A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

GRE 276 GRO
ent,—the chief constituent of all plants,
carbon,— from the atmosphere : they,
therefore, return to the soil more decomposing
matter than they have taken
from it.
The putrefaction of the vegetables,
and the gases in that case emitted, says
my brother, Mr. Cuthbert Johnson,
" appear to be on all occasions highly
invigorating and nourishing to the succeeding
crop. During this operation,
the presence of water is essentially necessary,
and is most probably decomposed.
The gases produced vary in
different plants ; those which contain
gluten emit ammonia ;
onions and a few
others evolve phosphorus ; hydrogen,
carbonic acid gas, and carburetted hydrogen
gas, with various vegetable
matters, are almost always abundantly
formed. All these gases when mixed
with the soil are very nourishing to the
plants growing upon it. The observations
of the farmer assure us that they
are so. He tells us that all green manures
cannot be employed in too fresh
a state, that the best corn is grown
where the richest turf has preceded it,
and that where there is a good produce
of red clover there will assuredly follow
an excellent crop of wheat ; he finds
also that when he ploughs in his crop of
buckwheat to enrich his land, that this
is most advantageously done when the
plant is coming into flower."
—
Farm.
Encyc.
Sea Weed is a species of green manure,
for it ought to be employed
whilst quite fresh. There are many
species, and they differ very essentially
in their components. The LnurinariiB
those long, tawny-green, ribbon-like
algae so common on our coasts, contain
besides vegetable matter a large proportion
of the salts of potash in addition
,
The advantage of green manure is
practically understood by thousands of
our farmers, who, though they may be
unable to philosophize upon the subject
or refer to its true chemical cause, fully
appreciate its value.
The great desideratum of those who
aim at enriching the soil, is to produce
clover,—that attained, the rest is easy.
Clover, when turned in, prepares the
land for every description of crop, and
places the whole under the control of
the husbandman.
GREVILLEA. Forty-two species.
Green-house evergreen shrubs. Ripe
cuttings, and some species, seeds.
Sand, loam and peat.
GRIFFINIA. Three species. Stove
bulbous perennials. Offsets. Seeds.
Turfy loam, white sand and peat.
GRINDELIA. Nine species. Chiefly
green-house evergreen shrubs. G. angustifolia
and G. squamosa are herbaceous
perennials, and G. ciliata a hardy
annual. Cuttings. Loam and peat.
GRISLEA. Two species. Stove
evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. Sandy
peat and loam.
GROBYA AmhersticE. Stove orchid.
Division. Wood.
GROTTO, is a resting place, formed
rudely of rock-work, roots of trees,
and shells, and is most appropriately
placed beneath the deep shade ofwoods,
and on the margin of water. Its intention
is to be a cool retreat during summer.
GROUND CHERRY. Cerasus ChamcEcerasus.
GROUND CHRISTA. Cassia Chammchrista.
GROUND CISTUS. Rhododendron
Chamdcistus.
GROVE, is a moderately extensive association
of trees without underwood.
J
to those of soda ; whereas the Fuci con- " The character of a grove is beauty
tain none of the salts of potash. All, for fine trees are lovely objects, and a
however, are excellent manures, and I grove is an assemblage of them, in
know a garden, near Southampton, very which every individual retains much of
productive, tliat for some years has had its own peculiar elegance, and whatever
no other manure. It is particularly it loses is transferred to the superior
good as a manure for potatoes. The beauty of the whole. To a grove,
Fucus vesiculosus, so distinguishable by therefore, which admits of endless vari-
the bladders full of air embedded in its ety in the disposition of the trees, differleaves,
is a very excellent manure. It encesin their shapesand theirgreensare
seldom very important, and sometimes
i
'
,
j
contains, when dry, about 84 parts vegetable
matter, 13 parts sulphate of they are detrimental. Strong contrasts
lime and magnesia, with a little plios- scatter trees which are thinly planted,
phate of lime, and 3 parts sulphate and and which have not the connexion of
muriate of soda. underwood I ; they no longer form one
;