5S 



ON LIQUID MANURE. 



of the plants is a most desirable application ; as other descriptions of manure can 

 only be used at that period of the year at which it can be turned in either with 

 the plough or spade, if we except grass lands, and then can only be used bene- 

 ficially as a top-dressing during the winter or early in the spring, otherwise the 

 sun and air would soon absorb all its virtues. 



The beneficial effects of liquid manure in agriculture were known to Columella, 

 who lived in the reign of Claudius, and who has stated that if fruit trees are 

 watered with such liquid, the fruit is not only better flavoured, but in greater 

 abundance. The same also has been said by Palladius of the vine, and Mortimer 

 has stated that the rennet apples of Kent were degenerating in consequence of 

 their not being watered with urine. Liquid manure is very much used in the 

 German part of Switzerland for watering their meadows ; and indeed agricul- 

 turists in this country begin to understand the beneficial effects of it, as it is not 

 suffered to run to waste as formerly. 



Notwithstanding the beneficial effects which it produces in agriculture, we 

 believe it has not received that attention either in horticulture or floriculture of 

 which it is deserving. We had some two or three years ago an interview with 

 the late talented and indefatigable horticulturist, T. A. Knight, Esq., President 

 of the Horticultural Society, when we introduced the subject of liquid manure, 

 at which time he stated that he considered it an excellent application for the 

 forcing of strawberries, and that at present little or nothing was known of its 

 beneficial effects in extensive horticultural pursuits, and in that we most cordially 

 agree. We therefore do hope that some practical horticulturist and floriculturist 

 will take up the subject, and let the public have the benefit of their experiments. 



In detailing such experiments, it will be necessary to state from what source 

 the manure has been obtained, as different manures possess different stimulating 

 properties beneficial to some plants, and injurious to others ; and also to state its 

 specific gravity when used. Information on these points will be most essentially 

 necessary. 



Some few years ago Mr. Cameron, Curator to the Birmingham Botanical and 

 Horticultural Society, made experiments on the effects of liquid manure obtained 

 from pigeon's, fowl's, sheep's, and deer's dung mixed together. They were kept 

 dry until wanted for use, by which means their virtues were better preserved 

 than if they had been kept in a moist state. 



The proportions used by him were as follows : — To forty gallons of water he 

 put half a peck of the above manure mixture, and let it stand for twenty-four 

 hours, after which time it was fit for use. 



This mixture he found particularly beneficial to some sorts of plants culti- 

 vated in pots, particularly those whose roots possessed strong spongioles, such 

 as Balsams, Pelargoniums, Chrysanthemums, Mimuluses, Fuchsias, Salvias, and 

 Pansies. Its beneficial effects upon plants possessing such roots he considered 

 to be owing to its hot nature destroying the tender points of the spongioles ; and 



