JOUPNAL OF HORTICULTTJBE AND COTTAQE GARDENER. 



r JUIIUU7 3, 1866. 



jjool, and a BUiall pnmp complete the filter. The liqnid has 

 been libcrftllv used to tlio fniit trees, CurrRnts, yonng hedges, 

 4c., by mvse'U ftnd neighbours during the past two summers, 

 and wc think with good effect, particularly to the IVars and 

 Apples. The soil is light, rather sandy, resting on red sand- 

 stone, and during the late droughts I consider that the fruit 

 was not only saved, but increased in size by the frequent appli- 

 cation of the filtered sewage. 



The gardens have only been formed three years. The trees 

 in mine are trained as espaliers, and have borne much better 

 crops than the staudards in my neighbours' gardens, although 

 the trees were all planted at the same time. I pinch-in the 

 espaliers very closely. 



I think it would be a great boon to many of your readers if 

 yon or some of your contributors would discuss this subject. 

 In how many cases in the country the house sewage runs to 

 waste in an open ditch, or poisons the ground around the cess- 

 pools, whilst every particle of manure lins to bo brought from 

 a distance ! Is there not any filtering medium that would 

 take up the valuable products ? Peat charcoal I would try, but 

 where is it to be had ? Soil will not allow the liquid to perco- 

 late quickly enough. Quicklime clears the liquid, but has no 

 effect on the smell, and I am told that the deposit is spoiled as 

 a manure. Sulphuric acid destroys the smell, and I believe 

 the product is valuable, but would not the expense be great ? 

 — N. I. H. 



[We not only have gone into the consideration of house 

 sewage as a fertiliser very fully, but have collected what we 

 wrote on that and other fertilisers into a book, " Manures, or 

 Muck for the Many," which you can liave free by post from 

 our office for four postage stamps. WHiat we said at page 4C9 

 had reference to the inquirer's particular case. 



The flowers were too faded to be recognised ; but under the 

 best of circumstances, unless a Chrysanthemum is very remark- 

 able, it would be very difficult to recognise it from a single 

 flower, the TOiieties are so very numerous.] 



A LARGE ^^NE. 



On the aeacoast, midway between Tyre and Sidon, is a very 

 ancient Mulberry garden, surrounded by some enormous Olive 

 trees, whose hollow trunks attest their great antiquity. By 

 the garden side stands a cool fountain, fed by one of the moun- 

 tain streams, so welcome to the traveller for his noontide rest 

 when travelling through that thirsty land. After resting awhile 

 at this pleasant spot, we rambled through the garden of Mul- 

 berry trees, partly for the sake of taking the fruit, but more 

 with the intent of learning something about the rearing of silk- 

 worms, which was there in full operation. Whilst admiring 

 the great size of the fine old MuJberrv- trees, I happened to 

 notice the bark of a tree which appeared so Vine-like in its 



character that I stopped to examine it, and, to my anrprise, 

 found that it was really a Vine of most enormous dimensions ; 

 it rose by two main stems, and fairly rested upon six or eight 

 of thu largo Mulberry trees around. I measured the two stems 

 a few inthes above the ground ; the larger one was 50} inches 

 in circumference, the smaller 40 inches. I endeavoured to 

 trace out the area covered by its branches, but could not obtain 

 an exact measurement, for the branches had rambled most 

 irregularly. It had a splendid crop of very large bunches of 

 Grapes then, but in an early stage of growth, and I was told 

 that it is a black variety. My impression is that it is one of 

 the largest Vines in the world, and it would well repay a visit to 

 " Ein-el-Kanterali," for that is the name of the spot, if it bo 

 sought for by any of your readers, whose rambling propensities 

 may carry them along that seashore. — W. WAhKi,YS. 



TLANTINO A CIRCULAR BED. 



I HAVE a circular bed 11 feet in diameter, which I meditate 

 planting next year as follows ; but should like your opinion as 

 to its worth, and also to guide me in the planting of the same 

 as to the proper distance apart in the rows, as well as plant 

 from plant in the rows: — 



1. — Variegated .^jabis. 



2. — Variegated Sage. 



3. — Variegated Euphorbia. 



4. — Iresine Herbstii. 



6. — Centaurea candidissima, with three plants of Perilla^in 

 the centre. 



As you will at once see it is meant for a bed of foliage. Would 

 Dactyhs glomerata variegata be better in No. 3 ? — Scnset. 



[We do not think your arrangement would look well. Having 

 the three variegated plants together is bad taste. Had we a 

 similar bed to plant, and if the position is a sheltered one, we 

 should arrange the planting as follows, beginning from the 

 centre : — 



1. — Three good plants of Canna discolor ; these would oc- 

 cupy about 2 feet. 



2. — 2 feet of Cineraria maritima. 



3. — Ditto Amaranthus melancholicns ruber. 



4. — Ditto Centaurea candidissima. 



5. — Ditto Iresine Herbstii. 



6. — 1 foot of Corastium Biebersteinii. 

 The plants may be about 9 inches apart each way, taking care 

 to plant them alternately, and putting the tallest plants towards 

 the centre, and at the same time keep each circle to its proper 

 width. The Cerastium should be planted rather closer than the 

 others ; from 4 to 6 inches apart would be a good distance for it. 

 If the bed is on grass the above arrangement would look well. 

 We have to apologise for accidentally overlooking this query and 

 answer.] 



The enclosed set of beds occupy the top of a terrace about 

 40 feet wide, and are principally seen from another terrace 

 about 5 feet aliove it. Two-thirds of the beds I laid out last 



FLO"WER GARDEN PLAN. 



winter ; the remainder, or from figures 7 and to the right,! 

 have just completed, and intend planting them as mnrlvcd, but 

 should feel much obliged for your opinion before that time 



5 



^ 



1 1. Centre of bed, Ilcliotrope^ ; next ii row of 

 rerillA ; then anollier of Prince of f )riink'e 

 Cslceolario, the whole edged with liijou 

 Oerauitun. 



comes. I may mention that our soil is light, and that we are 

 exposed to most, or all the storms and sun that there may be, 

 BO that the bedding plants generally do not grow tall but bloom 

 most profusely. — B. D. T. 



[According to the system of planting we could not improve 



: 2 2. Christine Geraninm. 



3 s. Blue Lobelia (iipcoioim), edged with 

 I.ady rlymouth Geranium. 



4 4 8 8. Puri'le King Yerbena. 



5 5 9 9. .\tirea florilmnda Calceolar 



6 6. Tom Thumb Geranium 



7 7. Mangletii Geranium. 



what you propose, and we have no doubt that it will look well. 

 In another season we should bo tempted to make your centre 

 panelhng row the centre, and then make the two sides the 

 exact counter)mrt of each other. Your planting will look yery 

 well. We presume the plan is on gravel.] 



