45 



best form of ammonia used. N^itrate of soda comes next to blood and 

 bone, bat thero is a strong difference and a considerable step between 

 these two. Bright cottonseed meal gave better results than sulphate of 

 ammonia. Our experiments therefore, seem to indicate that as a source 

 of ammonia, blood and bone stnid tirsf, nitrate oi' soda second, cotton- 

 seed meal third, and sulphate of ammonia fourth of the substances with 

 which we have experimented. 



Potash. — While there is a great variation in the difierent [dots 

 treated w ith different forms of potash thero seems to be a greater differ- 

 ence due to the comhination than to any particular form of potash. 

 Suuuniog up the whole and noting the character, we find that potassium- 

 magnesium carbonate proved the most efficient. Low grade sulphate 

 of potash, frequently called the double potash salts, stands second in the 

 list. While none of its plots are unusually good, it has the good char- 

 acter of having very few poor plots. High-grade sulf)hate of potash 

 srands slightly below low-grade sulphate of potash in the potash list. 

 Muriatd of potash stinds fourth in the list when all of its combinations 

 are considered, in spite of the fact that the best plot in the field was 

 fertilized with muriate of potash. 



Phos})tioric Acid. — As a whole, the experiments indicate that a 

 small amount of soluble phosphoric acid will suffice. Acid phosphate is 

 decidedly an unprofitable fertilizer in nine-tenths of the combinations. 

 Its bad effects cannot be ascribed to the presence of sulphuric acid or 

 other caustic material. Bone meal has shown itself a very efficient 

 substance. 



No fertilizer ingredient used in the above experiments is absolutely 

 bad in itself, but becomes bad by being combined with certain other 

 forms. The detrimental effect of the fertilizers caniiOt be said to be 

 due to some caustic substance in the combination. The facts accumu- 

 lated are not sufficie-t to warrant any further conclusions to be drawn. 



VANILLA. • 



By J. Ch. Sawkr, F.L.S. 



(From Odorographia, a Natural History of Raw Materials and Drugs 

 used in the Perfume Industry, intended to serve Growers, 

 Miu.:]fnotiir<'rs and Consumers.) 



In Mexico, plantations are established either in virgin forests or in 

 open fields. In the former case it is necessary to cut down all shrubs, 

 climbers, and such larae trees as would cause an excess of shade, leaving 

 only young trees suitable to serve as supports to the plants. The orchid 

 attaches itself to the bark by meansof aerial roots(produced from the nodes) 

 which are its veritable organs of nutrition; the subterranean roots being 

 very insignificant in comparison to the size of the plant. It is not nncom- 



* See also Bulletin of the Botanical Department of Jamaica, Oct. 188S. 



