The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-28
HOW TO WATER PLANTS.
Some Useful Hints on the Subject from
Chief Gardener Saunders.

Some Useful Hints on the Subject from
Chief Gardener Saunders.
"People frequently ask, How often
should l water my plantsS" said Chief
Gardener Saunders of the department OF
agriculture to a reporter the other day
$40 begin with, never apply water to
plant until it requires it, that is, until it Is
dry, and then apply a sufficient quantity
to soak it.
"Novices in plant culture usually make
the mistake of merely sprinkling the sur
face of the soil, perhaps daily, without any
time applying enough water to saturate
the mass Plants cannot flourish under
such conditions; the surface will appear
wet, while the main body OF the soil is
hard and dry One drawback to properly
watering plants in parlor and window
| gardening arises from the inconvenience
attending the use of water in sufficient
Quantities; another evil is the dryness OF
the air.
'Both of these obstacles to success can be
greatly modified by the use of table prop
erly fitted for the reception of the flower
pots or small vases in which the plants are
kept.
''This table may be of any required size.
| A surface of by 8 feet would be suitable
for most windows. 1t should be made
tight and neatly fitted. A ledge is made
by fastening a strip three inches wide
around the edge. Then fill with two inches
of clean, white sand, upon which the plants
! are placed Lining the table with zinc
would completely guard against drip. The
table should be fitted with rollers to facill
tate the operation of watering and clean,
! ing the plants. With table of this kind
| the plants can be waoered freely and occa
! sionally sprinkled without any injury to
| surrounding objects. The sand should be
kept constantly wet, 50 that moisture will
| be evaporated from it, and thus overcome
! in some degree one of the chief obstacles to
the successful culture of plants in dwell
| ing rooms-a dry atmosphere.
"There are few general rules with re-
| gard to watering plants which may be
noted. Watering should be preferably ap-
piled during the early part of the day, es
pecially so in the winter season. Plants n
pots well supplied with roots will require
much more water than these which are
newly potted or have a quantity of soil
with few roots. Plants with narrow OF
small foliage will not use so much water
| rs UnOS6 WIFI AS0'S -
| Plants in the shade will not need as much
water as will those in the sun. But in
cases when water is applied it should be
done copiously.
"In the pot culture Of plants where the
amount of soil is limited the use of liquid
manure is of vast service when judiciously
applied, but much harm may be occasioned
by it's indiscriminate use. Many persons
consider it necessary to resort TO the use OF
guano and other solutions on sickly plants
and are surprised to find that the applica
ton only hastens the dissolution of the
patient.
at is only healthy and well rooted plants
that are to be benefited by manures, and
such as are supplied with hungry roots
but growing slowly for want of nutri
ment Such plants as have been for years
in the same pot or tub, as we frequently
find orange and lemon trees. camelias
oleanders, ETC., will be greatly stimulated
by the application of manurjal liquids dur
ing their period Of growth. For plants Of
all kinds that have their pots filled with
roots it will be serviceable, and to such a:
fuchsias, pelargoniums, itineraries, etc.
while in flower, they will bloom Longer
and in greater perfection. But it shoult
be kept in mind that stimulants should MOI
be applied while flower buds are forming
as it might induce an increased Woo
growth at the expense of the Towering
principle. Wv ashington Star.