i8 97 . 



GARDENING. 



235 



A JAPANESE FLOWER SELLER 



nize the main principle, that of fidelity to 

 nature. A single branch of cherry blos- 

 soms, standing in a bamboo flower holder, 

 will be the result of as much thought as 

 we give to an elaborate arrangement, 

 and a mixture of incongruous bloom is 

 never seen, being absolutely repugnant to 

 them. I he idea that a single rose, 

 thoughtfully placed so that stem and foli- 

 age, as well as bloom, show to advant- 

 age, is sufficient decoration for a table, 

 an opinion offered recently by a lady of 

 much taste, is certainly a move toward 

 the Japanese ideal. 



SOILS. 



What kind of soil in its natural state 

 contains the largest percentage of phos- 

 phoric acid? 



Does nitrogen or potash predominate 

 in a soil of black muck such as low wild 

 meadow land? L. H. 



Minnesota. 



Replying to the query of your corre- 

 spondent, L. H., it must be said that 

 no very definite answer can be given. 

 The percents of phosphoric acid, nitrogen 

 and potash are extremely variable in such 

 types of soil. The most general state- 

 ment which can be made is that ordinarily 

 chemical anal}'ses show a higher percent, 

 of phosphoric acid and potash in the clay 

 types of soil, the sand}' soils being ordi- 

 narily lower. The amount of nitrogen in 

 the soil is much more variable than either 



the potash or phosphoric acid. In the 

 black muck soils, s-ueh as your corre- 

 spondent refers to, there is usually a high 

 percentage of nitrogen in the form of 

 humus, but in regard to potash and phos- 

 phoric acid all that can be said of them in 

 a general way, is that they usually con- 

 tain a fair percentage of each. 



The Michigan muck soils, which are 

 used for celery growing, and which eon- 

 tain much more organic matter than I 

 suppose will be found in the particular 

 soil your correspondent refers to, contain 

 .69 per cent of phosphoric acid in one 

 case, .88 in another case and .46 in a 

 third case, the amount of potash being 

 .20, .34- and .4-2 per cent respectively, 

 while the amount of nitrogen is 2 32, 

 1.75 and 2.53 per cent respectively con- 

 tained in 61.73, 63.75 and 63 75 per cent 

 of organic matter. 



The Michigan Experiment Station gives 

 the analyses of two bottom lands which 

 may perhaps come closer to soil your cor- 

 respondent has in mind. These contain 

 1.84 and 2.05 oer cent of potash, and .40 

 and .41 per cent of phosphoric acid. The 

 organic matter being 10.97, containing 

 .42 per cent of nitrogen, and 9.39 contain 

 .37 per cent of nitrogen. F. H. King. 



Agric. Exp. Station, Madison, Wis. 



One of the most attractive catalogues 

 recentlv issued is that of the F. R. Pierson 

 Co., Tarrytown-on-Hudson, N. Y. The 

 half tone illustrations from photographs 

 are well done and nicely printed. 



AQUATIC GARDENING 



Water Lilies, Egyptian 



and Japan Lotus, 



Victoria Regia. 



We carry a full line of 

 AQUATICS, JAPAN IRISES, 

 BAMBOOS and HARDY ORNA- 

 MENTAL REEDS, GRASSES 

 and PERENNIALS. Plans 

 and estimates furnished, 

 and selections of varieties 

 made upon request. See 

 annual catalogue and sepa- 

 rate water lily leaflet. 



HENRY A. DREER, 



Lotus of the Nile. 714 Chestnut St.. PHILA . PA. 



PREMIUM AMERICAN PANSY SEEDS AND PLANTS. 



Also other plants and seeds described In catalogue 

 which Is sent free with "Pansy Guide" to any address 

 —over SO varieties and mixtures of Pansy Seeds: Hes- 

 perian Pansles 25c per pkt.: Selected mixed. 15c; extra 

 choice mixed. 10c; trade packets contain triple quantity 

 at double price. Pansy plants in bud or bloom In sea- 

 -son by express, $1.75 per 100; 50 plants. $1.00; smaller 

 plants by mall prepaid at same price or 25c per doz. For 

 other plants see catalogue, which Is free to all. 



WM. TOOLE, Baraboo, Wis. 



BETSCHER'S BULBS AND PLANTS & AN " 



Gladioli our Specialty. 250 kinds. Best In America. 



12 Extra choice Gladioli bulbs 15c 



1 Fine Gold Band Lily, or 1 Caladlum 15c 



'.\ Fine French CannaB. or 8 Roses, or 8 Caladlums. .25c 

 8 Carnations, or 8 Petunias, or 8 Chrysanthemums 25c 

 8 Fine Tuberoses, or new Chrysanthemums .25c 



SEND FOR FREE CATALOGUE. 



BETSCHER BROS., Canal Dover, Ohio. 



WANTED— An experienced salesman to sell nursery 

 stock. A liberal commission will be paid to a 

 reliable man. Address 



Newport ncrsbry Co., Newport, K. I. 



