June 25, 1891.1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
503 
A S often as hot and dry weather comes round the question of 
the water supply and application forces itself on the 
•attention of gardeners, also on soxe, but by no means all, owners 
of gardens. In not a few the supply of water is lamentably 
insufficient, and where this is so gardeners are severely handi- 
■capped in the discharge of their duties, and notwithstanding all 
their efforts to prevent it crops and plants suffer, scarcity of 
produce following, and this often leading to discontent. 
A constant and plentiful supply of water is the first essential 
in gardens. In some districts it may be both costly and difficult 
to obtain, but in many of these means of storage might be 
provided on a more liberal scale than now exist. Where gardening 
is conducted as a means of profit, and not a penny is knowingly 
spent uselessly, large sums are invested in providing a constant 
nnd abundant supply of water, in full confidence that this will 
give a good return on the outlay. Without adequate provision in 
tliis respect the important work of cultivation could not be 
profitably conducted, no matter how good the soil and climate, or 
how favourable the position for the disposal of the produce. The 
importance, or rather the absolute necessity, of a full supply of 
water and its convenient distribution is convincingly shown in 
the great fruit-growing establishments at Worthing, where blocks 
-of glass structures glisten in the sun for miles along the coast 
■close by the sea. The soil, climate, and position are all favour¬ 
able for the production of Grapes, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, or 
whatever may be grown, but until deep wells are sunk and steam 
or wind-worked pumps provided nothing can be done. These 
are to be seen in every establishment large or small, and it is 
the water that brings wealth to those who win it in the remark¬ 
able industry there established. Yet in many private gardens, 
not a few of which are owned by persons of wealth, the import¬ 
ance of a similar supply does not seem to be fully appreciated. 
Let us hope that it will be eventually, and that when gardeners 
obtain the much-longed-for and most necessary supply they will 
use it wisely. 
Much more water is used, as a rule, in commercial establish¬ 
ments, where plants and crops are grown for sale, than in private 
gardens ; but though it may appear to be used lavishly, in the 
former it is applied judiciously, or the results could not be 
satisfactory. In the application of water to fruit borders many 
things have to be considered for the avoidance of mistakes—the 
nature of the soil, drainage, temperature, atmospheric conditions, 
as well as the state of whatever may be under cultivation— 
whether recently planted or long established. Tomatoes may 
be ruined, and have been ruined, by saturating the soil too 
early in the season. One watering given in error may spoil 
the plants whether they are in pots or planted out, and it is 
the same with other plants and crops. Overzeal at the commence- 
m.ent of operations in giving water thoughtlessly when there are 
few roots to imbibe it, is too common. We may respect the 
motive, but must deplore the want of judgment thus too often 
apparent; and, conversely, it is sometimes not less apparent later 
in the season in the opposite direction, when the supplies are 
inadequate for the needs of plants and crops and the demands 
of an arid atmosphere. Mr. H. Dunkin communicates sensible 
remarks on watering, mainly applied to plants in pots, but the 
No. 571.— Yol. XXII., Third Series. 
principle on which he bases his action governs the whole routine. 
He writes as follows ;— 
“When the long looked for sunshine and warm summer 
days arrived the beneficial influence was quickly noticed upon 
all kinds of vegetation, which sprung into active growth with 
wonderful rapidity. In the case of plants growing in pots, to 
sustain the large amount of groAvth recently made, and keep the 
plants still growing on in a satisfactory condition, growers will 
have to be on the alert, and bear well in mind the great changes of 
atmospheric conditions under which their operations are now con¬ 
ducted, otherwije the great caution which has been necessary in 
watering plants during the long, dull, wet spring months will have 
the effect of allowing plants to become too dry at the roots before 
water is given. It is after such great changes from dull cold to 
tropical weather that the greatest mistakes are made by the inex¬ 
perienced, and it must be confessed that a thorough knowledge of 
the quantity of water different classes of plants may with benefit 
receive in hot weather can only be arrived at by a combination of 
close observation and well applied reasoning, and among the many 
operations connected with plant culture I firmly believe proper 
watering plays the most important part. Even when potted in 
unsuitable soil judicious watering may do much to secure good 
results ; but pot a plant in soil exactly suited to its requirements 
and surround it with other favourable conditions, yet with all these 
advantages neglect or carelessness in watering will produce only 
meagre 'results. 
“ The general tendency seems to be to give too much water in 
winter and too little in summer. This mistake appears to be brought 
about by following a regular course of allowing the soil to get into 
a certain state of dryness before watering, without taking into 
consideration the immense difference in the amount of evaporation 
which takes place in the summer time when the days are long, and 
the amount of light and sunshine produce a light and dry atmo¬ 
sphere which plants cannot withstand without showing signs of 
distress if the soil in the pots is allowed to become too dry. 
Another point which must not be overlooked is to find out the 
conditions of the plants in regard to drainage and the amount of 
roots they have. With good drainage and plenty of root action 
going on it is really surprising what large quantities of water such 
things as Tomatoes, Spireeas, Fuchsias, Chrysanthemums, strong¬ 
growing Ferns, and many other plants, require to ensure their 
fullest development. When once plants have been reared to 
a high state of cultivation the greater is the check which 
they receive if allowed to become too dry, because the largo 
numbers of active rootlets are so dependent upon a plentiful 
supply of water that they quickly perish if it is avithheld at the 
critical time. 
“ To allow plants which are in a robust condition and well 
supplied with roots to become as dry before giving water as others 
more recently potted, or through other causes with less root action, 
would be to court failure, which would inevitably follow. The 
one might be greatly benefited by thorough waterings two or three 
times a day, while the other would not require it oftener than once 
a day, or in some cases two or three times a week. The practice of 
rapping pots with the knuckles or a small mallet made for the 
purpose is doubtless a good one with many classes of plants, such 
as Heaths, Carnations, Azaleas, and many others ; but even then it 
does not do to depend entirely upon the rapping test, as pots vary 
so much in the state of their hardness or porosity. In the case 
of hardwooded plants, however, it is perhaps the best test which 
can be generally applied, but with the majority of softwooded 
plants in the summer time those who attend to them regularly 
can usually tell at a glance by the surface of the soil and the 
appearance of the foliage whether or not water is required. In the 
case of strong plants with the soil crammei with roots two or three 
waterings a day in hot weather is often needed, and at each applica¬ 
tion enough to thorough moisten evei’y particle of the soil should 
No. 2230.— VoL. LXXXIY., Old Series. 
