By G. J. Towers, Esq. 



4:5 



drops of solution of caustic potash. This brought out at once, a 

 deep mulberry crimson, and the slight stimulus of the alkali, might, 

 it was conceived promote the object in view. 



2nd. The other solution was four ounces of rain water, and one 

 fourth of a fluid drachm of a concentrated fluid oxy-muriate of 

 iron, of a deep orange tint. This formed a liquid so austerely 

 astringent, that it was found unpleasant to rince the mouth with 

 it ; it is perhaps, of all the preparations of iron, the most delicately 

 sensible to the minutest atom of any prussiate. 



With each of these solutions I copiously watered the Balsam, 

 having carefully marked the pots, so that no mistake could occur. 

 A third Balsam I watered with pure water only. These processes 

 were continued till the 14th of August ; and then, to insure the 

 saturation of the soil, and have no question of doubt, I placed 

 some solution of iron in one earthen vessel and some Brazil wood 

 in another; and placing the Balsam into its appropriate vessel, 

 poured a quantity of the fluid over the soil till the rim of the pot 

 was reached, and then left, the plants standing in the saucers: 

 thus, one young Balsam had been regularly watered over the 

 surface of its soil for sixteen days (as required) with a strong colour- 

 ing fluid. A second had been similarly treated with an astringent 

 metallic preparation ; and finally, each was immersed as it were, 

 and left in its appropriate fluid till every drop w as absorbed. The 

 plant moistened with water, was merely supplied as it became 

 needful. I may add that as the heat of the stove was very great 

 at times, and the plants stood open to the full sun, I once or 

 twice gave all of them, a little rain water alike, which rather tended 

 than otherwise, to wash the artificial fluids among the earthy par- 

 ticles. But after the two were immersed, no more water was 

 given, and on the 17th I took out large slices of the stems for 

 investigation. 



