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soil. But the quantity of earth, which a small pot contains, 
soon becomes exhausted, relatively to one kind of plant; though 
it may be still fertile relatively to others; and the size of the pot 
cannot be changed sufficiently often to remedy this loss of fer- 
tility ; and if it were ever so frequently changed, the mass of 
mould, which each successive emission of roots would enclose, 
must remain the same.” 
“Manure can therefore probably be most beneficially given 
in a purely liquid state; and the quantity which trees growing 
in pots have thus taken, under my care, without any injury and 
with the greatest good effect, has so much exceeded every expec- 
tation I had formed, that I am induced to communicate to the 
Society the particulars and the result of my experience.” 
“I have for some years appropriated a forcing-house, at 
Downton, to the purposes of experiment solely upon fruit-trees; 
which, as I have frequent occasion to change the subjects upon 
which I have to operate, are confined in pots. These were at first 
supplied with water, in which about one-tenth, by measure, of 
the manure of pigeons, or domestic poultry, had been infused; 
and the quantity of these substances (generally the latter) was 
increased from one-tenth to a fourth. The water, after standing 
forty-eight hours, acquired a colour considerably deeper than 
that of porter; and in this state was drawn off clear, and 
employed to feed trees of the vine, the mulberry, the peach, and 
other plants. A second quantity of water was then applied, and 
afterwards used in the same manner; when the manure was 
changed, and the same process repeated.” 
“The vine and mulberry tree, being very gross feeders, were 
not likely to be soon injured by this treatment ; but I expected 
the peach-tree, which is often greatly injured by excess of 
manure in a solid state, to give early indications of being over- 
fed. Contrary, however, to my expectations the peach tree 
maintained, at the end of two years, the most healthy and luxu- 
riant appearance imaginable, and produced fruit in the last sea- 
son in greater perfection than I had ever previously been able to 
obtain it. Some seedling plants had then acquired, at eighteen 
months old, (though the whole of their roots had been confined 
to half a square foot of mould) more than eleven feet in height 
with numerous branches, and have afforded a most abundant 
and vigorous blossom in the present spring, which has set 
