Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-17

Plants Without EARTH.
During the two winters since ii. Dumesnil
perfected his discovery, he has had all kinds of
ordinary flowers blooming In baskets containing
the fertilizlng moss. On the occasion of any
fete, rs for instance Christmas his tables have
been covered with profusion of spring flowers,
and he has been able to decorate his rooms with
freedom impossible with plants growing In
earth. Thus, while nature outside lay frozen
and dead, the interior Of his house has been
blooming parterre The practice of adjoining
rooms with plants is so agreeable one. that
few persons like to be told il may prove source
OF disease. A Russian lady suffering from inter-
mittent fever was attended by Prof. Edward Won
Eichwald, OF st. Petersburg. The disease readily
gave way to quinine, but returned again and again
In the most inexplicable manner At last the
cause was discovered. When she left her sick
room convalescent she went into the salon. a
large room filled with plants. Prof. Won Eicbwald
ordered the room to be entirely cleared and the
fever returned no more. Such malignant effects
are impossible with the fertilizing moss 1t
cannot turn sour like earth and poison the
plants. or contain germs OF malaria and poison
their owner. The extraordinary way in which
the discovery will develop the artistic character
OF floral decoration, I'm the facilities IL will
afford to all kinds of arrangements and effects
In color, can only as yet be family imagined.
Churches, terraces and even public roads will
by Its help be tar more beautifully and rapidly
decorated; for the great obstacle of weight in
the removal Of plants will be obviated-there
will be scarcely anything to carry but the
plant itself, so that In the majority of cases
child's strength will suffice to remove the
wicker basket in which the plant will be living.
There appear to be no practical difficulties In
carrying out the process The one all-important
point Is to preserve the roots of the plant
from being torn or otherwise mutilated. and
from being brought into close proximity with
the fertilizlng moss. In taking plant from
the earth NJ. Dumesnl removes the mold about
the roots by placing it in slightly tepid water.
Having prepared in the basket or vase intended
for the plant, bed of fertilzing moss. the
quantity being regulated according to the
strength of the plant, he places over it layer
of ordinary moss of similar thickness. He then
takes the plant and. spreading out the roots.
fastens it in the ordinary moss, covering
the whole with another layer Of the fer
tilizing moss A little water is given
at first and the moss always kept slight
" humid. If the change from the earth
TO the moss is made with intelligence
the plant soon exhibits all the beauty
and freedom of life, Its satisfaction IN its
new conditions being shown by the quantity
OF rOOtlets it throws out. Other gar
deners besides M. Dumesnil have tested the pro-
cess and witness to the same results. M. Cabos,
director of the public gardens at Havre has,
since the 22d of November last, been cultivating
In the fertilizing moss drac@ni, alternantheri,
crOtOns, and cocOa-nut trees all hOt-house plants,
as well as palm trees, cham9rops, and the
Pteris Arguta had developed numerous new
roots in the moss. None of these plants had
lost single leaf, nor had even faded at the
time OF their transportation. In fortnight
they had completely taken possession of the
moss and had thrown out new leaves. In the
chamGropS, two or three long roots of the thick
ness of quill had appeared, one of the best in
dications of vigor Of young palm tree. The
old roots had developed a quantity OF fine
rootlets. The COcos binoti and the various
kinds of dracana all very delicate, had also
produced new roots, and were in perfect
health. On December 9 he submitted number
of ordinary greenhouse plants to the process,
with complete success. All the plants preserved
their yigOr, and their health continued as if
nothing had happened. On the 18th he placed
In the fertilizing moss an Eucalyptus glObuus.
This shrub has the reputation OF not bearing
transplantatiOn; however, 1t scarcely faded.
Two Cuphea bazli, equally difficult subjects,
were put into the moss on the same day. and
gave no appearance of suffering from the
change. The culture In moss Of the Eucalyp-
tus globulus is the more important, as this
celebrated shrub has the property of dis
injecting the air, and is beginning to be
used in sick-rOoms. 1t will be observed
that these perfect results have been OBJ
tanned by practiced hOrticuturists. ANA
teurs must not expect that this pro-
cess in any way dispenses with attention to the
ordinary laws Of vegetable life. Happy results
Will depend, as heretofore. on the degree to
which the plants are loved and cared for. The
object in the cultivation of vegetables being in
creased and regular productiveness the plan
adopted by the gardener Of VascGuIl is to place
their roots, enveloped as above described. in an
ordinary bed of mold. The results are most
satisfactory. We saw at Vasceuil as many as
thirty fine potatoes the produce Of one mother
tuber. Thus the poorest land may be made to
TEEN with rich crops, the soil being of no i'm
portance, the earth merely affording room and
shelter for the plants. Seedlings and cutting
are raised in the same way. In fact, the pro-
cess seems to have all the characteristics of
great discovery: perfection in principle and in
definite powers of further Development
vo,.1c