593 
lie took over it, but with the tapping implement he used, which is 
one Mr, Miekle obtained from Ceylon, the work can be very 
expeditously done, 
C. CURTIS, 
SOIL FOR POT PLANTS. 
The results of a recent experiment with different mixtures of 
soils on Balsams grown in pots, and the effect of manuring, al- 
though not having any pretence to scientific value, may neverthe- 
less be of same interest, especially as in the absence of an ample 
supply of leaf-mould the difficulty of obtaining a suitable mixture 
is one that- troubles the local amateur gardeners considerably. Red 
soil, that is, the ordinary granitic soil of the Island of Pinang, is the 
most easily obtainable and therefore the kind that is most generally 
used, but without liberal manuring it is of very little use. Coco- 
nut fibre refuse is also deficient in the constituents of plant food but 
it may be advantageously used in small quantities to lighten the 
soil. In the experiments above referred to and detailed below, one 
hundred and eight plants of Balsams, of exactly the same age and 
size, were divided into six lots and planted in thirty-six pots, three 
in each pot, and placed side by side under exactly similar con- 
ditions. T^iree of each lot were watered occasionally with liquid 
Poudrette manure, and the others received no manure of any kind. 
I he measurements were made when the plants had arrived at 
maturity. 
Soil Mixture. Result. 
Unmanured plants 15-17 in. 
high. 
Manured plants 18-20 in. high, 
good. 
Un manured plants 12-14 in. 
high. 
Manured plants 18-20 in. good. 
Un manured plants 14 in. high, 
poor. 
Manured plants 18-19 in. high. 
Unmanured plants 6-IO in. 
high, thin as needles. 
Manured plants 12-15 inches. 
Unmanured plants 6-10 inches 
high, thin and wiry. 
Manured plants 12-15 inches 
middling. 
Unmanured plants 9-10 inches 
high, wea-k and useless. 
Manured plants 12-15 inches 
but not good plants. 
()3¥o 
1. — Soil from Municipal dum- 
ping ground consisting of sweep- 
ings of country roads containing 
a large proportion of decayed 
leaves. 
2. — Half red granitic soil and 
half soil from Municipal dumping 
ground, same kind as No. i. 
3. — ’Half Coco-nut-fibre refuse 
and half road sweepings as in 
No. 1 & 2. 
4. — All Coco- nut fibre refuse. 
5. — All red soil. 
6. — Half red soil and half Coco- 
nut fibre refuse. 
