Weather
The relation of the Weather to gardening, and its effect upon garden crops, are matters often too well known, especially when the results are unsatisfactory. Still, it is important for gardeners to be continually studying the subject, with a view to adapting themselves to circumstances by taking advantage of every help which the Weather affords, and at the same time using precautions, so far as possible, for preventing it from doing injury. Those who would manage gardens successfully must always be looking ahead, and anticipating what is likely to come later on, as well as directing their attention to making provision for the present. Thus, what is likely to occur during the day needs consideration in the morning, and provision for the night must invariably be made the previous evening. The Weather affects outside vegetation and crops according to locality and the nature of soil and subsoil. Where the latter is gravelly, the effects of drought are most readily felt, while a clayey subsoil has naturally a tendency to hold more moisture, and is, consequently, not favoured by very wet seasons. In regard to the important work of transplanting of any kind, the state of the Weather must be the first consideration, coupled with the proper season for performing the work. Very dry Weather is always unfavourable for any transplanting. Watering may be ever so well attended to, yet if there is a constant and rapid evaporation taking place its effects are not much marked. Mild, moist Weather should therefore be selected for this work; it must even be waited for a long time in some seasons before crops can be transplanted and safely re-established. Due advantage should be taken of frosty Weather, when the ground is hard, for executing such work as wheeling manure, &c., into places that cannot be well reached when walks and the ground are loose. In snowy Weather, when outside work has often to be suspended, everything that can be forwarded in sheds should receive full attention. Digging should not be proceeded with while the ground is frosty, neither should snow be buried by the same operation. In garden management, the work must, to a certain extent, be arranged each day according as the Weather allows; the seasons too, which are very variable, will need to be studied, and work managed according as circumstances depending on these, and the changes of Weather, will admit. In the management of glass structures and pot plants generally, attention to the changeableness of the weather is of much more importance than to plants, &c., outside. A properly-constructed glasshouse will quickly be affected by a rise or fall of temperature caused by the Weather outside; and as the inside occupants are frequently very tender, and incapable of bearing with impunity what hardier subjects outside can withstand, the conditions necessary for their well-being have to receive constant and daily attention. The chief point to be impressed is that of adopting a system of management which shall utilise every opportunity of forwarding operations, so far as may be practicable, be the climatic conditions whatever they may. To do everything at the proper time, is equally important in this as in all other matters. In gardening, it can only be effected by a considerable amount of forethought on the part of those in charge, coupled with practical experience, to know what cultivated plants require, and by daily attention, which has to be constantly varied to meet exigencies caused by an ever-changing climate.