CULTURAL HINTS. 
135 
Let us not be misunderstood, however ; for when pure turfy loam without dry 
manure is used in pot-cu-lture, the slight tinge of colour in the liquid superadded 
cannot be productive of injury. What we wish to combat, is the false notion, 
that the colouring matter is the manure. The truth must prevail, in proportion as 
science and faithful analysis extend their influence ; yet, while we assert that the 
chemical salts of steeped manures are the fertilisers, and that if the colouring matter 
of drainage from the mixen were perfectly discharged by lime not used in excess, the 
clear fluid would retain its efficiency, we still give the preference to these agents, 
the products of natural fermentation, over any salts prepared by art in the laboratory. 
As an analogy, we would cite the well-authenticated facts of the rapid germi- 
nation of seeds which have passed through the viscera of birds. The Pimento 
trees which furnish the allspice of commerce, are quickly raised by berries, thus 
impregnated by animal juices. Nature presents numerous similar examples, 
which art cannot imitate; and therefore we arrive at the inference, that as the 
naturally prepared liquid manures are the products of a species of slow combustion 
by which vegetable and animal matters are resolved into their elements, they must 
be most congenial to plants, as in fact they derive their origin from them. 
"While thus sanctioning the use of animal liquid manure, we must protest 
against a dirty and injurious method which we have seen freely practised; namely, 
by applying fresh cow-dung, stirred up in a tub of water, till it can be poured 
through the nozzle of a water-pot. The water passes down and conveys to the 
soil the dissolved salts, and liquefied gall of the manure ; but a cake of dry, effete 
matter is deposited on the surface, which prevents the ingress of air and of water. 
The reason assigned is, that the manure keeps the plant cool ! This is a vulgar 
error which may lead to much mischief. 
CULTURAL HINTS. 
Things in themselves apparently very insignificant are often found upon 
investigation to exert a powerful influence on the welfare of plants under artificial 
treatment, even when viewed abstractedly from other conditions, and no more 
ascribed to their action than can be legitimately and directly proved to spring 
from them. And though many of the operations of the cultivator may, separately 
considered, seem scarcely to affect his charge, yet it is a number of these working 
together, either for an advancing or a detrimental end, that forms the chasm 
between the best and the worst of culture. The more, therefore, that we can 
multiply the former and diminish the latter, the more completely shall we develope 
the capabilities of plants. 
However trivial a thing may appear when viewed singly, or however circum- 
