' Reviacs. — Address by J. E. Teschemacher. 423 



of pho.sphates necessary for the perfection of their seeds; and proba- 

 bly only as many seeds arrive at maturity as the plant can procure 

 phosphates to complete; the remainder, embryos of which are always 

 formed in abundance, are abortive, — that is, never come to perfec- 

 tion. 



The same line of reasoning of course ajjplies to the other necessa- 

 ry ingredients of seeds. If, therefore, we present to a plant food 

 containing an abundant supply of these ingredients, it seems reason- 

 able to suppose that we shall produce more seeds, or rather that 

 more of the embryo seeds will be perfected. Now I have before 

 stated that the chemical analysis of guano shows that it contains, in 

 abundance, most of the necessary ingredients of plants and seeds, the 

 nitrogen of its ammonia being absolutely requisite for the cellular, 

 vascular and other parts of the stem and leaves, and its phosphoric 

 acid, as well as its nitrogen, for the seeds; and if future experience 

 should confirm what I have to-day stated as an opinion, that the 

 flowers of plants manured with guano become smaller, it may be 

 accounted for on the assumption that as there is presented to the 

 plant these ingredients in abundance, particularly those necessary for 

 the seed, the flower and its glands, whose office it is to prepare the 

 latter, have less work to perform, less food to analyze, less to select 

 and less to reject; hence there is no necessity to have them of so large 

 a size as where much exertion of these functions is required. The 

 seed will also be larger and in greater quantity. 



I offer this train of reasoning on an abstruse and little understood 

 subject with the utmost diffidence, and certainly under the impression 

 that we have not yet sufficient evidence or experience on this most 

 interesting manure to offiir a solid and well grounded opinion; but it 

 is at all events a sufficient foundation on which to lay the superstruc- 

 ture of experiment. 



"Horticulture," continues the author, "is probably still in 

 its infancy in this country; but if so, it is the infancy of the 

 giant." 



***** How few have hitherto devoted their 

 whole attention to raising new varieties of fruits, flowers or vegeta- 

 bles from seed, and yet we have alread}', among flowers, the almost 

 unsurpassed Camellia Wilderi, raised by our indefatigable President, 

 with several others of great beauty. The seedling Pelargoniums, 

 exhibited this spring in the rooms of this Society, are not far from 

 some of the best imported from Europe. In fruits, we may with 

 pride refer to the Strawberry, raised by an active member of this So- 

 ciety,* which has deservedly acquired so much celebrity, — to many of 

 our native apples and pears, to Mr. Manning's cherries, to several 

 new plums which have been exhibited. * * # # # 



Nature has been lavish in her gifts to this climate. The glorious 

 beauties of our sunsets amply attest the purity of our atmosphere, 

 and the almost tropical sun which rides over our heads during the 

 summer months, jjerfectly matures the wood, the juices, the pollen, 

 and the seeds of our plants. For the grateful shade of other lands. 



* Hoveys' Seedling 



