Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-08
Raising Plants without Earth.

lofty watch-tOwer and solid sandstone walls
stands in the neighborhood OF Rouen. France
and it is there, Alfred Dumesnil son-in-law
and pupil of Mchelet and disciple of Edgar
Quinet. has made himself additionally famous
by great discovery in horticulture. In. q
pleasing sketch of his life and work. r. Heath
author Of Edgar Quinet His life and writ.
lngs." says: After years of patient study. NJ
Dumesnil, the gardener of ''Vasc9uil." has dis
covered means of giving continued life and
nourshment to plants. without bringing them
IN contact with the soil. All he does is to
wrap their roots up in some moss to which he
has Impaired his 1ife-giving power This 'sfer-
tllzing moss is not only capable of affordIng
nourishment to all kinds of vegetable life. but
Will do so indefinitely. Since November 1880.
the date at which his researches proved snccess
ful, he has constantly been testing his process.
and has never found the least interruption in
the vegetatve functions of the plants subjected
TO IT'S influence; on the contrary, winter and
spring plants have blossomed with a yigOr he
has never seen in his garden. With the shelter
OF a glass, hellebOres taken up at the end of No.
vember and the middle of December have re-
NAMED two and half to three months in
blossom Other plants. primroses daisies. yio-
lets, auriculas have not only been in bloom for
three months, but have thrown out new buds
AL Vascnuil we saw plants loaded with bios
SONS which had been in the fertiliZing moss for
weeks. There appear to be no practical diff
cultles III carrying out the process. The one
all-important point is to preserve the roots of
the plant from being torn or otherwise mutila-
ted. and from being brought into close prox-
unity with the fertiliZing moss. In taking a
plant from the earth. NJ. Dumesnil removes the
mold about the roots by placing it in slightly
tepd water. Having prepared. i'm the basket or
vase intended for the plant, bed of fertiizing
moss The quantity being regulated according
to 1.-THE strength of the plant, he places over il a
of Si pai1a
then takes the plant and. spreading out the
roots. fastenS it in the ordinary moss COVERING
the whole with another layer of the fertiliZing
moss. little water is given at first and the
moss always kept slightly humid If the
change from the earth to the moss is made with
intelligence. the plant soon exhibits all the
beauty and freedom of lfe its satisfaction in
its new conditions being shown by the quantity
OF rootlets 1t throws out, Other gardeners be-
sides NJ. Dumesnil have tested the process and
testilyto the same results NJ CabOs director
OF the public gardens at Havre has since the
22d OF November last been cultiyatinp in the
fertiiizing moss dracani, alternantheri, crotOns
and cocoanut trees, all dollhouse plants: as well
as palm trees, chamPrOps and the Pteris Ar
guta mad 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 a fortnight they had COM
pietely taken possession of the moss. and had
thrown out new leaves. In the clamnrops two
or three long roots of the thickness of ouill
mad appeared. one of the best indications of the
vigOr OF young palm tree. The old roots had
developed aquantty Of fine rOotlets The CO.
COS tsnoti and the various kinds Of dracana. all
very delicate, had also produced new roots. and
were in perfect health.
1t will be observed that these perfect results
have been obtained by practical hOrticulturists.
Amateurs must not expect that this process in
any way dispenses with attention to the ordi-
nary 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 increased
and regular productveness. the plan adopted
by the gardener of "Vasceuil, =" is to place their
roots, envelOped as above described in an Ordi-
nary bed of mold. The results are most salts
factory. we saw there as many as thirty fine
potatoes. the produce of one mother tuber Tins
the poorest land may be made to TEEN with rich
crops, the soil being OF no Importance the earth
merely affOrding room and shelter for the plants.
Seedlings and cuttings are raised in the same
way. In fact the process seems to have all the
characteristics OF great discovery: perfection
In principle and indefinite powers Of further de-
velOpment. The discovery of q nOurishment
applicable to all forms of vegetable life ia the
primary fact in the Dumesnil culture. The fer
tilizing moss agrees with every kind of plant.
those that grow wild as well as exotics. berba-
ceOus or iigenous. ornamental, or for food By
Its fostering power with plants natives of the
Pyrenees, the Alps, the Carpathian mOuntains
the Caucasus and the Himalayas, introduced
during recent years into English gardens. will
by this process flourish under simple glass ali
the year round. NJ. Dumesnils innovation
rests on an idea justified by physiological laws
the. extremely abundant development of the
rootlets of plants when permitted to spread
themselves ont in a medium less dense and as
rich as the most fertile earth. All the applica-
lions of the discovery are derived from this
truth proved by experience. This explains the
increase in the returns Of vegetables grown in
the earth and Of their powers of vital resistance
against frost and Indictment weather, when their
roots are covered with bed of fertilizing moss
j. Mr. C0wles. editor OF the Cleveland Leader, has
brought criminal suit against Bishop Gilmour
and Manly Tello, publisher OF the Catholic Universe
for republiShing the bishops letter about Cowies'
laughter libel suit for $4,000 damages win
tslsO be BROUGHT
Edwards FleTrepont Jacob Wort.l. Jacob Patter