UNIT3

Gardening

One of the quiet joys

of life in the southern part

of Ontario, Canada, is gardening.

Whether pursued as a hobby

or solely to improve

the esthetic value of one's home,

the pleasure derived is only exceeded

by the therapeutic benefit.

The exercise involved in working

in a garden is helpful in

keeping people in good physical condition.

It has become a ritual

for homeowners to spend

late winter weekends browsing

through seed catalogues while

sitting on their couch.

They make lists of items

they wish to purchase

and often make notations right

on the catalogue as they make

decisions about this year's garden.

If they order early,

there is usually a discount coupon,

allowing a percentage of

the cost to be

deducted from the price.

Often the coupon needs to

be detached from the catalogue

and mailed to the company

along with the order.

This is an extra bonus

for the consumer. The investment cost

required is nominal when the amount

of pleasure generated is considered.

The seed companies will

usually warrant the plants,

and often a refund is offered

if the plants do not thrive.

The shipment from the

seed company's warehouse is awaited

with eager anticipation.

Its appearance means that

spring will soon arrive.

The glossy pages of the catalogues

provide a preview of the visual

delights that can be grown.

Pictures show an array of

flowers that dazzle the eye.

There are monochromatic displays

as well as others that

are a fusion of the complete

spectrum of the rainbow's colors.

Also included in the publication

are pictures and descriptions

of vegetables, shrubs, and trees.

Avid gardeners subscribe to magazines

that specialize in articles

and ads about this enjoyable pastime

and people literally read

each issue from cover to cover.

Descriptions of plants include

implicit instructions on whether

to plant them in sun or shade.

Specification as to the amount

of irrigation required is also stated.

Elaborate irrigation systems are sometimes

installed or a trench for

improving the water flow is used.

Controls are needed on

irrigation systems because if

the ground becomes too saturated

the soil in the garden

will be too muddy to

allow anyone to work in it

until it dries out. 

If there is too much

water constantly, the garden

will become a swamp

and impossible to cultivate.

(Many people like to preserve

the natural habitat of birds

and wildlife in a marsh.

These areas are usually protected

by the government and

although important to our environment,

are not considered gardens.)

Geographic location is important for plants.

Certain plants are only suitable

for propagation close to the equator.

Others need to be several degrees

of latitude away from the equator.

Longitude is also a factor

and most companies clearly state

the conditions that will

provide the optimum chances

for the plants survival.

Canadians grow tulips imported

from Holland and they do well

in the Southern Ontario climate.

Because it is late spring

before plants can survive

outdoors in Southern Ontario,

it is common for people to

start their plants indoors.

Seeds are planted in small containers

and continue to grow indoors

until the appropriate size

is achieved. Sometimes ultraviolet light

is used to encourage plant growth.

When the mercury rises and

the danger of frost is past,

the plants are then transplanted

to the garden or to a flowerbed.

Plants are nourished from

the soil, but to provide

optimum food, fertilizer can be

applied to encourage vigorous growth.

Sometimes fertilizer is diluted

with water while other kinds

are dispersed with a spreader that

flings the fertilizer granules in a

small radius around the plants.

The water soluble fertilizer will

then be absorbed into the soil

the next time it rains.

Just as people need minerals,

such as calcium and zinc,

to be healthy, plants also need

minerals but phosphorous and nitrogen

are better food for them.