By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. 183 



those of the Apricot Tree, will probably require some protec- 

 tion. This highly excitable habit seems to indicate a plant 

 of a cold climate, probably that of Tartary ; and I am in- 

 clined to think that it will ripen its fruit very early in the 

 open air in this country. 



In the last summer, and in the present year, I have sup- 

 plied the old plant rather freely, with manure in a liquid 

 state ; and it is now growing with very great vigour, and will 

 afford me a large number of buds and cuttings. Being 

 wholly ignorant of the habits of the species, and fearful of 

 destroying the only tree I possessed, I proceeded with much 

 more caution than usual in the use of liquid manure ; for I 

 generally use it very freely, and without apprehension of ill 

 effects, experience having satisfied me that plants of all kinds, 

 even Heaths,* very often perish through want of food, and 

 that they very rarely suffer from excess of it, when their 

 roots are confined to the narrow limits of a pot. 



* A plant of Heath (Erica australis, I believe) was placed under my care in 

 the spring of 1823, with a request that I would treat it in any way I wished. It 

 was then about eight inches high, and growing in a small quantity of peat earth 

 and sand ; and in that it continued to grow with very little increase of size till 

 the following spring. From that period it was regularly supply with water, 

 which, though clear, was considerably tinged with an infusion of pigeon s'-dung. 

 I was apprehensive this kind of food would prove fatal to it ; but far from tins 

 being the result, the plant grew with excessive health and vigour, emitting very 

 numerous branches, eight of which exceeded eighteen inches each in length. It 

 was then taken away by the owner of it, and I have not since seen or heard of 

 it but it left me in a state of luxuriant health. How far other species of this 

 genus will bear being thus abundantly fed with liquid manure, is an interesting 

 question to the gardener. 



