Progress of Horticulture for 1852. 7 



because the strawberry contains but a trace of it. while it 

 seems to be so largely appropriated by the plant. But where 

 is the evidence that the tannic acid has anything to do with 

 the nutrition of the strawberry ? Have not other cultivators 

 produced strawberries equalling those of Dr. Hull, without 

 the application of tannic acid? [Yes, much larger.] 



" I conclude therefore," he says, " that Dr. Hull's experi- 

 ments furnish no satisfactory evidence of the truth of his 

 closing statement, that the practical cultivator can perfect 

 the finest fruit in abundance and richness, by selecting pot- 

 ash from among the inorganic and tannic acid from among 

 the organic constituents of this delicious gift of the ' Giver of 

 all good.' 



"However valuable Dr. Hull's experiments may be, prac- 

 tically, they are entirely too vague to have any effect in 

 establishing theory. His fertilizing applications are either of 

 very complicated, or of almost unknown compositions. The 

 soil is unanalyzed. Organic and inorganic manures are used 

 on the same plants. The physical and physiological condi- 

 tions of the plant are not taken into account. In fine, the 

 sources of error are so numerous, and so little understood, as 

 to be incapable of limitation." 



Such was our opinion on reading the Dr's experiments. 

 We prefer to drink our lemonade and give the plants liquid 

 manure. And when the Dr. raises as large strawberries as 

 we have, without any of the gimcrackery of cider, tannic 

 acid, saltpetre, &c., &c., we shall begin to think he has done 

 something towards establishing the theory of specific ma- 

 nures. We would recommend to all who take an interest in 

 this subject, our article at page 337. 



An article of much value is that in reference to the ab- 

 sorbent power of soils, (p. 241,) copied from our foreign 

 journals. Every cultivator should read it carefully, remember 

 the lesson which it teaches, and in the application of manures, 

 follow out the results which are detailed. A great deal has 

 been said in some journals about tan bark, or spent tan, as a 

 mulcher and manure for various plants. We have not occu- 

 pied much space with the discussion of the question, as all 



