1896.] ESSAYS. • 97 



For the production of good plants and good flowers later, it is of 

 the utmost importance that good soil be used, not necessarily over- 

 rich, but such as you would use to grow Roses may be regarded as an 

 ideal soil for the purpose, we have used for years past a soil that is 

 naturally poor, but at the same time one that makes a good vehicle to 

 hold whatever may be placed therein, the place we get it is considered 

 a mighty poor pasture at the present day, but it is of that nature that 

 never gets sour or inert, it takes water readily and does not hold too 

 much in suspension, and also in preference to adding a large quantity 

 of farmyai'd manure, we rely almost entirely upon boue meal and a 

 little wood ashes to begin with, adding at the same time about one- 

 fifth of burnt refuse, taking care to mix at least six weeks prior to 

 putting it in the benches or pots. l?one meal directly it is added to 

 the soil has to go through a chemical change before it is available for 

 the roots of any plant, this process is a fermentation, and is danger- 

 ous to young root-fibres if any come in contact with it, there is also 

 quite an appreciable amount of heat generated in the heap, often 

 enough to kill insects and weed seeds, and we like all this to take 

 place before we are ready to use the soil, and the same is then 

 in the best possible condition for the young plants to take hold 

 and grow away without check from the beginning. After the plants 

 have taken hold well in this soil, we have to watch and see when 

 a little stimulus is necessary, and when this is apparent, we begin to 

 use the drainage from the cow barn, and it is wonderful how well this 

 suits the Chrysanthemum, it is perfectly clear, that is to say, without 

 sediment ; is very strong in nitrogen. Prof. Brooks of Amherst tells 

 me that in this drainage we have four-fifths of the manurial salts that 

 are derived from the cow, it is a strong statement, but I am quite sure 

 he is correct, to think that only one-fifth of the manurial value is 

 contained in the solids themselves, the rest being all present in the 

 liquids, easily saved, but alas, also easily lost. It is of great strength 

 as we get it, and needs to be diluted down to about one-twelfth of its 

 bulk in water, it is then perfectly safe and very beneficial to all plants 

 grown in pots, or in the garden, when the buds are formed we have 

 to use by way of change of diet. Sulphate of Ammonia and Nitrate of 

 Soda, these three stimulants with the lime water make a very accept- 

 able diet for the plants, furnishing the requisite change that is so 

 essential both for man and plants. The analysis of the ash of 

 Chrysanthemum plants shows that there are nine distinct elements 

 present, five of which are present in large quantity. Lime is present 

 in 26 per cent. ; Phosphoric acid, 19 per cent. : Potash, 16 per cent. ; 



