44 



SALT MANURE. 



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

 advantages of salt in the cultivation of flowers. I 

 transcribe it here : 



&quot; From the few experiments that I have tried with salt as a 

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

 usefulness. In a treatise upon flowers, published about HX 

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

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

 matter of uncertainty, whether it acts directly as a manure, 

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

 the soil a more palatable food for plants. 



&quot; The idea that first suggested itself to rny mind, arose 

 from contemplating the successful culture of hyacinths n 

 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, sand/, 

 alluvial soil: yet one great cause of its free growth, I con 

 sidered, was owing to the saline atmosphere : this induct d 

 me to mix salt in the compost; and I am satisfied that r-o 

 hyacinths will grow well at a distance from the sea without 

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

 Amaryllisses, especially those from the Cape of Good Hop&amp;lt;;, 

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

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

 curn, Crinum, Cyclamens, Narcissus, Iris, Gladiolus, Ranun 

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

 sand in the mould used for them. 



&quot;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.&quot; 



Colchicums, the Autumnal Narcissus, Amaryllis, 

 and the Autumn Crocus, should be planted in Au 

 gust, to blow 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. 



