Evening star., 1933-06-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

There has been little use for thu
garden hose this year, q fact which
delights the rank and file Of Lazy Gar
deners.
The truth Is that 1t was the repeti-
ton Of the sprinkling ehore which
got on their nerves.
Watering the lawn, borders and
flower beds upon occasion was a pleas
ant task, one to bring out the philoso-
pher in any man.
But when dry days following dry
days made the duty imperative their
souls rebelled.
Those who wished to criticize, merely
might have said their muscles rebelled
but, no. it was the soul Of man, which,
be 1t certain type of soul, rose on
its hind legs and set up protest.
y x X X
This Spring and Summer so far there
has been practically no need for un-
kinking the faithful length of tubing,
through which, in times Of drought,
life-giving moisture was poured, or
sprayed, on plant life.
Whether the home gardener sprayed
or poured depended upon his initiation
into the life Of the garden.
When first he took up its pleasant
duties he became, in that very mo-
ment, either sprayer or pourer.
II the former, carefully he twirled
the gnurled nut at the end of the
nozzle, breaking up the flow of water
into as fine particles as possible.
This, he said, or was told, it is diff
ficult to remember which, at this dis
tance, was helpful to the seedlings, In
particular, and in every way far su-
perior to pouring water.
If he was a pourer, in the begin
ming, he removed the nozzle complete
ly, depending upon the full flow Of
water from the rounded end Of the
section OF hose.
Sometimes gardener becomes a
pourer because he had no nozzle. In
such cases the thumb Of the right hand
often came into play to cause the water,
issuing from the end, to be detected
somewhat. often upon the trousers and
shirt OF the wielder.
1t was stated. and sometimes heat
edly, that the full force Of the water
pressure should never be used thus,
especially to sprinkle plants. 1t beat
them down.
In reply, the pourers declared that
the use of the nozzle defeated the very
purpose of watering, in that 1t did not
permit enough water to get down to
the roots, where it belonged.
Only by pouring on vast amount OF
water as from the hose placed on the
ground, without nozzle, could enough
water be placed where it was needed
most, they said.
y x
Between the claims OF these two
schools few have ever decided
No doubt there are occasions when
the pouring method is proper, but at
its best 1t is messy. Upon occasion,
especially with seedlings, fine mist
is preferable. Conditions govern, here
as elsewhere.
The one essential to keep in mind.
as every gardener knows, is simply that
enough water be given the plants to
help them when they need help.
That might seem a truism, but when
one contemplates the waste of time and
water often encountered, he comes to
realize that watering is an art, after
all, and one not always understood.
To wet merely the top Of the soil,
although often soothing to the mind
OF the home owner, does the plants no
earthly good.
To soak them Immediately after a
rain, as is often seen, is worse than .
waste Of time.
To water the leaves Of rosebushes Is
a crime against good roses.
Yet all of these are witnessed on
every side. except in seasons such as