HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV OF LONDON. 



187 



Mr, Fortune reported from the Hothouse department that 

 Poittevin's Manure had been tried with Pehirgoniums and Cal- 

 ceolarias in pots, and also in the open ground with various other 

 plants. J its effects . in all cases have not proved it of more striking 

 utility than common night-soil or any other good manure. In 

 the open ground where it was tried upon 9 square yards the 

 9 adjoining yards were planted with the same kinds, and scarcely 

 any difference of growth could be detected. 



Strong bottom heat for Cacti, and plenty of light, have been found 

 very beneficial in the growth of these plants, but the experiments 

 are discontinued for the present season, as frame moisture with- 

 out bright light would prove injurious to them. 



Mr Gordon reported from the Hardy Department that expe- 

 riments with Poittevin's patent disinfected Manure had been tried 

 for some time, and he considered fairly so far as regards its effects 

 on the growth of plants in pots. The following results have been 

 obtained. For annuals the manure was mixed with the soil in 

 which they were potted in the following proportions yVjt2'-6j J 

 it was used without mixture. The kinds selected were, Xemophila 

 insignis, Impatiens glandulifera and other sorts of Balsams, and 

 sweet Peas. The Plants of Xeraophila and sweet Peas all became 

 sickly for the first ten days, but began to recover in proportion 

 to the weakness of the mixture, those recovering first which were 

 in soil with the smallest portion of manure 3 some of those 

 planted in manure alone after becoming very sickly, upon being 

 several times watered, recovered and finally became more vigorous 

 than any of the others and of a much darker green. The pots 

 were found to be free from worms for a long time Impatiens 

 glandulifera and others were potted in the proportions of yV> t> i> 

 and in manure alone. The plants (there were two of each) 

 potted in became perceptibly languid, those in j very sickly 

 and were evidently much affected by the overdose, but they 

 began to recover in about ten days and finally grew vigorously. 

 Those in disinfected manure alone after lingering for about two 

 months eventually died, or rather rotted off above the pot. The 

 following perennials were also tried as above stated, viz.. Verbena 

 sororia, \'erbena teucrioides. Hybrid Petunia and Statice tata- 

 rica. The manure had as nearly as possible the same effects as 

 on the annuals, with this difference, that its action was much 

 slower and not so likely to kill the plants. With respect to ' 

 Shrubs hardly any effect on their growth was observed, except 

 when they were planted in manure alone, when in most cases they 

 were killed, particularly species of the Pinus ; probably trees and 

 hard wooded shrubs require one or even two years before the 

 effects of the manure are conspicuous. Nemophila insignis, Im- 

 patiens glandulifera and Sweet Peas were also potted in the 

 same soil as before, but they were top dressed with \ an inch 



