182 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
ON WATERING PLANTS GROWING IN POTS. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
Sir, —Being a subscriber to your valuable little work, I fre¬ 
quently receive much useful information : allow me in return to 
contribute my mite. It has occurred to me that at this par¬ 
ticular season of the year, when the greater part of our plants 
and flowers are placed in situations purposely selected, that they 
may enjoy the advantages attendant on a free exposure to pure 
air, I cannot do better than call the attention of your readers 
to a subject which, as it more immediately concerns vegetation 
in the open air, must be interesting to all: I allude to the sup¬ 
plying plants so situated with water—a subject which in my 
humble opinion exceeds all others in importance during the 
growing season, and yet in many cases it occupies least atten¬ 
tion. Thinking this must arise from a want of knowledge of the 
great consequence of this branch of floriculture is my principal 
reason for addressing you. Every one must observe that plants, 
to become healthy and continue a vigorous growth, require a 
constant but properly-apportioned supply of light, air, and 
water—earth being regarded more as a medium for conducting 
the aliments contained in the former constituents. It is also 
equally evident that plants in the open air during the summer 
months must receive the greatest possible quantity, and at all 
times, of all these requisites except water, for which they are 
almost entirely dependent on the cultivator. And, without 
going into any chemical analysis, it is also clear that water 
forms one of the principal means by which the plant is enabled 
to meet the demands made on it by the other constituents in the 
shape of perspiration and evaporation—the latter being very 
great, especially on plants standing in pots exposed to the influ¬ 
ence of the sun. And here we arrive at the most important 
consideration. Supposing the supply of water to be regulated 
by the demand—which in mild, medium sort of weather will be 
once a day, and in very hot weather twice—it follows that the 
relative temperature of the atmosphere and of the water applied 
should be also considered. It frequently happens that the soil in 
pots situated as above mentioned will be of a temperature as high 
as 70°, while water fresh from a well or closely covered vessel will 
