16 OPERATIONS OF GARDENING. PART I. 



is in our opinion by far the better method of the two. It is 

 speedy, at once effectual, and destroys the eggs of every sort of 

 insect. The former, on the other hand, is very slow, often the 

 reverse of effectual, and does not possess one single advantage 

 over charring."* 



CHARRED TURF. An excellent material for general potting 

 purposes may be obtained by charring turf. Any quantity of 

 turf may be easily collected, in Bengal at least, from the road- 

 sirles or waste places. It should be laid out, exposed to the 

 sun, with the green part undermost. In a few days it will 

 become thoroughly dried, and in that condition may in a very 

 short time be roasted sufficiently to be adapted for use. There 

 are various ways in which the roasting may be managed. The 

 plan I have adopted has been to prop a large earthenware 

 vessel upon bricks, light a fire beneath it, and then throw in the 

 turves, pulled apart into pieces of moderate size ; take them out 

 when sufficiently roasted and throw in others. 



VEGETABLE OR WOOD ASHES. " These," says Dr. Lindley 

 (quoting from ' Horticultural Transactions/ v. 52), " are esteemed 

 the very best manure by the Chinese. The weeds which are 

 separated from the land by the harrow, with what they other- 

 wise are able to collect, are carefully burnt, and the ashes 

 spread. The part of the field where this has been done is easily 

 perceived by the most careless observer. Indeed the vigour of 

 the productions of those parts of their land where the ashes 

 have been applied is evident as long as the crop continues on 

 the ground. The ashes of burnt vegetables are also mixed with 

 a great variety of other matters in forming the compositions 

 which are spread on the fields or applied to individual plants." 

 Garden refuse, however, may in general be turned to better 

 account than by converting it absolutely to ashes. 



OIL- CAKE : KHURREE. This, Dr. Lindley states, " in powder, 

 has a highly energetic, though transitory action. Its great 

 value consists in giving an impulse to vegetation in the early 

 stages." It is an admirable manure for Koses ; and also an 

 excellent ingredient in a compost for applying to the roots of 

 Vines and Peaches in the Cold season. 



GOOR. Of the use of sugar as a manure it is not likely that 

 any notice will be found in English works upon gardening; but 

 * < Gardeners' Chronicle/ April 12, 1862. 



