142 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. November 24 . 
health, possessing green foliage, and, therefore, quite 
different, in this respect, from deciduous plants, it by 
no means follows that the samo foliage is always to 
remain persistent, like that splendid evergreen, the 
Araucaria imbricata, spoken of by Mr. Appleby the 
other week. It is just as natural for a Daphne to lose 
a few leaves every year, as it is for a Laurel, or an Ever¬ 
green Oak. I have known cases of gardeners priding 
themselves in their evergreens in winter, and yet grumb¬ 
ling sadly at the litter they were always causing in 
summer. Keeping in view, then, that few of the ever¬ 
green plants we cultivate have foliage that never changes 
or decays, we shall see no cause of alarm in a withered 
leaf while the general health of the plant is good. But 
there are several causes that produce yellow leaves 
before they would naturally become so,—such as keep¬ 
ing the plants in a rather low temperature after being 
exposed to a high one, or just the reverse; placing a 
plant rather suddenly in a raised temperature, when the 
excitement, acting chiefly on the youngest part of the 
shoot, leaves the older part without sufficient nourish¬ 
ment. Such an effect is hastened, when, in the first, or 
cool state, there is extra moisture at the roots; and when, 
in the second, or extra warm state, there is a deficiency 
of necessary moisture. Thus, for example; were we, in 
April or May, to pass a row of nice plants of florists’ 
Pelargoniums, on most of which some of the larger and 
lower leaves were getting yellow, we should see a proof 
so positive that the plants had been neglected in water¬ 
ing, that no reasoning, or assertion, would shake the 
firmness of our belief: the effect would register the 
cause. But the blotches and scalds, on such leathery 
leaves as Camellias, are generally produced by the sun 
striking them after passing through a knot, or scar, in 
the glass, and from drip falling and resting upon them 
from rusty iron roofs. For the first, the part in the 
glass must be found and painted over; and for the 
second, the house must be kept well-painted. I have 
no doubt that plants would be relieved from all danger 
of burning by using Hartley's rough glass, and the 
aunoyance of shading would also be avoided. 
WATERING GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
“ I am getting quite bewildered. I am told to give 
plenty of water to this plant, and little water to another 
kind of plant; but, as I cut along with my water pot, 
this “ another" gets a deluging, before ever I think about 
it or examine it. Can’t you help me from doing this?” 
I really fear that even Hercules will do nothing for you, 
unless you help yourself. It is not knowledge you so 
much want; it is the using it aright. This indiscriminate 
pouring from the water can ruins more plants than all 
other causes put together. This is such a besetting sin 
among brisk, active, blue aproners, that old practitioners 
are lorced to modify the evil, by adopting modes of pot¬ 
ting that will prevent a plant remaining long in a 
drenched state. From this work, and other sources, they 
have got the whole theory of the principles of watering 
comfortably lodged in their brains; so snugly, indeed, 
that it cannot be induced to come down to govern the 
water spout until after the mischief is done. We are so 
pleased, however, with the open manner in which con¬ 
fession is made, and that so much akin to what not so 
long ago I could honestly have made myself, and wit¬ 
nessed done by others, that without recapitulating what 
has already been advanced, I would gladly draw atten¬ 
tion to a few matters as helps. 
With all our deficiencies and drawbacks, the old adage 
about “ two of a trade,” &c., was never more at fault than 
in the case of gardeners; for, on the whole, we are a 
brotherly, warm-hearted community. The public seems 
to understand this so thoroughly, that go or visit where 
a gardener may, his knowledge, if not himself, is very 
apt to be pounced upon as common property. He can¬ 
not but feel, at times, that he has been pretty well 
drained over a cup of tea. Each and everything about 
this and that plant is brought in requisition, and though 
too much is asked to be carefully remembered, encourage¬ 
ment to floristry is given, and good breeding is rarely 
exceeded. At times, indeed, a person, who would look 
his astonishment did you make any inquiries respecting 
the mysteries of his particular craft, will excuse freely 
the inquisitive bump, and even send you a letter of in¬ 
quiry as to advice, without even the accompaniment of 
postage-stamps for an answer ; but, in general, the mak¬ 
ing free with gardeners’ knowledge proceeds upon the 
principle, that in their tastes they are just “ one of us,” 
and that the information is asked for as much for doing 
us honour as for advantaging themselves. Had we, 
like other professionals, made a point of always selling 
our advice, there would have been little taste for garden¬ 
ing, few plants in windows, and few subscriber’s for The 
Cottage Gardener. 
Well, among the matters of inquiry, the watering of 
plants is a constantly recurring one. “ Water only 
when dry, and do it thoroughly then; and wait until 
your services are needed again”—seems simple enough ; 
but, the next opportunity that presents itself, the same 
inquiry is repeated. Could we say, once a day, or once 
a week, the poor plant would get more justice. It is so 
much more difficult to remember, that the time of the 
year, the state of the weather, as respects heat and cold, 
sunshine and shade—and the condition of the plant, 
growing and blooming, or standing still and resting— 
must all influence the time, and also, though in a less 
degree, the mode, of watering. It has often been stated, 
that a little practice will discover, by the weight of a 
pot, whether the soil within is wet or moist; and a 
sharp stroke with the knuckles on the side will be a 
good index—that stroke emitting a brisk sound when 
the soil is dry, and a dull sound when it is wet. The 
causes of this dryness are chiefly two—the evaporation 
of moisture from the soil, by a dry and warm atmos¬ 
phere ; and the perspiration of water through the stems 
and foliage of the plant, the quantity thus thrown off 
being in proportion to the youth and vigour of the 
foliage, the degree of heat, and the amount of sun¬ 
shine. Hence, it will be perfectly obvious, that a 
Geranium, in a small pot that would require refreshing 
twice-a-day in a bright day in July, may, in dull 
weather, require watering once a fortnight in a cool 
Greenhouse, in November; or, perhaps, once a week, if 
placed in the drier atmosphere of a sitting-room. Our 
friends, will, therefore, see the uselessness of putting the 
question so often asked, “How often shall I water these 
plants?” The only answer that can be given is, Let 
them have drink when they are thirsty. Were they 
thorough water drinkers themselves, we would say, treat 
your plants exactly in the same way. For, though we 
believe “Adam’s ale” to be the best of all wines, we do 
not believe that a person in health will ever use it un¬ 
less when he needs it. 
The times must, then, be varied to the circumstances 
of the plant and the state of the weather. Not so the 
modes of applying wator to grouping plants. The water, 
when given at all, should be in quantity sufficient to reach 
the whole of the roots. In the height of summer, and 
even now, in the case of plants in small pots, and these 
well filled with roots, we should have no objection to 
say, moisten the whole of the soil thoroughly; but, as 
some plants may be rather fresh potted, and others 
placed in pots so large that the whole soil will not be 
occupied for some time, it is safer to speak of moisten¬ 
ing the roots, instead of the soil, and for these reasons: 
roots will be moro eucouraged to ramify and spread 
when the soil beyond them is not over wet; and wet 
soil in a pot, unoccupied by roots, at this season, is apt 
to become sour and sodden, and thus tell upon the 
