HINTS TO PLANTERS AND IMPROVERS. 
175 
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expense at any of the philosophical chemists in London, and the chief provincial towns; and also the 
few test tubes, glasses, &c., that are generally used in chemical experiments. 
The application of these re-agents will be minutely described in a future article. I must now limit 
myself to the proof of that leading fact which is assumed in the heading of the present paper. 
Let a small quantity of sound, loamy garden soil be screened through a common wire sieve, so as to 
separate the stones and fibrous lumps of earth : it is not needful to dry, or to reduce it to powder. 
With this, fill a Hyacinth pot, or a glass vessel eight or ten inches deep, with a hole or neck at the 
bottom, over which a piece of linen is tied. Put in the earth so that every part be regularly filled, as 
in the most careful potting: shake and pat the sides of the vessel, that there may be no air holes or 
interstices. Place the pot, or cylindrical glass on a convenient stand, and under it a clean pan or basin 
to receive the liquid drainage, which will be produced. Then pour over the mould small quantities of 
the liquid manure—say about a wine-glass each time—equally over every part of the surface, waiting 
till the whole pass into the earth before another is added. If a glass cylinder be used, the gradual 
passage of the fluid can be observed ; and this, it is obvious, must be advantageous. When the mould 
is wetted throughout, a portion of fluid will trickle through the lower orifice of the vessel; and this, if 
foul, should be returned over the mould. I have found that in a vessel four inches wide at top, and 
throughout its length, containing seven full inches depth of soil, about ten ounces (i. e. about five wine¬ 
glasses) of liquid manure, will completely saturate the earth, and also allow the filtration of about a 
wine-glass, or two fluid ounces, which will fall into the receiver. This drainage ought to be clear , 
and almost colourless, and void of odour. If so, it should be poured into a clean phial; after which, 
another small quantity of the brown manure should be poured over the mould. When any colour is 
perceived to pass, the process will be so far completed, as it must then be plain that no further 
absorption can take place in a mass already saturated. 
HINTS TO PLANTERS AND IMPROVERS. 
j 1 By Mr. J. COX, Gardener to V. Wells, Esq., Redleae. 
.A T this season of the year, when planting and alterations are in full operation, it may not be amiss 
AA to offer a few remarks for the consideration of those to whom such work is entrusted; and as I 
have lately had my attention particularly directed to the subject, I shall not be deterred by the 
extreme difficulty of advancing anything new on subjects which have occupied the attention of some 
of the ablest men of the past and present day—from detailing a few impressions which circumstances 
have forced upon me. I do it with the view of drawing attention to the subject, in order to incite 
to a spirit of observation, not as presuming to teach when I myself have much to learn. 
There cannot be a doubt but that certain combinations of trees, for example, are more pleasing 
than others ; and that, therefore, in addition to studying their size, forms, and characteristics, one 
must also study their effect in combination or otherwise, in order that they may be so disposed as to 
give evidence of design on the part of the planter. Extensive and varied observations are therefore 
indispensable to perfection on this point; for it is certain, that in this, as in many other tilings, there 
is a standard to be aimed at, and, though occasionally pleasing combinations are produced by chance, 
yet chance is not to be depended upon. It must, therefore, be a desirable thing to have some certain 
recognisable rules whereby to regulate the planting, in the first instance ; and these, of course, must 
vary with the facilities afforded by the different localities to be operated upon. 
If we see a valley thickly planted with trees, and the summits of the adjacent hills left bare, we 
could hardly fail to be disagreeably impressed with the bad taste of the proj ector, or to consider it a 
case where the natural advantages were (if I may so term it) planted out; but if, on the contrary, 
the hills were crowned with woods, and the valley converted into a pasture, with here and there a 
group to break the too great uniformity—some bold projections and deep indentations being formed 
in the main body of the woods, carried in some instances nearly to the summits of the eminences—it 
could hardly fail to convey a pleasing impression to a mind possessed of taste to appreciate, and 
comprehension to understand; for in this manner the apparent height of the hills would be much 
increased, and by the same rule so also would the depth of the valley. Thus would be produced, by 
4 skilful management, two grand requisites for effect, viz., height and depth, consequently broader light 
(s) and shade. Hence, there is, in this instance, evidently a right and wrong method of proceeding. 
0 \ Doubtless many other instances might be quoted, but I have advanced enough to excite the attention 
