192 THE SPIRIT^OF THE SOIL 



the time the plants were growing and had thicker 

 stems, the effect being most marked when the crop 

 was ready to cut. 



NASTURTIUM. When peat was used in small 

 quantities the plants improved in every respect, but 

 when a full dressing of peat was used the plants 

 became too vigorous, developing a huge foliage that 

 concealed the flowers. 



NERIUM OLEANDER. In addition to increased 

 root and foliage development, and a marked increase 

 in the size of the plants, the flowers themselves were 

 larger and more numerous, and showed a striking 

 increase in colour. 



NICOTIANA (Tobacco Plant). The plants were 

 stouter stemmed, broader leaved, and taller. 



ONIONS. In one experiment treatment with the 

 peat was followed by an increase of 41 per cent. In 

 another experiment, when no manure was used as a 

 control, the treated plants showed an increase of 

 no per cent., and where dung was used as a control, 

 of 46 per cent. The plants grown in soil mixed with 

 humogen, as compared with those that had received 

 dung, had much smaller tops, the necks were 

 thinner, and the bulbs harder and bigger, and 

 they proved better keepers. 



ORCHIDS (Veitchii Calanthe). The plants pro- 

 duced spikes earlier and heavier than those which 

 had not received peat. 



PARSNIPS. Three drills were dressed with humo- 

 gen this year (1915), and grown against eight drills 

 undressed. Those treated with humogen are much 

 more forward and growing more evenly. 



