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.
