709 
Now ready, price 4s. 6d., 
R U Re A oly eC «BoM. Seu Ray 
a) aad By Epwarp Souzy, Esq., Jun, F.R.S.; 
Experimental Chemist to the Horticultural Society of London, 
Hon. Mem. of the Royal Agricultural Society, and Lecturer 
on Chemistry at the Royal Institution. 
London: 3, Charles-street, Covent Garden. 
The Gardeners’ Chronicle, 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER }4, 1843. 
MEETINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. 
Tuesday, October 1 + Horticultural On Ree 
Wednesday, October 18 Microscopical . +. 8 Pa 
In our answers to correspondents, an inquirer wag 
lately directed to select his cuttings at a time when 
they contain much organizable matter. But the 
Meaning of that advice was unknown to him, and will 
probably be equally mysterious to others. It will 
therefore be as well if we at once explain it, especially 
as it is connected with points of cultivation of very 
considerable importance. 
The term organizable matter is equivalent to what 
has been called trve or descending, or arterial, or vital 
‘Or autumn sap, in contradistinction to the term aqueous 
‘0r ascending sap. Although in some respects the old 
‘€xpressions were useful enough, yet their diversity 
showed the insufficiency of them in the minds of 
physiologists, and they had the great fault of con- 
Veying incorrect notions of the nature of the matter 
‘spoken of. In particular the word sap necessarily 
Yecals the idea of a fluid; Purpurea sapa was the 
Juice of the grape. But the substance to which the 
term autumn, &c. sap belongs is more viscid than 
fluid, and to a large extent, especially in autumn and 
Winter, is not only solid but insoluble by ordinary 
Solvents. “'This Jluid,” says Mr. Knight, “is closely 
analogous to the arterial blood of animals,” and then 
‘Ae goes on to say that it also “ assumes an organic 
solid form.” (Phys. Papers, p. 840.) The truth is, that 
at first it is fluid, like all the solid tissues ; by degrees 
at becomes thickened, undergoes various chemical 
changes, and at last consolidates into gum, sugar, 
starch, albumen, gluten, and other substances, all 
which, taken together, constitute “organizable matter.” 
Such matter in its original semifluid state may be 
called sap, but can scarcely bear the name when con- 
solidated and finally elaborated. 
je history of organizable matter is this: When a 
plant reproduces itself, nature introduces into a small 
internal bag the miniature of a young plant, formed of 
all the qualities of its parent, and along with it a 
mixture of substances calculated to feed the vegetable 
infant when it first begins to be animated and grow 
‘This bag, with the matters it contains, we call a seed. 
Ass soon as the vegetable embryo is excited within the 
seed, the nutritious substances laid up there quit the 
solid and assume a fluid state, and are gradually 
converted into the new organs or parts with which the 
embryo is clothed: hence the name organizable siven 
to such matter, that is to say, able io form Gara. 
‘The parts which are thus formed possess the power of 
producing, under favourable circumstances, more of 
this organizable matter, out of which additional parts 
are formed, and so on incessantly. But in the absence 
of such matter no new growth can take place, while 
the extent of growth, and the nature of the parts that 
are formed, depend entirely upon the Uantity of 
organizable matter that the plant produces, 
There is nothing in the whole range of Vegetable 
Physiology which more concerns the cultivator than 
this ; and the history of organizable matter, the cir- 
cumstances favourable or unfavourable to  jts pro- 
duetion, the way in which it changes, the places 
Where it is stored up, and the organs to whose action 
At is owing, may be said to form both the foundation 
anda large part of the fabric of the science of Oreanic 
Botany, This, indeed, will be apparent to everybody 
when it is once understood that organizable matter is 
the substance out of which all the parts of plants are 
ormed. Nevertheless a few examples of its import- 
nce will assist in making the matter clearer, 
‘he cause of these remarks was a question relating 
to Cuttings. Every one knows that cuttings are gener- 
ally selected when the wood is at least partially 
"pened ; at that time organizable matter is eollected 
Within them, and enables them to put forth roots and 
- Moreover, the reason of the common practice 
of allowi 
ane leaf may secrete more organizable matter to replace 
= which js expended in forming roots, so that the 
Pply may not be exhausted. 
ie Aolng Melon plant is unable to set its flowers, or 
thee es set them, the fruit produced is small and of 
i inte quality ; that is, because organizable matter 
sine ormed abundantly till after the plant has made 
ye fran ilerable progress in its growth. When 
ie yell » under the first circumstances, sets and begins 
organi > it attracts to itself so large a proportion of the 
Wzable matter that has been secreted, that the 
sanctioned by long experience, and which have 
been found to increase the crops, and to raise the 
greatest quantity of produce at the least possible ex- 
pense. — We have no theories of our own to support, 
and claim no new discoveries; but we are ready to 
impart to younger farmers the knowledge, such as it 
is, which is the result of thirty years’ practice—during 
which time we have read and studied the works of the 
most celebrated agricultural writers, testing their doc- 
trines by actual experiments—which have often led to 
Grapes shrivel : although more causes than one are 
probably connected with that malady, yet there can be 
no doubt that the want of organizable matter is a 
frequent—perhaps the most frequent—reason. Vines 
are exhausted by over-cropping ; organizable matter is 
for the time diminished ; before it can be replaced the 
new crop of Grapes has consumed all that the trees 
contained, and then, their food failing them, the berries 
necessarily shrivel. But this deficiency in organizable 
matter may arise from other causes than over-cropping: 
injuries to the leaves, of many kinds, are a fruitful 
source of the mischief; yet in all these instances the 
way in which the injury tells is the non-production of 
organizable matter. 
n conclusion, it must never be forgotten that 
plants, like animals, consist of two essentially distinct 
parts: the one the organized material of their struc- 
ture, the other the organizad/e matter out of which 
additions are to be made to that structure; and that 
under no circumstances whatsoever can growth take 
place, except in the presence of the latter. This law 
Is not only one of the foundations of Vegetable Phiysi- 
ology, as we have already said, but one of the most 
important of all facts for the gardener to bear in mind, 
explaining, as it does, the sources of success or failure 
in multitudes of the operations in which he is daily 
engaged. 
Wuen the harvest is over, and all the corn is safely 
stacked or lodged in the barn, the farmer naturally 
feels inclined to rest himself aud his horses, and to 
relax in his labour ; and if the weather has been fine 
and they have worked early and late, they require a 
little rest to recruit their strength. Light work, such 
as horse-hoeing between the rows of Turnips, more to 
stir the ground than to mould them up, carrying 
mould to mix up with the farm-yard dung, and other 
jobs, may be done, so as not to work the men and 
horses too severely. But this must not last long, so 
long only as to let men and horses recover their 
suength ; for no day should be ever lost in a well- 
regulated farm. A portion of the Wheat or Oat 
stubble ought immediately to be well scarified, if not 
hoed by hand, which last is an excellent practice, and 
gives employment to many hands which otherwise 
would not readily find work. The weather is gene- 
rally fine for some time after harvest, and advantage 
should be taken of it to clear the fields of weeds by 
raking them together and burning them. If some 
heaps of manure or compost have been prepared 
during the summer and laid on some corner or head- 
land, where they are now in a fit state of decompo- 
sition to be carried on the land, five or six tumbril 
Joads per acre may be laid on and immediately spread 
and ploughed in. According to the size of the farm 
and the stock kept, especially working horses, a certain 
portion of this land is to be sown with winter Tares, 
as soon as possible; and this sowing is to be repeated 
every fortnight till near Christmas, at the rate of two 
bushels of seed per acre. They may be drilled or 
sown broadcast. There is no crop more profit- 
able than ares, to be cut green or fed off with sheep, 
in spring. On very heavy land unfit for Turnips, 
they are an admirable preparation for Wheat, giving 
ample time for a bastard fallow in the following 
summer. On good loams they come off in good time 
to sow Turnips, which, if properly managed, will grow 
as well after a crop of Tares as they would on a 
summer fallow. We will take another opportunity 
of giving directions for this important crop. Weare 
well aware that we are only stating what every good 
farmer or bailiff knows well, or ought to know ; but 
we write for young farmers and amateurs, and if any 
practical experienced farmer has any objection to 
make to our suggestions, which are all taken from our 
own practice for many years on very different soils 
of moderate fertility, we shall be very ready to receive 
information, and to compare the experience of others 
with our own, provided the facts be stated with accu- 
racy, and sufficient reasons be given for adopting a 
different course. Our object is to diffuse the know- 
ledge of, those practices in husbandry; which are 
ppointment and loss ;—and now, near the close 
of our career, it is a pleasure and relaxation to endea- 
vour to give to others what to ourselves would have 
been invaluable at the beginning of our agricultural 
experiments : yet we are not too old to learn, and are 
fully aware that every year tends to correct errors, and 
to suggest improvements in the cultivation of the soil, 
To return to our sowing of Tares. It is of great 
consequence that the seed be good, and of the genuine 
winter Tare, of which there are several varieties. It 
is best to save as much seed every year asis required 
for the next sowing. A careful farmer will take care 
to have some to spare for this purpose ; and if his seed 
degenerates, or is of an inferior variety, he will look 
amongst the crops of his neighbours, or elsewhere, to 
be sure of having good seed. The nature of his soil 
must be taken into consideration, as some soils are 
more favourable to the growth of Tares than others ; 
but with good tillage they will succeed in soils of very 
different qualities, provided these are properly prepared 
and well manured. _ It is more profitable to have one 
acre of Tares which grow luxuriantly and cover the 
ground, than many acres which give but a moderate 
crop, and allow the weeds to spring up in the intervals. 
No crop cleans the land better, especially those soils 
which are subject to be overrun with Charlock, or wild 
Mustard. If this troublesome weed be watched, and 
the Tares cut or fed off before the seed of the Char- 
lock is fully formed, this weed is not only destroyed, 
but increases the fodder, without any injury to the 
cattle or sheep. If fresh seed is brought to the surface 
when the land is ploughed again for Turnips, the 
weeds will be destroyed in the hoeing of this crop, and 
none will probably appear in the next Corn crop. In 
land which has been badly cultivated, and ploughed 
with a very shallow furrow, for fear of “ bringing up 
Charlock,” as the old farmers say, this is the most 
effectual mode of destroying it: but it requires 
patience and perseverance to do so effectually. 
In some favourable situations, where the harvest is 
early, the land may be ploughed and sown with 
Stubbie, or Eddish Turnips, as they are called, and these 
will give good feed for sheep at the end of winter ; 
but if the soil be heavy and wet in winter, it is better 
to plough it in small round stitches, or ridge it, as is 
done in Essex, to let the frost penetrate the ground as 
much as possible. There is no tillage like a frosty 
winter.—M. 
OBSERVATIO. S ON THE NEW SYSTEM OF 
POTTING PLANTS. 
By Wm. Woop ; at Messrs. Henderson’s Nursery. 
Os ables 
In the remarks, to which the following are intended ag 
a sequel, an opinion was offered that the present, test of 
superior cultivation is ‘ the greatest amount of eonstity- 
tional vigour within a limited period 3” and as this, whe 
attained, can but be regarded as a primary step towards 
an ultimate object, it may with equal certainty be affirmed 
that the highest purpose of cultivation is a constitutional 
vigour, combined with a uniform development of bloom. 
In attempting to define the means generally adopted for 
the attainment of this, it will be of interest to glance 
at the principles or conditions upon which such results 
depend. f 
The present modes of potting may be considered, Se 
two distinct mechanical operations. The first, from the 
simplicity and uniformity of its process, has been termed 
a Progressive and Accumulative system ; and the second, 
from its necessary exposure to successive seasons of ex- 
citement and repose, may not unaptly be designated an 
Alternate or Restrictive system. The leading feature of 
the former (the Accumulative) is found in its leading to a 
maturity of growth, without the aid of intermediate shifts, 
by removing plants, in their youngest state, to pots having 
due proportion in size to their ultimate vigour and 
fertility The latter, or Restrictive System, is well 
characterized by its dependence for the Same end upon 
the ordinary practice of shifting gradually from smaller 
to larger pots. , 
That there should exist many doubts as to the prac- 
ticability of the first method, is not surprising; since it 
is totally opposed to general practice, not being a gradual 
process of repeated and protracted efforts, but an seine 
Gon of first principles towards producing Yan immediate 
effect. Each System is not less opposite in its mechanical 
tails than in its natural tendenc; + the A yoke 
being an mmedate application of large qnantities of soil, 
bearing due proportion to a perfect development of parts, 
and so approaching natural conditions, while the Restric- 
tive or frequent shifting system is the successive applica- 
tion of materials proportionate to the ewisting vigour of 
the plant in its various Stages of growth. 
The value of the Accumulative mode of cultivation will 
be more readily understood by tracing its connexion with 
