and Nitrate of Soda. 169 



freely ; many plants in England and some here having been 

 killed for want of proper care in the application of it. Guano 

 is an extremely powerful and warm manure, and if applied 

 in large quantities, or in lumps, destroys the roots. For 

 pelargoniums, roses, and all hardy, strong-growing plants, 

 one teaspoonful to a quart of earth, or about 1 part in 100, 

 is sufficient ; it should be pulverized and well mixed with 

 the earth in which a plant is to be repotted. When it is not 

 convenient to repot, the earth may be gently stirred on the 

 surface of the pot one or two inches deep, and the guano 

 pulverized, then mixed in ; the plants should be kept well 

 watered. 



Besides pelargoniums and roses, I have tried it on the 

 myrtaceous family, on ericas, fuchsias and camellias; its 

 effects on these are equally surprising. 



Those who contemplate trials of guano with Indian corn, 

 would probably find it best to use about a tablespoonful, 

 not piled up, to each hill, mixing it up, after breaking the 

 lumps, with the earth, about as far as the roots of the corn 

 are likely to penetrate. 



For cucumbers, squashes, and those plants whose roots 

 run nearer the surface, of course it should be merely mixed 

 with the surface soil. For potatoes, a little deeper stirring 

 would be required. The practised cultivator, who observes 

 the manner of growth of his plants, will readily be able to 

 judge for himself of the best method of applying it ; the only 

 caution necessary, is not to use too much. I take this op- 

 portunity of requesting those who are about to make trials 

 of this manure, to compare its effects with those of other 

 manures, and note them down for the purpose of transmit- 

 ting them to you or to others for publication ; if this is well 

 done, we may anticipate some very interesting communica- 

 tions this autumn. The chief points will be, the nature of 

 the soil in which the experiment is made, the situation, 

 whether moist or dry, sheltered or exposed, the quantity 

 used, the time of sowing, of coming into bloom, and of ri- 

 pening, the size and weight of the produce, the species of 

 seed sown, the season, whether wet or dry. 



I have been also trying experiments on various plants 

 with nitrate of soda ; in every case I placed two plants, of 

 the same species, and of nearly the same size, close together ; 

 one of them was watered three times a week, with a very 

 weak solution of this salt, the other was under the usual 



VOL. IX. NO. V. 22 



