84/24

Vermorel (Manufacturer)

Vermorel soil injector with wooden handle. From RHS Wisley Gardens in Ripley, Surrey. Used for treating the soil around trees and shrubs.
This is a metal Vermorel soil injector with wooden handle. It was made by Vermorel from Villefranche-sur-Saône, France and is inscribed, 'VERMOREL, VILLEFRANCHE, RHÔNE // BTE S. C. D. G.'. It was donated to MERL by the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley Gardens in Ripley, Surrey via Mr. R. J. Perryman. It was used for treating the soil around trees and shrubs. It may date from the early 19th century.

1 soil injector: wood; metal; good condition.

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: SOIL-INJECTOR // Accession number: 84/24 // Classification: CULTIVATING Plant protection // Negative number: 60/14786 // Acquisition method: GIFT // Acquired from, date: WISLEY GARDENS, via Mr. R. J. Perryman, Ripley July 1984 // Store: small object? // Condition: good // Recorder, date: JMB 15.10.84 // Description: This injector consists of a cylinder for holding the substance to be injected in the top of which is a plunger for forcing the fluid into the sail. This is attached to a pointed spike which can be pushed into the ground to a certain depth by pushing with the foot on the adjustable foot bar. It is made of metal and has a horizontal handle at the top made of wood. // Dimensions: Length: 100cm. Width (handles) 35.0cm. // Associated information: Inscription: VERMOREL, VILLEFRANCHE, RHÔNE // BTE S. C. D. G. // Used for treating the soil around trees and shrubs. // References:', MERL miscellaneous note – 'Donated by Wisley Gardens // address on object is one of the gardeners. They would like to know what the object is and have donated it to MERL. Injecting the roots of vines?', Letter, MERL to Mr R. J. Perryman, 25 July 1984 – 'Dear Mr Perryman // On behalf of the Museum I would like to thank you very much for bringing the soil injector or fumigator from Wisley Gardens. As it was made in France it could well have been used for injecting the soil around vines although I suppose it could have been used for treating any other trees, shrubs etc. // We do have a similar object of more modern design with a shell petroleum trade mark on it but yours is much more superior and will be a valuable addition to our collections. // Yours sincerely // Mrs J Betts // Museum Assistant', Letter, M. D. Perryman to MERL, 20 August 1984 – 'Dear Madam, // In July an implement was brought to you for identification & then for your use which turned out to be used for injecting soil around vines etc. It came originally from Wisley Gardens. // The students there were pleased to know what it was used for but we were also wondering if you could give us some idea how old the implement would be please? // Thanking you in anticipation // Yours sincerely // M. D. Perryman', Letter, MERL to Mr M. D. Perryman, 12 September 1984 – 'Dear Mr Perryman, // Thank you for your letter dated 20 August. We have no definite reference for the soil injector which was given to us from Wisley gardens but it probably dates from the early 19th century. // Yours sincerely, // Mrs J. M. Betts // Museum Assistant'

Villefranche-sur-Saône

Wood, Metal