64 ON GUANO. 



that the colour of the flowers is improved ; it is well known among 

 gardeners that it is rather difficult to grow this plant well. Pelar- 

 goniums : two seedlings grown with Guano, and one of the same 

 sowing without ; on the 17th of June, the two former were potted 

 with one tea-spoonful of Guano, and re-potted on the 9th August, 

 with another tea-spoonful ; here also the difference in favour of 

 Guano is very great. China roses: two cuttings, potted 17th of 

 June, each with one tea-spoonful of Guano; one was then seven 

 inches high, the other four and a half. They are now thirty-four and 

 twenty-eight inches high respectively, with large healthy foliage and 

 stems ; these have not received a second application of Guano. 

 Celosia cristata, or Cock's-comb : one seedling, with one tea- spoonful 

 and one of the same sowing without ; the size of the stem, foliage, 

 and head of that with Guano is more than double that of the other, 

 and the difference in the colour of the leaves is remarkable. Salvia 

 patens, with one tea-spoonful of Guano — the effect here has been to 

 lengthen the joints, and the flower appears smaller than usual. 

 Acacia Farnesiana : a seedling, showing the size of the foliage and 

 length of the joints previous to the application of a tea-spoonful of 

 Guano, and the remarkable growth of both afterwards. A. Camellia, 

 with two tea-spoonfuls : this specimen, which was quite small and 

 unhealthy before the addition of Guano, as may be seen by the lower 

 leaves, exhibits in a most marked manner, by its beautiful large deep 

 green leaves and healthy bud the action of this manure. On a 

 Camellia grown with a large proportion of fine wood charcoal, the 

 foliage and buds are extremely fine and luxuriant, and of a healthy- 

 green colour, but not at all equal to that treated with Guano. One 

 Balsam, two tea-spoonfuls ; re-potted 9th of August with two more, 

 to which a little lime was added. This is an ugly specimen, which 

 confirms an observation in the " Gardener's Chronicle," that Balsams 

 manured with Guano produced smaller flowers. I have watched it 

 carefully, and found that not a single flower missed bearing its seed- 

 vessel, and that every seed-vessel I have opened contains from four- 

 teen to twenty perfect seeds. From what I have seen of Guano, it is 

 clear that its action is rapid and powerful on the stem and foliage, 

 increasing their size and deepening their green colour ; of this fact 

 there can be no doubt. I think it probable that it diminishes the size 

 of the flower in some cases, and that it improves the seed both in 



