271 
quantity by me, which was cut last winter. I also gave the 
preference to this material from having read lately in the 
Chronicle that the lightest wood made the best Charcoal.” 
It is the more important that the principle of making Char- 
coal should be understood, inasmuch as great quantities of veg- 
etable refuse, of one sort or other, may be used for the purpose, 
and rendered valuable. Amongst this we may mention the offal 
stakes and stems of the garden, sawdust, tan ; and in cider 
countries it is probable that the refuse of apples from the cider 
mill may prove another source from which Charcoal may be 
obtained. 
Since the preceding part of this article was printed, further 
evidence of the powers of Charcoal has arisen ; and as it is our 
object to present the readers of the Botanic Garden with facts 
as their guide, rather than with theoretic speculations, we will 
copy a communication of the Earl of Essex to the Gardeners’ 
Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, which has thrown new light 
on our subject. His Lordship says, — 
“Herewith I send you three plants of Turnips, (Skirving’s) 
sowed on the same plot of ground, at the same hour of the same 
day. In the case of the largest specimen. No. 1, the seed was 
well mixed with about twelve times its bulk of charcoal-dust. 
In that of the next size. No. 2, the seed was mixed with five 
times its weight of common salt, and nine bulks of Charcoal ; 
and in the case of the plant just come up, the seed was put in 
quite alone. In all three cases the seed was put in drills in soil 
which last year bore Mangold Worzel in seed, and the year 
before wheat, and no manure has been applied since. My object 
in using the Charcoal and Salt was from the consideration that 
both substances are powerful absorbents and retainers of moist- 
ure, as well as direct food for plants ” 
“Numbers 1 and 2, in spite of the parched state of the ground, 
(the 3rd of June) came up strong in five days, and continued 
growing ; No. 1, however, soon and rapidly taking the lead. 
At the end of a fortnight all three rows were once watered, which 
however failed to bring up the seed sown without anything. 
When our first rain came heavily, ten days ago. No. 1 grew 
almost visibly, and three or four days after No. 3 just began to 
show. I may also state that I sowed Belgian Carrots with 
Charcoal only, the first week in May, and though the soil then 
236 . ACCTABIGM. 
