AN IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR CULTIVATING PLANTS WITHOUT SOIL
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR
CULTIVATING PLANTS WITHOUT SOIL." A communication from abroad by
Alfred Ferdinand Poullain-Dumesnil, Horticulturist, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1881.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR CULTIVATING PLANTS WITHOUT SOIL.". [A com-
munication from abroad by Alfred Ferdinand Poullain-Dumesnil, Horticulturist,
of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to means of cultivating plants without soil, so as to
render the presence of vegetation in apartments clean, convenient, and agreable,
For this purpose vessels of any desired design or dimensions, having their sides
freely perforated, of wire or other basketwork, or of perforated metal, are filled
with moss served with suitable manure, in which the plants are set, and in which
they freely grow, care being taken to keep the moss somewhat moist. The moss
most suitable is that which is found in damp situations under trees, and this may
be served with manure, either by carefully powdering the moss with pulverised
manures, or by soaking the moss in water in which the pulverised manure is
suspended by agitation. The plants intended to grow in the moss, when they are
taken from the ground, should have their roots carefully washed with water, so that
all the rootlets are exposed in a clean condition, the roots being then loosely
wrapped in the prepared moss, and the plants being set therein they will grow and
blossom freely. It is not necessary to water the plants, it is sufficient to keep the
moss moist by soaking it from time to time with water.
For rendering the said compound of moss and manure available as an article of
commerce it is prepared as follows:-The moss is first steeped in a solution of glue,
gelatine, or other glutinous material, so that the manure powder will be effectually
retained in the interstices of the moss, or the manure is added to the glutinous
solution, and the moss is then steeped in the mixture. After steeping the moss is
dried to a certain extent, and it is then submitted to pressure, so as to transform
the compound of moss, glutinous matter, and manure into a more or less compact
solid mass capable of ready transport, and which for use may be disintegrated,
loosened, or cut into shreds in a similar manner to compressed tobacco.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th October
1881.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR CULTIVATING PLANTS WITHOUT SOIL." A com-
munication from abroad by Alfred Ferdinand Poullain-Dumesnil, Horticulturist,
of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to means of cultivating plants without soil, so as to
render the presence of vegetation in apartments clean, convenient, and agreeable,
and to enable the plants to live longer than they would if planted in earth under
those conditions.
For this purpose vessels of any desired design or dimensions, having their sides
and bottom perforated, and made either of perforated metal, basket work,
earthenware, glass, or other material, are filled with the compound to be presently
described, in which are then placed the plants. The said compound consists of a
porous or filamentous substance, capable of retaining moisture, and serving as
recipient for matter incorporated therewith, which possesses the nutritive properties
necessary for the plants.
The porous material found most suitable for this purpose is moss, and the
nutritive matter should be as rich as possible in nitrogenous and phosphatic
constituents, by preference, of organic origin, for which purpose manure will be
found most suitable. This matter is reduced to a finely divided form, and is
incorporated with the moss moistened with a glutinous liquid, either by dusting
the moss over with the powdered material, or by soaking it in a solution thereof.
The compound is then freed from excess of moisture by drying, and is then com-
pressed into a compact form. The moss employed by preference for the above
purpose is that taken from damp places under trees, or from low lying fields or
swampy places.
In planting the plants in the compound the former should be taken carefully
from the earth, so as not to injure the roots; and these should be washed with
water, so that all the rootlets are exposed in a clean condition; the roots are then
placed horizontally, and in a circular direction, in the moss compound, whereupon,
if the operation is conducted carefully, the plants will continue to grow without
suffering any damage from the transplantation.
Although the compound is specially intended for use in rooms, yet it will be
evident that plants may also be grown in the same in the garden or other open
places, and that plants of any size may be used, the compound being particularly
applicable for temporary floral decorations, such as for reception rooms, dinner
tables, and the like.
For maintaining the plants in good condition it is sufficient to keep the moss
compound moderately moist, either by watering occasionally, or by simply keeping
is in a moist atmosphere.
The use of the said compound also afford great facilities of transport for plants,
as it very light, and not liable to become deranged like earth; and it is applicable
with particular advantage for transporting fruit trees and other trees or shrubs
from the horticulturist's to gardens at considerable distances away.
In employing the compound for growing plants from seed a thin layer thereof
may be spread on a hot bed or other convenient place, on which is then spread a
.thin layer of earth, and the seeds being sown in the latter the roots thereof, when
they begin to grow, will pass into the moss, and embrace the particles thereof.
On pricking out the young plants a small additional quantity of the moss com-
pound is placed close to the roots, when the plants will be found to develop with

page_text: great beauty. Plants that will not bear transplantation, such as above described,
may with advantage be grown in the last described manner, being removed with
the surrounding moss compound into the receptacles when sufficiently advanced.
The compound may also be employed with great advantage for placing round the
roots of delicate perennial plants and shrups, such as tea roses, in the autumn, the
compound being afterwards covered with earth. By this means the roots are
protected against the cold, and maintained at a more or less uniform temperature,
and the development of the small roots is greatly facilitated thereby. The
principal advantage of using the said compound in the open ground consists,
however, in gaining time, in obtaining at once a remunerative production in new
or neglected ground, which would otherwise require years to bring into a productive
condition. This result is obtained during the first year in heavy moist soils by the
aeration of the roots due to the use of the said compound, in addition to the
fertilising effects thereof.
In light soils the plants are afforded a firmer hold in the ground, owing to the
interlacing of the roots in the moss. Stony or rocky ground having little or no
soil may also be rendered available for growing plants by the addition of the said
compound to the turf, and other vegetable matter, detritus, sand, and other materials
that may be present.
It will be evident that other substances might be added to the compound for
imparting to it any desired special property, thus by addition of bisulphide of
carbon or sulphocarbonate of potassium it will also act as a destroyer of vermin,
and as a powerful agent against the phylloxera.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,―
The use of a compound consisting of moss mixed with manure for the cultivation
of plants, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
TON TMD AV
JOHN IMPAY