44 SALT MANURE. 



by Mr. Thomas Hogg, the cniment florist, upon the 

 advantages of salt in the cultivation of flowers. I 

 will transcribe it here : — 



" From the few experiments that I have tried with salt as a 

 garden manure, T am fully prepared to bear testimony to its 

 usefulness. In a treatise upon flowers, published about six 

 years since, I remarked, that the application of salt, and its 

 utility as a manure, was yet imperfectly understood. It is a 

 matter of uncertainty, whether it acts dn-ectly as a manure, 

 or only as a kind of spice or seasoning, thereby rendering 

 the soil a more palatable food for plants. 



" The idea that first suggested itself to my mind, arose 

 from contemplating the successful culture of hyacinths in 

 Holland. This root, though not indigenous to the country, 

 may be said to be completely naturalized in the neighborhood 

 of Haerlem, where it grows luxuriantly in a deep, sandy, 

 alluvial soil: ^et one great cause of its free growth, I con- 

 sidered, was owing to the saline atmosphere : this induced 

 me to mix salt in the compost; and I am satisfied that no 

 hyacinths will grow well at a distance from the sea witliout 

 it. I am also of opinion, that the numerous bulbous tribe of 

 Amaryllisses, especially those from the Cape of Good Hope, 

 Ixias, Aliums, which include Onions, Garlic, Shalots, &c., 

 Anemonies, various species of the Lily, Antholyza, Colchi- 

 cum, Crinum, Cyclamens, Narcissus, Iris, Gladiolus, Ranun- 

 culus, Scilla, and many others, should either have salt or sea 

 sand in the mould used for them. 



" I invariably use salt as an ingredient in my compost for 

 carnations; a plant which, like wheat, requires substantial 

 soil, and all the strength and heat of the summer, to bring it 

 to perfection ; and I believe I might say, without boasting, 

 that few excel me in blooming that flower." 



Colchicums, the Autumnal Narcissus, Amaryllis, 

 and the Autumn Crocus, should be planted in Au- 

 gust, to blo\v in September and October. 



Replant all the bulbous tribe by the end of Octo- 

 ber, at the latest. Choose a mild, dry day to put 

 them in the ground, and let each bulb be six or nine 

 inches distance from its companion. All bulbs be- 

 come weak by being placed too closely together, 

 the soil becoming soon exhausted. 



