8 
they do even the simplest every-day 
operations. In other words, they 
neglect the whys and wherefores. 
“In the development of my topic, 
| have asked some questions and I 
have answered them to the best of 
my knowledge, but with all humility, 
realizing that there is more than one 
side to most questions and that the 
other side may be more nearly the 
correct one than the one advanced 
by the speaker. 
“Tet us commence with one of the 
simplest kind of questions. Why do 
we water plants? Because they need 
water or moisture, you will say, and 
this is perfectly true, but does that 
tell it all? Is there not something 
deeper that the man with the water- 
ing can or the hose should have a 
thorough grip upon before he can wa- 
ter with brains as well as water? 
Should he not realize that the roots of 
all plants are of the nature of a 
sponge and that a plant can take up 
no food whatsoever except that which 
is held in solution in water? 
‘Why do we ventilate the green- 
houses? First, to regulate the tem- 
perature, and secondly, but no less 
importantly, to set the air in motion. 
This ~otion of the air has an in- 
vigorating, stimulating, life-giving ef- 
fect upon plants as it has on animals. 
“Why do we wet the greenhouses, 
walks, and floors or in regular green- 
house parlance, why do we ‘damp 
down?’ Not to keep down red-spid- 
er, I hope, nor because we were told 
or made to do it during the days of 
our apprenticeship. There is sound 
vood reason for damping down such 
houses as are occupied by plants 
whose native habitat is the shaded, 
humid, tropical forest because we 
must supply the heat which they need 
artificially. 
‘Why is it important to give the 
right aspect to a greenhouse and the 
corect pitch to the roof? Generally 
speaking. the good firms of green- 
house builders will. by suggestion or 
otherwise, see that most houses are 
rath, placed as regards aspect, 
hut though this is so. it should be, 
nevertheless. a part of every garden- 
er’s knowledge to know. For those 
mlants that make their growth and 
finish between March and November 
Tst. a house running north and south 
and of course facing east and west, 
will be very satisfactory. 
“Why are two-inch wrought iron 
heating pipes to be preferred to four- 
inch cast iron ones for heating green- 
houses with hot water? Because in 
any given number of feet of radiat- 
ing surface we lave only half the 
quantity of water to heat, this means 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
more rapid circulation and economy. 
“Why is it more important to keep 
uniform temperatures at night than’ 
during the day? Night temperatures 
are such as experience has shown are 
best suited to keep the plants as in- 
active as possible during darkness 
without giving the growth too much 
check. ‘Take a rose, for instance, 
whose optimum temperature is’ 58- 
and suppose the night temperature to 
be allowed to fall to 54 or 55 for any 
length of time, what will be the re- 
sult? It’ will result in shorter stems 
and fewer flowers. 
“Why does a plant appear to draw 
toward the light when growing in a 
window? It is because light. retards 
growth, the .tem on the plant grow- 
ing in the window is shorter on the 
side next the light and longer on the 
side away from it, hence the lean. 
“Why do we feed plants? Rea- 
lizing that air and water are the two 
greatest factors in plant growth, yet, 
when we talk of feeding we gener- 
ally mean supplying some of the var- 
ious mineral salts which are supposed 
to be deficient in the soil. We feed 
nitrogenous substances -to promote 
and increase growth. Phosphatic 
substances for fruitfulness and early 
maturity and potash for quality, such 
as high color and flavor in fruits, 
scent in flowers, etc. 
“Why do we prune? Some do not, 
and others partly, but a man should 
“bave, if he would prune intelligently, 
a clear idea of the objects of pruning, 
which are, first to thin out the weak 
and superflous growths so as to give. 
a maximum of light and air to that 
which remains to the end that it may 
become fruitful, strong and healthy. 
Secondly to maintain ithe proper size 
and form of the tree. Summer pinch- 
ing Or pruning seems to be especially 
valuable in the production of fruit 
buds. 
“Why do we mulch? The primary 
purpose of mulching is the conserva- 
tion of soil moisture by cutting off 
evaporation and of course, when we 
mulch with manure we are indirectly 
feeding the plants too. Heavy mulch- 
ing is a mistake, as it will prevent the 
sun heat from warming the soil. 
“Why does the grass grow so much 
HELEN G. 
81 Middle Street, Gloucester 
XMAS CARDS and BOOKLETS 
Choice Assortment of Holiday Gifts 
G HH RIS TM. A S STOC KI NGS Something New for the Children. 
First, because the best authorities on 
BROAD 
Each 
Pair Boxed Separately with Embossed Card 
Christmas 
Cards 
The finest collection in the city. 
Call early before the assortment is 
broken. 
G. Willis Whipple & Co. 
290 Essex St., Y. M. C. A. Bldg. 
ee 
more lururiantly on the lawn in spots 
where mushrooms have been grow- — 
ing than elsewhere? Here I attempt 
no answer. 
“Why do we drain land? We 
drain land to remove stagnant water — 
and to lower the natural water table 
to such depths as we believe to be 
conducive to the healthy development 
of plant life. Why is from three to 
four feet the best depth to lay tile 
drains? Some might say, if you cut 
off capilarity our soil would get too 
dry through not getting the benefit — 
of the water raised from lower depths _ 
by this means, but this is a false 
alarm as four foot of well drained 
soil will hold between the soil parti- — 
cles about twelve hundred tons of ~ 
water to the acre which is nearly one 
third of our average annual rainfall — 
and enough for any crop. wa 
“Why is it harmful to put crushed — 
stone, gravel or other porous material 
in direct contact with tile drains? — 
drainage condemn it, some of them ~ 
going so far as to advise the use of © 
good stiff clay for the first foot over — 
the drains. Secondly, because you — 
are aiming to have the water flow up 
into the drains from the bottom and — 
not percolate from the top. Third, be- — 
cause water with free material stich” 
as gravel to pass through rapidly — 
down to the drain will carry a lot of 
fine silt which may get into the drain ; 
and cause serious trouble. 
“Tf anything I have said shall be 
the means of stimulating you to do 
a little more serious thinking of the 
‘whys and wherefores’ of your dai 
work, I shall feel abundantly rep 
for any little effort that I have 
forth.” 
