[ 233 ] 



XLVI. On the Utility of Oxygene Air in promoting Vegetation. 

 By Daniel Hill, Esq. F. H. S. 



Read April 2, 1811. 



The two sketches of a Pelargonium Zonale, which I have 

 now the honour of exhibiting to the Horticultural Society, 

 are fac-similes of the plant itself, and will give some idea of 

 the utility of Oxygene Air, when imparted to the soil around 

 the roots of plants. This plant, in June 1796, was 18 inches 

 high, with few flowers upon it. As the window of my house, 

 in Great Russel-street, where the plant was kept, faces several 

 large breweries, this, like many others during eight successive 

 years, soon drooped, and shewed the badness of the air for 

 vegetation, so that by the middle of July having been drawn 

 weak, and most of its leaves .decayed, it was condemned for 

 removal. 



Being strongly persuaded that Oxygene Air gave vigour to 

 plants, I determined to try the effect of applying it to the soil 

 of this plant. In the short space of a week, 1 was gratified 

 with seeing an evident change for the better, all the branches 

 beginning to grow, and from a sickly yellow, its leaves soon 

 resumed their natural green colour. Three strong shoots from 

 the bottom, in six weeks grew up to the top of the old plant, 

 and by the middle of September, it was in the greatest possible 

 health, loaded with flowers, and the largest leaves I had ever 

 seen. The height of the plant, under this treatment, was in 



