23$ HORTICULTURAL TOUK. 



pected, Amsterdam produces by far the largest quantity 

 Messrs Sielring and Vander Aa of this city, are the prin- 

 cipal dealers. They have a lease of all the ashes of 

 the capital, and likewise of those of the neighbouring 

 towns. In Amsterdam they have 80 carts and horses, and 

 as many men, daily employed in collecting the ashes. 

 These are carefully kept separate from the street manure, 

 and stored under long shades on one of the quays, where 

 they lie ready for exportation. 



For information regarding the employment and utility 

 of these ashes in agriculture, we may refer to the publi- 

 cations of Sir John Sinclair and Mr Iladcliffe. It is our 

 business here to add, that they are also found useful in 

 horticulture. M. De Wulf of Ghent (mentioned supra; 

 p. 67.) particularly recommends their use both in the 

 garden and orchard. He observes, however, that they 

 should not be laid on the borders very recently after be- 

 ing taken from the fire, for in that case they would prove 

 injurious; but that, after being kept for a short time, and 

 if they be applied in small quantity, they never fail to 

 produce the best effects. Mr De Wulf particularly men- 

 tions, that fruit trees in a languishing state in his garden, 

 have been restored to vigour by the application of ashes. 

 He considers, that they not only tend to open the soil, 

 and to stimulate it (Pechauffer), but also assist in afford- 

 ing additional nourishment to the plants, by means of the 

 water which they absorb and gradually give out ; and that 

 by carrying into the soil principles calculated to attract 

 the carbonic acid of the atmosphere, the solubility of the 

 portions adapted for the food of plants is promoted. If 

 no rain or dew fall soon after the application, slight wa- 

 terings from the rose of a watering-pot are proper. When 

 ashes ,'ire old, or have been long kept, they may be spread 



