MAN 



MAR. 



corrupts, and its juices not only evaporate, but 

 flow downwards, and are lost. If I his Manure 

 is used as a compound, the heap wherein it is 

 compounded should be more frequently turned 

 on its account, that none of the juices may be 

 lost, but that the other part of the compost 

 may absorb them." 



In his opinion " vegetable mould may either 

 be used in a simple or compound state, and 

 may be applied with equal propriety to all soils. 

 None can," says he, " be hurt by it in any de- 

 gree ; since almost every plant will grow luxu- 

 riantly in it entirely, without the aid of any soil 

 or manure whatever." He considers Manures 

 as having the eflect of correcting tenacity, 

 crudity, and porosity in soils, exciting their 

 fermentation, communicating nutritive matter, 

 and affording nourishment to the roots of plants, 

 by which the vegetation and perfect growth of 

 plants is promoted. 



There are considerable differences in the ma- 

 terials made use of as Manures, in their afford- 

 ing their nutritious properties, some affording 

 them much more readily and more abundantly 

 than others. This is the case with animal, ve- 

 getable, and all such matters as are rich in nm- 

 cilage, the saccharine principle, and calcareous 

 earth, and which readily afford carbon, phospho- 

 rus, and somegaseous fluids, such as the carbonic 

 acid gas, oxygen, Stc. while others which are 

 greatly deficient in all or most of these principles, 

 or which do not part with them easily, are found 

 by experience much less beneficial in promoting 

 the growth of vegetables. 



As the effects and importance of Manure are 

 now generally acknowledged and understood, it 

 would appear to be the indispensable duty of 

 the gardener and cultivator to be particularly 

 careful in the collection of it, and also to dis- 

 tribute it with the most skilful frugality. " For 

 this purpose, it is suggested that a well, cistern, 

 &c. should be contrived so as to collect the 

 dunghill drainings; and that in the application 

 of Manure of any kind, the greatest care should 

 be taken to divide it equally, according to the 

 quantity to be applied." And further, that 

 " the dunghill may be considerably increased by 

 throwing the haulm, stalks, and leaves of all ve- 

 getables into a common hea]5, letting them re- 

 main till well rotted, and afterwards, or in the 

 process of collection, mixing them with lime, 

 marie, ashes, soot, &c. Watering the whole fre- 

 quently with the drainings of the dunghill, 

 would also greatly enhance its value." 



The ground of gardens may often be greatly 

 ameliorated and improved by proper draining, 

 before the manures are applied, and sometimes 

 by the use of sandy, gravellv, and other similar 



materials, that have the power of opening, and 

 rendering it less close and adhesive. 



MARANTA, a genus containing plants of 

 the herbaceous perennial exotic kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Monandria 

 Monogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Scilnmbiece. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a three- 

 leaved perianthium, lanceolate, small, superior: 

 the corolla is one-petalled, ringent: tube oblong, 

 compressed, oblique, bent in ; border six-cleft: 

 alternaie outer segments ovate, equal, smaller; 

 one of these the lowest, two the uppermost : 

 two alternate, lateral, very large, roundish, re- 

 presenting the lower lip : uppermost small, two- 

 parted : the stamina have membranaceous fila- 

 ments, resembling a segment of the corolla : 

 anthers linear, fastened to one edge of the fila- 

 ment : the pistillura is a roundish inferior germ: 

 style simple, the length of the corolla : stigma 

 obsoletely three-cornered, bent in : the pericar- 

 pium is a roundish capsule, obsoletely three- 

 cornered, three-celled, three-valved ,- the seed 

 single, ovate, wrinkled, and hard. 



The species cultivated is M. aru7idmacea, 

 Indian Arrow-root. 



It has a thick, fleshy, creeping root, which is 

 very full of knots, from which arise many 

 smooth leaves, six or seven inches long, and 

 three broad towards their base, lessening to- 

 wards each end, terminating in points : they 

 are of the consistence and colour of those of 

 the reed, and stand upon reed-like foot-stalks, 

 which arise immediately from the root: be- 

 tween these come out the stalks, which rise 

 near two feet high ; these divide upwaid into two 

 or three smaller, and have at each joint one leaf 

 of the same shape with the lower, but smaller: 

 the ends of the stalks are terminated by a loose 

 bunch of small white flowers, standing upon 

 peduncles near two inches long: the flowers 

 are cut into six narrow segments, which are 

 indented on their edges ; these sit upon the 

 embryo, which afterwards turns to a roundish 

 three-cornered capsule, inclosing one hard 

 rough seed. It is a native of South America, 

 flowering in June and July, in this climate. 



The root washed, pounded line, and bleached, 

 makes a fine nutritive powder, which is made 

 use of as food. 



Ciillure. — These plants may be increased by 

 dividing the roots and planting them in pots ot 

 light rich earth, in the spring, just b-'forc they 

 begin to shoot, pi unginsi; them in the bark hot-bed 

 of the stove, where they must be kept in general, 

 being frequently refreshed with water, when in 

 a state of growth, having free air, after tlicy be- 

 come of some streno-th. 



" N-2 



