Nitrate of Soda
A powerful Manure, used to a considerable extent, and deemed especially beneficial to grain crops; it is found in large quantities, in beds, and as an incrustation on the soil in some parts of South America. It is imported into this country as a chemical Manure, and also for manufacturing purposes. Its effects are rapid, and very similar to those produced by ammonia.
Salt. On some soils no apparent benefit is derived from the use of Salt. Such lands as are near the sea-coast, and occasionally receive deposits from the salt spray, which is often carried far inland by storms; or such as contain chlorine and soda in any other form, and in sufficient abundance for meeting the requirements of crops, are not affected by it. But in other situations, when used at the rate of five to ten bushels per acre, very material results have followed. Its great affinity for water has the effect of attracting dews and atmospheric vapour to the growing vegetation. Salt is also useful for destroying slugs, worms, and larvae.
MARANTA (named after Barthol. Maranti, a Venetian botanist, who died in 1754). Arrow-root. ORD. Scitamineae. A genus comprising about ten species (with numerous varieties) of stove herbaceous perennials, with tuberous or creeping rhizomes. They are natives of tropical America, but are cultivated in the East and West Indies, Sierra Leone, &c. Inflorescence terminal, loosely dichotomous; branchlets few-flowered; pedicels short, one-flowered, often twin, ebracteolate. Leaves sheathed, with or without petioles. Stems sometimes short, few-leaved; sometimes tall, branched, occasionally rather woody at base. The Arrowroot of commerce is extracted from the tubers of several species of this genus. A number of species formerly included under Maranta are now removed to Calathea. Marantas thrive in a compost of two-thirds good turfy loam and one-third leaf mould and sand, and like abundance of water, heat, and atmospheric moisture when growing. As soon as growth is furnished, the plants should be kept rather dry until the following spring, when they must be shaken out and repotted. The general remarks under Calathea (which see) apply equally well to Marantas.
M. albo-lineata (white-lined). A synonym of Calathea ornata albo-lineata. M. angustifolia (narrow-leaved). fl. pale bluish, in a lax, zigzag panicle. July. l. smaller than those of M. arundinacea, and narrowed at the base. Trinidad. A smaller plant than M. arundinacea. (B. M. 2398.) M. arundinacea (reed-like). Indian Arrowroot. fl. white, very fugitive. July and August. l. ovate-lanceolate, rather pilose below. Culm branched. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Tropical America, before 1732. (B. M. 2307.) M. bicolor (two-coloured).* l. orbicular, ground colour pale glaucous-green, with irregular-shaped blotches of polished dark olive midway between the midrib and margin; under surface rosy-purple. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1823. An old but pretty spreading species. (B. R. 786; L. B. C. 921.) M. chimboracensis (Chimborazo). l. 6in. to 12in. or more in length, ground colour light green, having a zigzag zone of olive-green traversing the entire length, a little distance from the mid-rib, the outer edge of the zone bordered with white. Ecuador, 1869. An elegant species, with a dwarf and distinct habit. SYN. Calathea chimboracensis.
M. concinna (neat).* fl. yellow, on short radical scapes. l. obliquely ovate, pale bright green, the base of the principal veins marked by an oblong blotch of deep green. South America, 1874. A neat, dwarf, tufted perennial. M. coriifolia (Coris-leaved). A synonym of Calathea ornata regalis. M. depressa (depressed). l. pale green in the centre, with brown blotches. Brazil, 1880.
M. leuconeura (white-veined). A synonym of Calathea leuconeura. M. l. Kerchoviana (Kerchove's). A synonym of Calathea Kerchoviana. M. majestica (majestic). A synonym of Calathea ornata majestica. M. Mazellii (Mazell's). l. shining, broad, rotundate, green at centre and margin, and marked with two broad grey bands. South America, 1871. A fine plant.
M. nitens (shining). l. palish green, glossy, barred with dark green lines. Brazil, 1880. An elegant ornamental plant.
M. pinnato-picta (pinnately-marked). A synonym of Calathea applicata. M. Porteana (Porte's).* l. oblong-acuminate, bright green on the upper side, striped with transverse bars of white; under surface rich purple. h. 3ft. Bahia, 1859. An elegant, erect-growing species.
M. regalis (regal). A synonym of Calathea ornata regalis. M. roseo-lineata (rosy-lined). A synonym of Calathea ornata roseo-lineata. M. roseo-picta (rosy-painted). A synonym of Calathea roseo-picta. M. sagoriana (Sagorian).* l. oblong, very pale green, marked on each side the midrib with oblong-oblique bars of deep green. South America, 1862. A pretty dwarf perennial.
M. smaragdina (emerald-green).* l. emerald-green, with a dark green central stripe. Ecuador, 1870. SYN. Calathea smaragdina.
M. striata (streaked). l. about 5in. long, and 2in. wide, pale green, profusely streaked and striped with white and pale yellow. h. 6in. Philippines. A very desirable dwarf-growing species. M. tessellata Kegeljani (Kegeljan's checkered). A synonym of Calathea bella.