180 
ON WATERING. 
continues, as far down as the roots go, and, in consequence—a 
very natural result—the plants languish and die, their exit from 
this “ changing scene” being, of course, chiefly caused by the 
heat of the sun acting on their languid, drooping frames. 
What should be done in such a case ? First, and above all, 
give up all idea of watering every night. Break up the surface 
with a short digging fork ; give a thorough soaking, which, of 
course, must be done towards evening, unless a cloudy sky fa¬ 
vours the operation during the day; next morning, hoe the sur¬ 
face lightly with a Dutch hoe; do this every morning or evening, 
afterwards, instead of watering. If drought continues, repeat the 
soaking after a week, or more, but continue the hoeing. Thus 
will the whole garden be reinvigorated, and what was before a 
desert will “ blossom as the rose.” 
Besides caking, and eventually drying the soil, slight surface 
waterings, if continued, encourage surface roots. This is encou¬ 
raging them to place themselves in the worst possible condition 
under the circumstances. They may drink in a little of the water 
applied at night, it is true, but the mid-day sun scorches and 
paralyses them, and the effort of the plant to produce them is 
thrown away. 
It is, too, of some importance what kind of water is applied. 
We do not mean whether hard or soft water is to be preferred, 
because, by universal consent, the latter is adjudged to be best; 
but whatever benefit pure water may confer, it is increased in¬ 
calculably if -weak manure-water is used. Manures which are 
rich in the soluble salts are known to attract moisture ; and, in 
this way, ground watered with diluted liquid manure will be 
moist and fresh, when that to which pure water was applied was 
parched. We have known the “green” sward of a lawn to re¬ 
main fresh and green where a solution had been used, and that 
for some time (a week or so) longer than adjoining parts watered 
with plain water. It is not very material what manure is used ; 
but perhaps, real guano is as good as any for the purpose here 
referred to. 
Kryptos. 
