WATER AND WATERING. 
17 
is but a supposititious one, but it may serve to illustrate the ne¬ 
cessity of knowing something more than the mere name of a 
plant before a competent acquaintance with its culture can be 
fairly claimed. 
In those portions of the earth enjoying a higher temperature 
than our own, the seasons are usually more marked in character: 
they change suddenly from extreme drought to the opposite one 
of humidity; they have no spring or autumn to prepare and 
bring about the change in the gradual manner common to our 
climate ; the vegetation of such places is at one time lying lan¬ 
guid on the face of the parched ground, or having completed 
the seasonal object of its existence and laid in its due store of 
food, has retired into the bosom of the supporting earth, where 
it remains undisturbed for a period, varying from one to three 
months, till the recurring rains of the succeeding season awaken 
its dormant vitality to another period of activity and enlarge¬ 
ment ; and as the first is distinguished by a total absence of 
development, so is the latter marked by a strength of growth 
altogether unknown among the vegetation of more temperate 
regions; this extraordinary vigour is traceable, beyond question, 
to the season of decided repose previously enjoyed by the plant, 
which, by enabling it to thoroughly mature its tissue, has pre¬ 
pared it most efficiently to discharge the functions of its existence 
in the next active period. Now to keep a plant naturally con¬ 
stituted to meet such decided changes, and therefore requiring 
them in a state of constant excitement, is to weaken its vitality, 
and ultimately to wear it out. There is a period in the lives of 
all plants, which, according to the character of the country of 
which they are natives, is either of annual or more frequent re¬ 
currence, in which they require repose, or a cessation from growth, 
and in which the maturity of the recently-formed parts are com¬ 
pleted, the embryo of the next development is formed, and a 
general vigour infused into the system necessary to the perfec¬ 
tion of all the parts; it is at this time that the floral organs of 
most plants are formed, and unless we provide the opportunity 
for their formation by allowing the plant a season of rest, we may 
look in vain to the future for their appearance. How to ensure 
this repose is by removing the exciting agents ; reduce the sup¬ 
ply of heat and moisture, and the plant will naturally seek the 
iii. 2 
