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GARDEN UTENSILS — THE WATERING CAN. 
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found by experience, that it requires nearly as much straw or litter to cover a single trench, as a whole 
bed. As for the argument of destroying the roots of Asparagus in the act of forcing, it is not worth 
a straw, and used only by those who cannot comprehend a system, which is based on broad views of 
kitchen gardening. Two ounces of Asparagus seed, value eighteen-pence, sown every March, will 
supply the largest garden in the kingdom. 
« 
GARDEN UTENSILS.— THE WATERING CAN. 
By Mr. P. F. KEIR. 
THE desirability of obviating manual labour will always be greater or less according to the interests 
of those concerned in the consideration of such a subject. But all will readily allow that the less 
oppressive and irksome it is made, the more readily it will be undergone ; and therefore, whatever 
has a tendency to promote this object, however humble in its construction, ought to be favourably 
received and made available. The SehneUgiesser (noticed and illustrated at vol. ii., p. 221), has at least 
the merit of being novel, and for the purpose of watering collections of plants out of doors during the 
summer months, it has one or two desirable features. It is evidently fitted to render the work of 
watering lighter than the common practice of carrying the water in cans or pots by hand ; and also to 
save much of the walking to and from the pump or well, in order to obtain a fresh supply. From the 
representation, however, it appears that the top of the tub is left quite open, and the water is thus 
likely to splash about inconveniently. This, though a serious objection to the contrivance, may be 
easily removed by the vessel being made in a different manner. In the first place, lightness is of much 
importance, and on this score I can pei-ceive no strong reason for preferring wood to the material of 
which the common garden can is made. 
To be much more lasting than tinned plate, the wood of which the vessel is made must be hard and 
consequently heavy; it is therefore not to be recommended. With regard to the form of the vessel, 
I think the ordinary botanical specimen box suggests what is most suitable for the back of the workman. 
It may indeed be also flat, as well as convex on one side ; but a round form such as that of a tub 
appears the most unsuitable of all. The most objectionable feature of the contrivance is undoubtedly 
the open top, which admits of the water being splashed about while the workman is carrying liis 
burden, especially when the tub is full. It is particularly necessary to repair this defect by means of 
a lid made so as to admit of being opened wliile the vessel is being replenished, and afterwards shut 
down quite close. Except in cases of carelessness, the evil in question would thus be prevented. The 
annexed figure will convey some idea of the sort of vessel alluded to. But the best plan of all would 
be to have the cover made to screw on tightly, and never taken off except for the purpose of cleaning 
the vessel, which, in this case could be filled by means of a large funnel fixed in a bung-hole made in 
the cover. The form of this funnel may be shown thus : — The straps, which may be made to lie 
g 
over the breast or the shoulders, as shown in the cut referred to. should pass round the vessel and 
through a handle at each side, as in the present figure; and a hook should also bo fixed near the 
top on which to hang the hose when convenient. Indeed, if this contrivance is to l>e made to Bare 
more than half of the labour and time usually expended in watering, it must contain a corresponding 
quantity of water; and when a man has a heavy burden on his back he cannot be expected to stand 
erect. So that, viewed in this light, the screw-top or cover becomes indispensable. 
With regard to the turncock, the sketch above will suggest a form of constructing tlii* part of the 
Schnellgiesser, so as to be more readily at the command of the workman. There is also no necessity 
