151 



15 years since I had formed the opinion respecting the maritime forest 

 which I only now publish, but which, in the meantime, I have made 

 known to many persons. 



In these 15 years, I have gathered together a mass of observations 

 made by myself, I have collected numberless data, gathered information ; 

 and my mode of appreciating the influence which the devastation of the 

 marine forest has upon the medical constitution of Rio de Janeiro is 

 each day stronger. 



MANURES FOR BANANAS. 



In the Bulletin for May, 1893, information was supplied as to the 

 kinds of manure which should be u-ed for trial with bananas, and the 

 method of carrying on the experiment. 



The following notes have been supplied by Mr. Henry Cork. The 

 manure " A. &." referred to is Albert's Horticultural Manure and 

 r< P. K. N." is Albert's Tropical Manure. The Horticultural Manure 

 contains nitrogen in the form of nitrates and of ammonia salts, potash, 

 and phosphoric acid all in a soluble form, hence a "complete manure." 

 The " P. K. N." differs from " A. Gr." in containing less nitrogen, but 

 much more phosphoric acid and potash, especially potash. 



It is satisfactory to find that (: nine-hand" bunches are produced where 

 bananas before only gave " six hands," and that the useful manures ap- 

 pear to be the mixture of nitrate of soda and chloride of potassium, 

 and a complete manure of the same composition as Albert's Tropical 

 Manure. 



" I have great pleasure in sending you a report on the results 

 obtained by the experiments with the Banana Manures. 



" The manures were duly weighed and mixed with dry earth in 

 accordance with the formula sent me The ground was slackened with 

 the fork, the manure sown broadcast and slightly covered with firmly 

 pulverised earth. The P. K. N., an 1 a mixture of Xitrate of Soda and 

 Chloride of Potassium were the only ones that made any improvement 

 in the crop These did well. It wou'd be suicidal to manure bananas 

 unless a bulk of rotten vegetation be added either in the shape of grass, 

 rubbish, dry leaves, stable or cow pen manure, but with these the above 

 may be used with a most decided advantage. The A. G. manures were 

 no good. 



"Rainfall from 1st Feb '94, to 22nd Dec. '94, was 101.81 inches 

 during time manures have been in ground. 



" The average temperature ranged from 70° to 85° F. during the 

 24 hours, but the lowest temperature was 59° and the highest 94°. 



"Artificial manures will increase the size of Banana bunches in a suf- 

 ficient ratio to pay for their application. Se veral of my experiments 

 are now growing nine hands where only six hands were grown before. 

 I am working on my own account on some bad j atches in my old fields 

 with most decided results. But of course you will readily understand 

 that the soils vary much in this country and therefore a good deal of 

 technical knowledge is necessary to be successful. 



" I am afraid you will not be able to get a general manure to suit all 



