182 THE SPIRIT OF THE SOIL 



of the treated peat, but the trees showed a robust 

 health, and were more heavily laden than usual with 

 fruit. The experiments were tried with the Blen- 

 heim Orange and Cox's Orange Pippin. 



ASPARAGUS. The tests were made with aspara- 

 gus seedlings. At the end of the season the growth 

 was such that the plants were a year nearer bearing 

 than those which had not been treated, to judge 

 by the increased size of the roots. The foliage 

 of the treated plants was of better colour and 

 substance. 



ASTERS. The seeds sown in the soil treated with 

 bacterized peat gained from the seed-leaf stage until 

 the time of flowering, when the plants were more 

 than double the size of those which had not been 

 dressed with the peat. They formed bouquets of 

 flowers averaging 5 inches across (Comet Aster), as 

 against 4 inches in plants not treated. The foliage 

 and the stems were both stronger and larger. 



AURICULA. Increase in growth followed treat- 

 ment, and the plants treated were quite free from 

 woolly aphis, while those which had not been treated, 

 though in the same house, were attacked. 



BALSAM IMPATIENS. The results obtained with 

 Balsam were very striking. One object of the 

 experiment was to determine how far the plant, 

 notoriously liable to eel-worm, would be rendered 

 immune. Experience showed that there were no 

 signs of eel-worm among the treated plants, whereas 

 those not treated succumbed to the disease. 



BARLEY. Laboratory experiments conducted 

 with barley were very promising. There was a deep 



