G96 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
june 29, 1895. 
HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
Watering of Pot Plants. 
The operation of watering is one of the most 
common and most easily managed of the many that 
pertain to the domain of gardening, and yet many an 
amateur gardener at the outset finds himseif in 
somewhat of a quandary as to how he shall treat his 
plants with regard to water. Many a poor miserable- 
looking plant that has at various times come under 
our notice has had to suffer for the lack of experience 
in the application of water which has characterised 
its owner. How many times do amateur gardeners 
when in their first stages ask the question, "How 
often shall I water my plants? Will once a day be 
enough ? ” Such people are not unfrequently sadly 
nonplussed by the answer which they often get from 
gruff old professional gardeners who, from the 
vantage ground of their higher technical education 
and horticultural experience, appear in nine cases out 
of ten to be utterly incapable of understanding the 
difficulties of the amateur, and hence are in far too 
many instances unable to lighten him of his burden 
of woe. Any advice that may be given usually 
takes the form of a recommendation to water the 
plants as often as they require it. 
This is answering the first question it is true, but 
it is giving rise to another one that is equally as 
formidable and to which no ready answer by word of 
mouth can be returned, viz., “ How shall I know 
when they require it ? ” Certain it is that although 
a few good rules may be laid down and various kinds 
of advice given on paper, with a view to assisting the 
tyro to look after his plants properly, practical 
experience is the best teacher ; for this alone can tell 
the would-be gardener when any one plant requires 
watering. Now while generally speaking the mem¬ 
bers of the same class of plants may in the main 
need similar treatment, still the broad general rules 
that are laid down to guide the student in his deal¬ 
ings with that particular class are subject to con¬ 
siderable modifications according to the special 
requirements of the individuals. It must be remem¬ 
bered at the outset that just as no two animals are 
exactly alike even though bound together by the 
closest ties of relationship, so no two plants have all 
things completely and absolutely in common. One 
plant will need more water than another because 
it is of a more vigorous constitution, just as one 
animal will need more food than another from a like 
cause. But apart from the variations of treatment 
that become necessary owing to dissimilarities of 
constitution, there are differences of environment 
to be reckoned with and to be dealt with accordingly. 
All these points go to make watering an operation 
in which the discretionary powers of the operator 
have of necessity to be brought largely into play if 
success is expected. Now the gardener, whether he 
be an amateur or a professional, who has thoroughly 
mastered the task of knowing how to treat a collec¬ 
tion of, say, common greenhouse subjects with 
regard to the water supply, has taken a most impor¬ 
tant step in the right direction, and is at least within 
measurable distance of the goal of success. Enough 
has been said to effectually dispose of the idea of its 
being possible to water plants at the expiration of 
stated intervals: now for a few general hints with 
regard to watering, which the operator must modify 
according to discretion to suit his case as nearly as 
possible. 
In very few cases must plants be allowed to get 
dry at the root during the summer months, or the 
foliage starts to droop or, as it is technically termed, 
flag, and the health of the subject suffers in conse¬ 
quence, even if water is given directly the mischief 
is observed. The gardener should therefore be able 
to perceive the need for w?.ter before the plant holds 
out these mute signs of distress. The usual way of 
discovering the condition of the root is by giving the 
pot a smart rap, either with the knuckles or a piece 
of wood, in which case if a rather hollow ringing 
sound results water is wanted, a dead heavy sound 
indicating the presence of sufficient moisture. Some 
plants, however, such as Heaths or others, which have 
filled their pots very full of roots, will not ring until 
the soil ,is almost dust dry, and therefore another 
expedient than that of tapping them must be resorted 
to. Lifting the pots so as to ascertain the weight 
and judging by the comparative lightness or heavi¬ 
ness as to whether water is wanted or not is the safest 
of all methods, and a little practice will soon enable 
the operator to tell to a nicety what is required. 
The appearance of the surface soil must never be 
taken as a guide as to the condition of the interior, for 
appearances are notoriously deceptive. 
Another very important point to notice is that 
sufficient water is given at one and the same applica¬ 
tion to thoroughly soak the ball. Very often the 
amateur is tempted to give his plants a little water 
each day with the result that while the outer layers 
of soil are very much like mud the inner ones are as 
dry as dust, a state of affairs which, if allowed 
to exist for very long, is sure to result in the death of 
the subject so treated be it possessed of ever so strong 
a constitution. Also with the view to the regular 
and complete soaking of the ball of the plant at each 
watering it should be seen that the pots are stood 
level; for this is a point which the careless or 
unskilled workman is apt to pass lightly by as being 
of no consequence whatever, a most egregious mistake 
as a few seconds’ careful thought will soon convince 
anyone. 
Newly Potted Plants. 
A word or two concerning the treatment of these 
may be of service. While watering at all times 
must be conducted with care it will need exception¬ 
ally strict attention when the plants have been 
newly potted. Too much water at this stage inevit¬ 
ably results in sour sodden soil in which no roots 
will exist, much less in which new ones will be made. 
If the compost is fairly damp when used it is not 
advisable to deluge the plant with water as soon as 
it is potted. It is far better to wait a day or two, to 
shade carefully and to syringe lightly overhead. In 
applying water to newly potted plants, moreover, a 
rose-can must always be employed, for if the water is 
allowed to fall in an unbroken stream upon the 
loose surface soil much of the latter is washed out 
over the sides of the pots on to the floors and stages 
where as far as we are aware it is of no use whatever. 
It is an unmistakable sign of bad gardening when 
this state of affairs is observed, although it must be 
confessed that this kind of error is by no means con¬ 
fined to the amateur gardener.— Rex. 
--—S«—- 
IS GARDENING HARD WORK? 
The question at the head of your leader of the 8th 
June, p. 643 will doubtless be assumed by Lhe 
majority of your readers in the affirmative, and per¬ 
haps no one will affirm more readily than the under 
gardener who feels at this time of year more than at 
any other the extra strain upon his physical strength, 
especially if he has a day or two of hard mowing in 
each week ; or, as in some cases where the water 
supply is raised by hand, an hour or so of the pump each 
day. There are, however, various kinds of degrees 
of hard work. There is that labour or task 
which a healthy man enjoys, which he tackles 
with a zest and a will, and which helps him to enjoy 
a respite and rest when evening comes,'when, with an 
honest feeling of " Something attempted, something 
done," he has earned his night's repose; this can 
scarcely be called hard work. There is a harder when 
one has difficulties to overcome, in the multitudinous 
forms in which they present themselves, maybe 
insects, adverse weather, poor soil, a limited supply 
of labour or of tools, and a constant uphill struggling 
against heavy odds to improve when progress seems 
slow or scarcely appreciable, and one seems unable 
ro make any headway. But the hardest work to my 
mind is when, after much toil, thought, and care, 
after every effort to please has fiiled, and one has 
done his level best in the position in which he has 
found himself, whether as head or subordinate, and 
he fails to give satisfaction and the employer or 
chief continually grumbles and perpetually worries, 
seeing nothing but the darkest side of things and 
one's little mistakes. This is indeed hard work. 
But what I would like to point out, especially to 
those who are under men and beginners, is, that if 
gardening is hard work and there are trials and 
difficulties to be met, it affords to very many great 
enjoyment and pleasure, and has in it much that tends 
to brighten and make life pleasant. Unlike those whose 
daily toil lays within our great cities —those wilder¬ 
nesses of bricks and mortar—the gardener follows his 
avocation amid pleasant surroundings. No brighter 
plan can be found in which to labour than a well 
kept garden. 
One cannot complain of monotony ; the different 
seasons bring their changing duties varying the 
round of work. It is pleasant injspring to sow, and 
uuder vernal influences work goes lightly. In 
autumn the harvesting of the crop has a charm of 
its own. 
But apart from and above all these advantages, 
to my mind the study of plant life, cr the 
science of botany, offers to the student (and every 
young gardener has opportunities and facilities) a 
source of perennial pleasure and keen enjoyment. I 
have experienced and still feel such pleasure and 
enjoy nothing more than a ramble amoDgst the wild 
flowers. A younger brother, also one of the craft, 
when an opportunity occurs for a holiday takes a 
tramp, perhaps to a Surrey common or lane, or may¬ 
be on the fertile hills of West Middlesex, armed with 
his "Flora”; he meets and makes many friends 
among our country flowers, and now, although he 
has gone to foreign lands to try his fortune, his 
interesting and graphic letters tell me that he 
still finds pleasure pure and unalloyed in this 
delightful study. Oh yes! someone says, but 
what a lot of hard names must first be learnt and 
what study is required to understand anything about 
the names of flowers and the science of botany. 
A little affliction and perseverance removes great 
obstacles. As the plants we cultivate grow, little by 
little, so we may extend our knowledge, and it is the 
experience of more than one, that when the technical 
names which we meet in a text book are understood, 
and one can begin to see and know their meanings, 
all difficulties vanish and it is found most interesting 
and fascinating, and a delight. 
Nothing of value has ever yet been accomplished 
without exertion, and the mere effort to acquire 
useful knowledge brings its own reward. The 
educational value of this study to the young man 
who aspires to be a good gardener is immense. A ven¬ 
erable statesman and accomplished scholar, address¬ 
ing a class of students about three years ago, said :— 
“ Botany is not only in itself a most beautiful and 
interesting study, exercising the mind without 
fatiguing it, and stimulating it without leading it 
astray, but it leads to the most careful observation 
of nature ; and one cannot help thinking there are 
great treasures in nature more than had heretofore 
been explored in that and every other branch. The 
curious sensitive stamens of the Berberis which close 
over the pistil when touched, ffhe sensitive life-like 
stigma of the Musk which closes when touched, the 
beautiful mechanism of the stamens of the Salvia 
which prevent any large insect entering the flower 
without distributing pollen upon its back, and is 
ensuring its being carried to another flower, are but 
common illustrations of the many wonderful and 
interesting phenomena of plant life which can be 
seen by anyone ; and I recommend the beginner who 
finds time hang heavy to look for these little things of 
interest, and maybe he will obtain a taste of a science 
which will give him a life-long pleasure."— A. P. 
-«HS*- 
HORTICULTURAL BUILDINGS. 
In connection with the exhibition of the Royal 
Agricultural Society being held at Darlington during 
the week j ust ended to-day, we make mention of some 
of Messrs. Richardson & Co.'s hot-house buildings, 
and intend entering more fully into the report of the 
show generally in next week’s issue. Messrs. 
Richardson & Co. are the well-known Horticultural 
Builders and Heating Engineers, and the works of 
the firm are situated in Darlington. One of the 
special exhibits of the firm is a conservatory suitable 
for setting up in proximity to a mansion. It is 
substantially built, and furnished with a lantern 
on the top, which is becoming more and more 
appreciated by gardeners generally, as it furnishes a 
meins of ventilating on the top without admitting 
rain during showery weather, when cool house plants 
must not be entirely shut up. 
As an instance of another style of conservatory we 
give an illustration of a Winter Garden which was 
erected at the Harrogate Hydropathic Establishment 
by Messrs. Richardson & Co., to whom we are 
indebted for the present opportunity of figuring it. 
The structure is of considerable length, width, and 
height, and is constructed in one solid block with a 
three ridged roof, as shown in the illustration The 
house is intended to accommodate plants of con¬ 
siderable size, and for that reason the exposed side 
and end are glazed from the eaves to within a short 
distance of the ground line. This is necessary for 
the fullest exposure of the plants to light as far as the 
conditions of the environment will allow. This par- 
