116 Mr J. "W. Moil' on Experimental Planting, [sess. li. 



season of 1885, fine healthy plants averaging about 18 inches 

 high, and we lost almost none in the planting out. 



It was evident that the making of terraces involved more 

 work and expense than necessary, so I thought out a better 

 plan. The ground was carefully lined out at such an angle to 

 the lie of the ground as to give the rows an average fall of 

 one in twenty. One gang of workers then dug the holes 

 30 inches in diameter, but throwing out only rich surface 

 soil, and always i(p-liill from the hole. Another gang 

 followed, throwing out the subsoil till 18 inches depth was 

 reached, and throwing it doivn-hill from the hole. Much 

 later, when filling in, the soil was taken from the up-hill side 

 of the hole only — first what had been weathering, and then 

 the rich surface soil from the same region. The red sub- 

 soil on the lower side of the hole was levelled down. The 

 result we found to be very satisfactory. 



Our next experiments were with Cinchona, as we were 

 sure that a supply of good fresh bark in the country where 

 so much malarial fever is prevalent would be very 

 valuable. We got seeds sent over from Ceylon, India, and 

 home, but in every case but one it had lost its germinating 

 power. The delight we felt when the seed of that particular 

 lot sent up its tiny leaves I leave to your imagination. 

 The most successful were in boxes, well drained, but kept 

 moist by flower-pots with water sunk into the mould, while 

 all was covered with panes of glass. One part sand to two 

 parts vegetable mould, and equal parts of each, were used. 

 They all damped off', till but one was left. This one was cared 

 for like an infant ; but from other misfortunes we likewise 

 lost it. 



Indigo. — We imported seeds from Calcutta, but sufficient 

 time has not elapsed to enable me to say whether it will 

 equal the collee. 



I have sent out eight Wardian cases during last year, two 

 of the cases from Edinburgh Botanical Garden, with over 

 300 plants of 70 dillerent sorts, and seeds of about 60 kinds 

 of economic plants, from some of which we hope a good 

 deal, and the results I anticipate some day to lay before the 

 Society. 



