08 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
compounds is absorbed by the roots and inhaled by the leases. 
When acted upon by heat and light, the carbon is retained and 
the oxygen evolved. Among many other obseivations, he re¬ 
marked that the roots of plants appropriated for their own support 
the nutritious matter contained in the water, that the residue 
causes putrefaction, and generates animalcula destructive to the 
roots and to vegetable life. Hence the necessity of changing the 
water when the Hyacinths are in a rapidly-growing state. He 
produced on the table two fine specimens grown in glasses. In 
one of the glasses a table-spoonful of charcoal was mixed with the 
water, and in the other the same quantity of chalk (the carbonate 
of lime) ; by which experiments, repeatedly tried, he proved their 
efficacy in preserving the waters pure from the time they were 
put in the glasses until after flowering. 
Mr. Massie agreed with Mr. Shearer that coal ashes injured 
the tops of the leaves. He preferred old tan, as leaf-mould, was 
generally infested with slugs. The water he used was preserved 
by boiling it. He recommended the greater portion of the com¬ 
post to be decomposed cow-dung for growing them in beds. 
Mr. Sherwood was of opinion that, by ooiling the watei, the 
acid, if it contained any, would be removed. 
Mr. Guilfoyle always covered with leaves: the compost one- 
half road scrapings, one-quarter cowdung, and one-quartei light 
loam. 
Mr. Caie considered that the vegetable particles in water are 
destroyed, either by boiling, by the admixture of lime or of 
charcoal, or as directed by Mr. Kerman, by a small quantit} of 
nitre to perpetuate its freshness. 
Mr. Morse observed a difficulty in forcing the double yellows. 
When removed from the tan, he always covered them with loose 
hay, to induce them to throw up good stems. He found, in 
cutting the bulbs of such as did not rise well, that they were 
rotten. He was fearful, when the brown paper was removed, 
that a sudden exposure to light would injure the leaves, but in 
all other particulars, he approved of the essay. 
Mr. Guilfoyle alluded to the practice adopted in Holland, 
where they were grown and increased in soils naturally sandy. 
He used cow-dung and coarse sand for flowering them in beds. 
Mr. Morse observed that, after forcing, the bulbs were not 
restored to their original vigour for three yeais. He planted 
