November 25, 18C9. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



417 



kinds of plants treated with ammonia salts, or with nitrate of soda 

 respectively. It was shown in Dr. Masters' tables that almost invfiri- 

 ably when the plants treatcil with ammonia salts manifested an in- 

 creased de<^ee of vigonr, those treated with nitrate of soda showed a 

 forresponilmt,' decrease. These contrasted fluctoations occurred at a 

 time when the weather tables showed a high rainfall and a decreased 

 temperature. SimUar antagonistic results, but manifesting them- 

 selves at a later period, when the temperature was higher and the 

 rainfall less, prevailed to a less extent in the hoses manured with a 

 combination of mineral manures and nitrate of soda, and of mineral 

 manures and ammonia respectively. 



Dr. Gilbert remarked that the experiments, as conducted this year, 

 were serviceable rather as indications of what to avoid in the coming 

 year, than for any immediate use at present. The soil made use of 

 was too fertile, and in consequence the plants made undue growth. 

 The contrasting conditions alluded to by Dr. Masters probably de- 

 pended on variations in the relative power of diffusion of the several 

 salts, and the range of the roots. Nitrate of soda was distributed with 

 great rapidity. The ammonia salts were converted into nitrates 

 before absorption by the plant, and were thus distributed at a lower 

 depth. Or. Voelcker corroborated Dr. Gilbert as to the necessity of 

 caution in drawing general inferences from this season's experiments, 

 and advised that in future the plants should be grown in pots, so as to 

 be more under control, and less subject to disturbing influences. Mr. 

 Glaisher alluded to the effects produced by the roots of plants in in- 

 creasing the temperatnre of the soil, and suggested that a thermo- 

 meter should be inserted into each of the seventy-two boxes. These 

 thermometers, moreover, should be made with gi'eat care, and the 

 mercury in all should be derived from the same source, so as to secure 

 uniformity of expansion. 



A report from Mr. Barron on various experiments that have been 

 carried on as to grafting on various stocks, was then read. The results 

 had been very varied, and were of a very interesting character. In 

 those cases where failure had resulted the want of success was at- 

 tributed to one or more of the following causes: — Imperfection in the 

 mode of operating : the too advanced condition of the stocks or of the 

 buds before the operation : the want of correspondence in point of time 

 beVveen the growth of stock and scion, &c. 



The following communication on the culture of Aloes, forwarded by 

 Dr. Hooker, was then read. 



In the cultivation of Aloes it is as well to hear in mind that they 

 grow equally well with or without roots. There is scarcely any per- 

 ceptible difference in the time required for re-establishment, between 

 an Aloe carefully dug out of the ground with all its roots, and a root- 

 less branch that has been broken or chopped off ; both are at times 

 liable to damp off or decay at the root. 



Aloes are found growing in all kinds of soil, — rich alluvial soil, leaf 

 mould, red clay, yellow clay, hard limestone soil, brash soil, sandy 

 soil — in fact, every description of soil that occurs in South .\frica has 

 its Aloe or Aloes, provided always that it is rocln- ; for, as far as my 

 observation extends, they do not grow where there are no rocks, neither 

 will they continue to thrive for any length of time if they are planted 

 in such localities. I attribute the great mortality among garden 

 Aloes to this fact ; it is not because the soils are unsuitable, for, as I 

 have before stated, they will grow in almost any description of soil, if 

 it be rocky. 



I would therefore advise all who wish to cultivate their plants suc- 

 cessfully, in the first place to excavate a moderate-sized hole — say, 

 from 1 to "2 feet in depth and breadth, according to the size of the 

 specimen they are intending to plant ; fill this hole with rocks, allow- 

 ing some of them to project out of the ground (these should, if possible, 

 be ornamental) ; then plant the Aloe amongst the rocks, fixing it in an 

 upright position until it is found to stand alone ; then fill up the iu- 

 terstices with soU — any moderately good soil will answer the purpose. 

 Do not be too liberal in the supply of water, especially at first ; if the 

 soil is moist, the Aloe will require no water at all. 



After some time has elapsed, if the plant is found to be looking red 

 and nnhealthy, its root should be examined, for it may have decayed ; 

 and if this is the case it should be taken up again, and the decayed 

 parts carefully removed or cut away, until you arrive at the sound and 

 healthy part of the stem. The Aloe should then bo placed in the suu 

 for several days (if the specimen is large and succulent, for several 

 weeks) to di-y and harden before it is again put into the earth. It 

 does not follow that the plant should be altogether lost because it has 

 decayed at the root, for Aloes may be planted again and again, " even 

 until seventy times seven," always taking the same precautionaiy 

 measures. 



Moreover, it will be found that Aloes will sometimes decay at the 

 heart, or from that portion of the stem from whence spring the young 

 growing leaves. This may be from two causes — viz., water lodging 

 amongst the too-crowded leaves, or the larva of some insect that 

 feeds upon that portion of the plant. An Aloe thus affected should 

 have the greater portion of its leaves removed, and the diseased parts 

 ctit away, and the wound carefully washed and dried, after which it 

 will soon be found that the plant will recover, and either grow again 

 from the centre or shoot from the side. 



Aloes should not be watered often nor at stated periods, for the 

 climate of South Africa is extremely variable, and subjected to great 

 vicissitudes, and in their wild state they are unaccustomed to a plentiful 

 and regular supply of water. They endure long seasons of severe 



drought, a burning summer sun, or a scorching north wind; and, 

 again, at other seasons they are deluged with torrents of rain, for such 

 is the variability of the climate they inhabit ; but from the construction 

 of their leaves and roots, there is no succulent plant better enabled to 

 endure these great changes than the Aloe, for in rainy seasons they 

 extend every leaf and branch with moisture, and this supply is care- 

 fully stowed away, to be absorbed by degrees, in times of drought and 

 scarcity, according to the requirements of the plant ; and from this 

 store of moisture the whole of the blossoms and seeds are frequently 

 supplied with nourishment, which supply is obtained from the large 

 sncculent leaves of the plant, which then become red and attenuated. 



Aloes should never be pruned or trimmed in any way whatever. 

 The old leaves which accumulate beneath the large green ones, form 

 a protection to the young gi'owing stem, and if left to themselves 

 they assume an oval-shaped mass of grey and hoary-looking dried 

 foliage, which forms an excellent contrast with the green leaves above, 

 giving the Aloe its peculiar and picturesque appearance. Moreover, 

 the removal of this mass of old leaves frequently results in the death 

 of the plant, which is much to be regretted. 



Many of the dwarf species of Aloes are becoming much more rare 

 within the colony than they formerly were, for I am sorry to state that 

 Aloes, like many other succulent plants, are fast disappearing within 

 the boundary of the colony. The sheep and goats are doing for this 

 countrj- what the goats did for St. Helena, rapidly altering the nature 

 of its flora and pasture lands, and causing many plants to disappear 

 before their destructive ravages, for in severe winter seasons, when 

 there is a scarcity of grass, these animals are in the habit of browsing 

 upon succulent plants, and even the bitter leaves of the Aloes are 

 eaten with avidity. — M. E. Barber. 



The Chaii-man remarked that the rocky nature of the country in 

 which Aloes giew, was serviceable in preventing excessive or long- 

 continued moisture. He had ascertained from Mr. Cooper, that many 

 of the Haworthiaa grew naturally closely environed by herbage, and 

 that when this was eaten by the sheep, the plants became unduly ex- 

 posed to the snn, and died in consequence, hence the sheep were only 

 indirectly injurious (not directly, as Mr. Barber had stated), by re- 

 moving the herbage. Mr. Saunders in practice substituted a fold of 

 thin paper or muslin for the grass, and thus tempered the light, to 

 the gi-eat advantage of the plants. 



A report from Mr. Moore on the experiments carried out at Chis- 

 wick with various chemical manures on Variegated Zonal and other 

 Pelargoniums, with a view to ascertain the effect of the manures on 

 the coloration of the leaves and the production of flowers, was then 

 read. The following is an abstract from Mr. Moore's report : — 



" At the suggestion of Major Trevor Clarke some experiments were 

 commenced in July last at Chiswick, with the view to ascertain the 

 efl'ects of certain chemical manures on the colouring of the leaves of 

 Variegated Zonal Pelargoniums. A set of ordinary bedding Pelar- 

 goniums was also treated in a similar way, for the purpose of noting 

 what would be the efl'ect of these particular manures as regards the 

 development of flowers. The experiments were on a limited scale, 

 and their results have so far proved to be little more than negative — 

 partly attributable perhaps to the late period at which they were com- 

 menced, and partly to the soil employed having been of too rich a 

 quality. As, however, there were indications of differences observable, 

 it is proposed to repeat the experiments under somewhat different con- 

 ditions another year, in the hope of bringing these out more definitely. 

 The varieties selected for the experiments were : — Vurieriatec! Zvnal 

 —Mrs. Pollock, of which there were six plots, each containing four 

 plants. Floirrruif} ^onnfe— Herald of Spring and Norah, of which 

 also there were six plots, each containing three plants of the former 

 variety, and one of the latter variety. The plots, which were prepared 

 and planted July 1st, were each 20 inches square, cut off by sinking 

 four slates, the soil being prepared 12 inches deep. They were treated 

 with the same kinds of manure, and used in the same proportions as 

 those employed in the series of experiments with grasses and other 

 pasture plants now in progress, the manures having been kindly fur- 

 nished by Mr. Lawes and Dr. Gilbert. It would appear that, in 

 general terms, the unmannred soU, and the soils prepared respectively 

 with a mixture of ammonia and mineral manures, and with a mixture 

 of nitrate of soda and mineral manures, gave the best results ; whilst 

 the results in the cases of the soils prepared respectively with the 

 mineral mixture only, and with the ammonia only, were the least en- 

 couraging : and that wherein it was treated with nitrate of soda alone 

 gave the least development, and seemed to favour compactness of 

 growth. It is proposed another season to extend the experiments over 

 a larger area, adopting pot culture of the plants (grown in duplicate) 

 as admitting of an earlier commencement being made — namely, at 

 the period of the first spring shift, when but little development has 

 taken place, and also as permitting of a greater variety of treatment 

 within possible limits. ' 



\ lengthy communication on the cultivation of Tea by Mr. McPher- 

 son was laid on the table, on which the Secretary was instructed to 

 report to a future meeting. 



Dr. Masters exhibited, on the part of Mr. D. T. Fish, a sainple of 

 soil in which there was a thin layer of lime about 6 inches below the 

 surface. This had evidently been put on as a top-dressing. Mr. Fish 

 attributed the position of the lime beneath the surface to an annual 

 superposition of a layer of carbonaceous matter on the surface, and to 

 the decomposition of the roots. He advanced this view in opposition 



