants themselve, make a material difference in that respect. The 
only true guide is the state of the earth in the pots or tubs, which 
should always be kept moist and in a proper condition to promote 
and encourage vegetation. In very hot weather, the plants that are 
in small pots, will require some water, both morning and evening, 
at other times, once a day will be sufficient; but as the plants have 
no other nourishment but what they extract from the earth within 
the pots or tubs, it ought to be a general rule to keep it constantly 
moist, but not too wet. 
The best water for this purpose is such as is taken from rivers or 
ponds, where it is fully exposed to the sun and air; so that if you have 
no other than spring or well water, it should always be exposed, in 
cisterns, &c. to the sun and air, at least twenty-four hours before it 
is used. 
