The National tribune., 1882-07-08

GROWING PLANTS WITHOUT EARTH.-W,
can scarcely pick up paper without seeing
mlnuteIy- y-detailed accounts of wonderful
discovery which has been made by French
man, who is a student, a writer, a scientist
hortlculturist, and son-in-law of a grea
historian" And what is the great discovery
This eminent man has discovered that by
impartlng fertilizing compound to mos.
and using this moss instead of earth. plants
can be made to grow and thrive without the
slightest interruption, and with more vigo,
and health than in their native soiln We
have waited patiently for the announcement
that this "fertilizing compound" is ST. Ja-
cobs Oil, and we suspect that it will come
TO that yet; if it does not, then ST. Jacob
has missed good point.
But, seriously, it cannot be considered as
anything new or unusual to grow plants in
moss, even without any particular fertilizing
compound. Moss baskets with growing
plants are common enough, with or without
earth. The plants which we see flourishing
IN hanging baskets are more indebted to the
thick casing of moss than they are to the
limited portion of soil for their subsistence
Given suf1iciency of water and the roots of
plants will ramify in moss much better than
they will in compact soil. Most people are
familiar with the fact that the great majority
of the extensive family of orchids, or air
plants, live entirely upon air and water.
Some years ago, when it was announced
that I nf
rhododendrons were found growing on the
branches of trees as epiphytes, it was consid-
cred as an extraordinary occurrence. and
only for the well-known character of the dis
coverer as practical botanist of the highest
authority, it would have been taken as a
travellers tale. That succulent stems might
on air and water did not seem i'm
e, but that hard-wooded plants,
& to the size of small trees, should
. Efficient nourishment on branches
r. feet above the surface, was, in the
.acs scientific teachings in regard to the
great alue of inorganic or mineral ingre-
tre- as plant food, considered surprising.
From the Importance given to it by those
rite On cultural matters, but who never
l ited plants, one would suppose that
z. consumed earth as a COW consumes
1t is much more in accordance with
TO look upon the earth as medium
ramifcation of the roots of plants in
that they may find sufficient strength
sistance to support the plant in an up
position. This may be looked upon as
l ;hanical value to plants. It's chemical
Fa-5 lies IN its being laboratory where
l. food Is prepared and conserved for the
plants. Plants depend for their ex-
mainly upon the gases which result
he decomposition of organic matter
now that decomposition cannot pro-
the absence of air and moisture, and |
% know that in their presence every |
must ultimately succumb and decay. |
j. therefore evident that loose porous |
OF yell drained, presents the best condi- |
Tor the preparation of plant food The
water passing freely through it, has
lecay and decomposition in whatever
matter may be present. Turning
he soil, and thus exposing fresh surfaces
oxydizing influences of the atmos-
ood, as is well exemplifed in the re-
which follow a well-cultivated sum-
low. Plants are much more indebted
Doe atmosphere for their existence than
to the mineral earth, SO far as direct
ent is concerned.
RF oRANGEs.-We have long had
pears, dwarf apples, and dwarf
s. Now comes up dwarf oranges-a 1
idea. DlcSrfng, in this connection
'cnnlcal expression. 1t means that
---e T gratis inserted into trees of mucb {
,a growth than those from which the
buds ere taken, will be retarded or x..b-
'.- a growth, and, IN consequence. will {
sooner produce Hult This is effected (as
~ za 1ple) on the pear by grating it unon I
nee; the apple is similarly dwarfed :
RATED on the paradise, verv veal,
kind of apple, and the ordinary
.sar is said to be similarly dwarfed when
.f on the Otaheite orange, which is a
of rather weak growth. These min {
rees, from to feet in height, well
18th oranges viii not only present
] appearance, but will have the very
vantage of enabling orange growers {
e crops in few years from budding
of having to wait from to 10 years
letrees come into bearing.
-t IsH HAY.-This term is often noticed 1
' ew England agricultural papers, and I
o. @ often wondered what it meant In &
lHsF-' % correspondent the Massachusetts j
an explains the term as follows I
trm English hay as known in New !
| is used to distinguish the high '
Lay from low-ground meadow hay. t
2, clover, and redtop, and many other L
ol nutritious grasses that grow On .