New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-09
WATERING PLANTS.

There is much labor lost in needlessor nudicious
~ .,ap injurious artificial watering Of plants, a
fact 10 which The TRIBUNE has invited attention
annually for several years. The London Mark Lane
Er,r,ss has n timely aud vell-considered chapter
on the subject which we transfer TO these columns
"a supplying the line upon line" that seems
necessary in agricultural journalism. Doth rs re-
minder TO the informed but forgetiul, and as new
matter TO the readers who are just beginning 10
take interest in the industry that supports ali
others:
"Daily morning sprnklIngs under the influence
Of the sun which is increasing IN power every mo
,nent il worse than useless. as the raplu eNaloId-
ron that follows lowers the temperature OF tne
eronpd so much as 10 be positively injurious, ahd
the very fact that the surface dries 20 quickly proves
IN ration that the moisture - not aplropi-
sted by the plants crops but by the atmosphere.
This rs not exactly what IS wanted IN iacl, !ne
exact opposite as il is for the plants, and no. inc
air that The moisture is intended. Nalerlnyiio oe
eiiectusl with outdoor crops should 10 dono IN tue
evening. There Is little or no evaporation .neni'
and consequently the crops have az least several
hours TO appropriate the moisture tbut is gwen
and 10 become refreshed for the work OF the iol-
owing day. .d o-o,.
is 10 wait until they require artificial support aud
then TO give il copously Ii Is OF no use applying
water unless sucienr !, Iew 70 Them Numbers Of
persons are under the Impression that they gave
sufficient for this when, IN fact. the wafor may nor
nPuetratp half men. IL TuD5 on tlc
stead of percolating through IT, This Is sure 10 be
the sse where daily spriDklings are nhuged ~ on
the principle of giving every part OF inc ghIueh ~
little Ii is far better to divide the garden INTO SEC
tions and TO give each IN turn IN adequa.e supp's.
even # the whole bc not saturated more than once
a week With the object OF assisting the wafer 10
pass through the dry surface II often necessary 10
break il up slightly with FORK, and ~ Is always
desirable 10 run the hoe through the surface on the
following morning, as soon as u Is dry enough 30 We
worked freely. as this Will TO very important
extent arrest evaporation, and assist materially IN
the retention of both warmth ana moisture IN tho
ground.
Our remarks apply to plants and crops that are
established and not thoss that arc immediately
planted, which often need watering daily aud
sprinkling frequently to prevent Tltner'nR: odt
can be given will be far better than the incessant
use of the waterproof Beds in which seeds are sowh
can seldom be watcred benehcIaIiy. IL sowing
must be done IN dry weather. the proper inethou oi
supplying the requisite amount OF moisture - 10
food the drills before the seed Is scattered IN the
and then shade the surface until the sec inngs ap-
pear For instance. the present ~ the tiino Tor SOW
In psas he latest crops; colewOs occupying
vacant ground after the early crops are removed
and cauli1oweTs and lettuce for autumn use Let
the drills be first saturated, and tue seed VIII germ
mate far better than II II Is sown hrst ana WAFER
given afterwards This Is a simple item of iuforna-
zion not commonly found In books, yet worth re-
membtrDg.
also fruit trees that were planted late III the spring
will In dry soils. need watering now Let ~ DC
given literally, as much as can be poured IN tbo
SOIL and in the morning dust over the surface or u
will shrink and crack and much OF the wafer escape
into the air again. Trees and plants lnsrrtei close
10 walls must have special attention. as the sou
dries there more quickly than IN tue open Mulch
ing u an Invaluable adjunct To watering, ana TWO
three inches Of cocoa 1bre refuse when i very
cheap spread on the soil Ss neat appearance
and IS an efficient conservator OF moisture in the
EARTH"