222 THE GARDENER. [May 



Those manure-tables in the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' are valuable, and 

 it is to be hoped they will be continued till all our artificial manures 

 have been analysed. That these vary considerably in their composi- 

 tion, has been long suspected by cultivators who have used different 

 samples, and the analysis, so far, proves that for general purposes some 

 of those manufactured are inferior to others. To be useful to the cul- 

 tivator, artificial manures, it would appear, must be prepared for special 

 subjects, or they must be so constituted and balanced as to render 

 them applicable to crops generally. It is evident, however, that com- 

 pounds of the last description will entail the most waste, as they may 

 contain certain elements that are of no use to some plants, or they may 

 already exist in the soil in sufficient abundance. The subjects culti- 

 vated are, however, so numerous, that anything but a generally applicable 

 artificial manure is out of the question, unless it be for such special sub- 

 jects as Potatoes, Peas, Onions, and the Brassica tribe, &c. Meanwhile 

 it is a good thing to know what the various and highly-puffed artificial 

 manures are made of, and their relative value. Probably they are 

 something like boilers — better and worse kinds. Certainly some of 

 them are dear — as much as <£250 per ton ! 



If the coloured portrait of the " Ptath-Pipe " Peach in the ' Florist ' 

 of February be a truthful one — and " both artist and colour-printer'' are 

 said " to have acquitted themselves with success " in its production — 

 it must be a marvellously high-coloured variety indeed. In your con- 

 temporary, the skin is nearly as bright as a scarlet Geranium, while 

 the term "illuminated" hardly conveys an idea of the splendid tints 

 that encircle the stone of the fruit like a brilliant corona. We would 

 rather credit the description given in the letterpress regarding the 

 qualities of the fruit. It was exhibited last summer, '' and created 

 quite a sensation — its very handsome appearance being found to be 

 equalled by its excellent quality." For appearance and flavour it is 

 not to be surpassed, says ]\[r Bond, who grew and exhibited it. Rath- 

 Ripe is au American Peach, late, and a good bearer. From other 

 sources we have heard that it is a nicely-coloured and good Peach. 



That fine group of Hyacinthus candicans, in a contemporary, might 

 easily be mistaken at a first glance for a group of white Foxgloves, 

 which, without underestimating the value of the Hyacinth, are equally 

 fine, equally grand. It is a humiliating admission to make, but we 

 have not the shadow of a doubt that if the Hyacinthus candicans 

 had been a native of our own woods, the Foxglove a native of Africa, 

 and doubtfully hardy in this country, as well as scarce and expensive, 

 their positions would be reversed. It is marvellous the glamour a 

 high price and difficulty of culture throws round a plant in the 

 gardener's eyes ! There is no use disguising the fact. It is extremely 

 doubtful if this fine Hyacinth will prove a hardy and suitable border 



