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lain in a field is always distinguished 

 by a rank luxuriance in the succeeding 

 crop, even if the earth beneath to the 

 depth of six inches is removed and 

 spread with the dunghill. 



Guano. This now celebrated manure 

 has been known as the chief fertilizer 

 employed by the Peruvians, almost as 

 long as that part of the New World has 

 been recognised by geographers. Its 

 name, in the language of that country, 

 signifies the manure ; and it merits 

 such distinction, as being one of the 

 most powerful assistants to vegetation 

 which can be applied to the soil. Guano 

 is not peculiar to Peru, but is found in 

 immense beds upon many rocks and 

 islands of the Atlantic, being the excre- 

 ments of the marine birds frequenting 

 those ocean solitudes. It has been 

 lately analyzed by Dr. Ure,who reports 

 it as composed of the following propor- 

 tional constituents : Azotized organic 

 matter, including urate of ammonia, 

 and capable of affording from 8 to 17 

 per cent, of ammonia by slow decom- 

 position in the soil, 50.0; water, 11.0; 

 phosphate of lime, 25.0; ammonia, 

 phosphate of magnesia, phosphate of 

 ammonia, and oxalate of ammonia, con- 

 taining from 4 to 9 per cent, of ammo- 

 nia, 13.0 ; siliceous matter, 1.0. 



This analysis explains the source 

 from whence failure has been derived 

 to many who have tried it. It is the 

 most violently stimulating of all the 

 known natural manures, and they have 

 applied it too abundantly. This is 

 shown by the experiments of Mr. 

 Maund. When applied to Strawberries 

 once a week in a liquid state (four 

 ounces to a gallon), it made them very 

 vigorous and productive ; but sprinkled 

 upon some young seedlings of the same 

 fruit it killed them. Two ounces per 

 yard (five cwt. per acre), were sprinkled 

 over Onions, and they doubled the un- 

 treated in size. Potatoes manured witli 

 one ounce and a half per yard, were 

 rendered much more luxuriant than 

 others having no guano. Brussels 

 Sprouts were half destroyed by being 

 planted in immediate contact with nine 

 parts earth and one part guano. Gera- 

 niums were greatly injured by liquid- 

 manure of guano (four ounces per gal- 



lon), but " Plants of various sorts, in 

 pots, watered only with guano water, 

 half an ounce to a gallon, have flou- 

 rished astonishingly ; none have failed. 

 These are lessons which cannot be 

 mistaken." Auctorium, 223. Mr. Ken- 

 die and other persons record, as the 

 result of dearly-purchased experience, 

 that where guano has failed to be bene- 

 ficial, or has been injurious, it has been 

 applied in quantities too powerful for 

 the plants to bear. In a liquid state, 

 half an ounce per gallon, and given to 

 growing plants once a week, it never 

 fails to be productive of vigour. When 

 sown as a top-dressing, it should be 

 mixed with five times its weight of dry 

 earth, ashes, &c., and then scattered as 

 thinly as possible. When used as a 

 top-dressing for a flower-pot, a small 

 pinch between the thumb and two fin- 

 gers will be sufficient. 



Cow- dung, for potting purposes, 

 should be collected whilst fresh, kept 

 under a dry shed, be frequently turned 

 over, and used when in a dry loose 

 condition. Two years' old dung is best. 



DURA'NTA (Named after C. U-urantes, 

 a physician and botanist. Nat. ord., 

 Verbenes [Verbenacese]. Linn., 14- 

 Dldynamia 2-An(/iospermia.} 



Stove evergreen shrubs, with blue flowers. 

 Cuttings in sand, under a bell-glass, in bottom- 

 heat; loam and peat. Summer temp., 60 to 

 80; winter, 45 to 55. 

 D. arge'ntea (silvery). 6. East Indies. 1824. 



Wi'sm(Ellis's). 6. August. West Indies. 



1739. 



ine'rmis (unarmed). 6. August. South 



America. 1/3Q. 



macroca'rpa (large-fruited). 6. West Indies. 



1818. 



Muti'sii (Mutis's). 6. West Indies. 1820. 



Plumie'ri (Plumier's). 15. October. South 



America. 1733. 



Xa/ape'ns(Xalapa). 6. Mexico. 1822. 



DU'RIO (From Duryon, the Malay 

 name of the fruit, " one of the most 

 delicious productions of nature." Nat. 

 ord., Sterculeads [Sterculiacese]. Linn., 

 18-Polyadelphia 1-Decandria. Allied to 

 Cheirostemon.) 



In a putrid state the fruit is used as a bait to 

 trap the civet cat, hence the specific name. 

 Stove evergreen tree. Cuttings of firm young 

 shoots, in spring, in sand, under a glass, and in 

 bottom-heat ; peat, loam, and leaf mould. Sum- 

 mer temp., 60 to 80; winter, 50 to 55. 

 D.xibethi'nus (civet). 60. White. East Indies. 

 1825. 



