1843.) 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 117 
country, in their northern face, is as dry and nearly as 
barren as Affghanistan. ‘hese rains extend only partially 
into the latter country, as has been well shown by Mr. 
Elphinstone, in his work on Cabul. This is, no doubt, 
owing to the strength of the monsoon being nearly ex- 
hausted, even before it reaches the’confines of Affghanistan, 
as well as to the direction of the range of mountains 
which runs parallel to the Indus, being opposed to their 
further progress, and thus preventing the country to the 
north being benefited by many showers which might 
occasionally extend further than ordinary, if not thus im- 
peded; at all events, the dryness of this country is 
excessive, and the power of the sun great, and to these 
chiefly must be ascribed the barrenness not only of the 
mountains, but of the country in general. In studying, 
therefore, the laws which influence the geographical dis- 
tribution of plants, it is necessary to pay attention to the 
meteorology of a country, at the same time that we examine 
the nature of its soil : and it is equally essential to do so, 
when we wish to cultivate in one place or country the 
useful or ornamental productions of another.—R. 
Fiving Ammonia.—It is only under certain circum- 
Stances that sulphate of lime will decompose or fix 
ammonia, and these circumstances are not to be found in 
adunghill. Chloride of calcium (muriate of lime of com- 
merce) will answer this purpose exceedingly well, and is 
cheap enough, being about 47. per ton. Tam inclined 
to think, however, that chloride of sodium (common salt) 
will be found the best thing a farmer can use for fixing 
the ammonia in his dung. I have put it to the test in a 
variety of ways, and have always succeeded in obtaining 
chloride of ammonia and carbonate of soda. IT know you 
have frequently stated that salt will not decompose 
ammonia; and this is the prevailing opinion; let it, 
however, be put to the test, and the result will, Iam con- 
fident, prove successful. The manner in which you have 
brought Professor Henslow’s opinions before your readers 
is excellent; I should like, however, to see you recom- 
mend three dunghills instead of two, and one of them to 
be treated with common salt. I am only afraid that you 
will tell your readers, if you notice the matter at all, not 
to be at the trouble and expense of putting salt to the 
test, as it is well known not to answer. Some of your 
known and talented correspondents might assist me in 
this matter with you, by trying the following simple 
experiment, and reporting the result :—Take equal parts 
of carbonate of ammonia and salt, mix them, and give the 
mixture the same moisture and temperature they are 
likely to be subjected to in a dunghill for 48 hours, and 
if they should report to you that they found chloride of 
ammonia and carbonate of soda, I think that would be 
sufficient to authorize you in recommending more ex- 
tensive experiments.—J. C. [We would beg to refer our 
readers to a letter from Mr. Solly upon this subject in 
another column. We presume our cor 
proportions. Any one may prove for himself the truth 
of the remarks which have been made. He need only 
provide himself with a little very finely pounded unburnt 
gypsum, some solid carbonate of ammonia, anda little pure 
ammonia. Let him dissolve sufficient of the carbonate in 
water, so that the solution may smell tolerably pungent of 
ammonia, then add by degrees the gypsum, shaking fre- 
quently : the smell will soon go off. Now add a little of 
the pure ammonia, enough to restore to the liquid an 
ammoniacal odour; all the gypsum you can now apply 
will not deprive it of this. It is now easy to understand 
Mr. Pusey’s remark, that gypsum has not been found to 
answer, and also to account for its failure on scientific 
principles. Two circumstances seem necessary for its 
success—a sufficient quantity of watery liquid, and that 
the ammonia be combined with carbonic acid. ‘When 
urine putrefies, pure ammonia is first formed, which only 
gradually combines with carbonic acid. In the commence- 
ment of its putrefaction gypsum is of no use. The cir- 
cumstances being the same, the pure ammonia would be 
lost with as much celerity from urine with which gypsum 
had been mixed as from urine in its natural state. How 
far its presence may possibly modify the decomposition 
of the urea, is a point upon which I'am not prepared to 
pronounce an opinion. The two volatile ammoniacal 
salts already mentioned would fly off and be lost quite as 
soon, and as entirely, with gypsum as without, I think 
therefore that Professor Henslow’s plan of arranging his 
dung-heap with dry pounded gypsum will not be found to 
answer, or at most very imperfectly. If exposed to the 
rain out of doors, the sulphate of lime would by degrees 
be dissolved, and act as we have said; and even sup- 
posing the liquid proceeding thence be saved, all the free 
ammonia and the other volatile salts would infallibly’ be 
lost in the air. If the heap be under cover, the gypsum 
would not act at all, or very inefficiently. I think enough 
has been said to show that although gypsum may succeed 
in retaining part of the ammonia present in decomposing 
urine and farm-yard manure, yet it cannot retain the whole. 
I think, therefore, Mr. Pusey was quite justified in his 
remark, which, though perhaps originating either from his 
personal observation, or the experience of some of hig 
friends or correspondents, science fully confirms, and 
shows that it could not be otherwise. But agriculturists 
are not confined to the employment of gypsum for the 
purpose of fixing ammonia; and what they may do, and 
do efficiently on this point, may, if the subject interests 
sufficiently, be the topic of another letter.— HW”. H. Poiter, 
Chemical Works, Upper Fore-street. 
Manure for Flower Clumps, &c.—I have two flo wer 
gardens under my charge; in both these are 40 good- 
sized clumps and flower-borders, one half of which every 
second season have a sufficient dressing of good manure, 
cheap and easily attained. This is prepared by collecting 
all walk: ings, refuse of flowers, short grass, and 
4 pondent means 
muriate (hydrochlorate) of ammonia, when he speaks of 
chloride of ammonia.] 
izing Ammonia.—A few practical observations may 
not be unacceptable on the subject of the fixation of am- 
monia by gypsum. TI have long been in the habit, in the 
manufacture of sulphate of ammonia on the large scale 
from the ammoniacal liquor of the gas-works, of using 
gypsum for this purpose. It is well known that gas. 
liquor is composed principally of water holding in solution 
variable quantities of carbonate, hydrosulphate, and hy- 
drocyanate of ammonia, and generally some uncombined 
ammonia. There are some other substances present, but 
which we need not now notice. J may here corroborate 
a recent remark of yours, that the Sas-liquor of the 
country gas-works is weaker than that produced in Lon. 
don. This is certainly true, as far as my observation 
goe A few years since I contracted for the entire 
quantity of liqnor produced at the Weat Bromwich gas- 
works, amounting to more than half a million of gallons 
yearly; and the average strength was, that one gallon 
required rather less than six ounces of strong oil of vitrio) 
for its saturation. The liquor of the London works (near 
Vauxhall-bridge), averages, according to my experience, 
2 ounces oil of vitriol per gallon. I may also remark 
that the liquor produced from inland coal (which generally 
abounds with iron pyrites) contains much more sulphur- 
etted hydrogen than that made from 8ea-coal, which is the 
Sort generally used in the London gas-works. When gyp- 
sum in powder is added to gas-liquor, cold, the first effect is, 
that the water present dissolves a portion, which is simul. 
taneously decomposed by the carbonate of ammonia also 
present, This it does by virtue of a complex affinity, 
‘orming an insoluble carbonate of lime and a soluble sul- 
phate of ammonia. It seems quite essential that there 
should be sufficient water to dissolve readily the sulphate 
of ammonia as fast as produced, or the process grows 
sluggish, or stops altogether. It is only that portion of 
the gypsum which dissolves, from time to time, that acts 
Upon the carbonate of ammonia. But it is only the car- 
Onate of ammonia that is decomposed, and its volatile 
base fixed, The free ammonia, and the hydrosulphate 
and hyd y , remai hed and unfixed, ready 
to fly off into the atmosphere, on exposure or increase of 
temperature. It was from this inability of gypsum to fix 
the whole of the ammonia existing in gas-water, that 
Compelled me to add to my liquor, after the action of the 
8ypsum had terminated, so much oil of vitriol as was 
found Sufficient to saturate the free ammonia, and to 
compose and fix the fugitive hydrocyanate and hydro- 
By these ee I succeeded in fixing the 
1. Now the composition of the liquid 
of the dung-heap, which first efiirates the solid poviiod 
and then flows away as a rich brown liquid, is almost 
es a It Certainly contains all the 
stances mentioned, though not, it may be, in the same 
: 
fallen leaves, which are thrown into a heap for a twelve- 
month, but turned several times during that period. It 
is then ina fit state to be wheeled on the land, and I 
find it sufficiently rich to keep the clumps in good condi- 
tion for the growth of flowering plants. As I never allow 
weeds to flower, I am not afraid of their seeds being 
brought upon the land'with the compost.—R. D. 
Economical Manure.—tIn the several plans which have 
appeared in the Chronicle of late for the preservation and 
accumulation of manure, whether by the gardener, farmer, 
or cottager, I beg to offer to your notice a plan I followed 
last autumn, and which, if there is any truth in the theory 
of decomposed vegetables producing the most proper food 
for their respective species, a mass of manure is formed 
on the spot with little trouble and expense. It is usually 
the practice to clean the garden thoroughly when most of 
the summer and autumn crops.are over ; instead, then, of 
raking and wheeling all the refuse away to the yard appro- 
priated, fix on an open or spare part of the garden, and 
throw out with a spade a trench five or six feet wide, and 
as long as you judge you have refuse to fill up to the 
height of five feet, making the trench one foot deep. Next 
put a layer of fresh horse-litter on the bottom, and wheel 
on a layer of your refuse, decayed haulm, stumps, leaves, 
weeds, or any other thing you wish to clear away, putting 
a layer of dung (fresh) between each layer of refuse 3 finish 
in a ridge similar to a Potato-pit, five feet high, and cover 
the whole up with the adjoining soil, to prevent the escape 
of steam. Violent fermentation will soon take place, and 
the covering must occasionally be looked to, to make up 
the cracks that will oceur by the heap subsiding, and to 
keep in the steam ; in three months you will on the spot 
have a rich mass of that description of manure peculiarly 
fitted to enhance the growth of vegetables. Would not 
an old oil-cask make a good vessel for cottagers to keep 
their manure in, with a top to it to prevent the smell from 
escaping ?—John Spencer, Bowood. [Yes ; butit would 
soon rot.] ‘i 
Potatoes.—I last spring planted some bread-fruit and 
kidney Potatoes, which turned out of the ground in fine 
condition for table, being very mealy and properly fla- 
voured ; but after having kept them with the greatest care 
in the dark in a cool and well-ventilated store-room, 
which was not damp, I am at a loss to know why they 
are now absolutely useless for table. They are quite 
watery and hol although ly in as fine 
condition as ever. These Potatoes are, moreover, co- 
vered to a great thickness with straw. Will you or any 
of your correspondents have the kindness to solve this 
rus. ; 
eos Produce.—I should be much obliged if you 
would inform me, through the medium of your Paper, 
what produce I may reasonably expect from my garden at 
this season of the year. I have 2 Vineries, each 30 feet 
long ; 2 Peach-houses, of the same length; 1 Forcing 
—— 
house, and 1 Green-house, about 50 feet in length together, 
and one 9-light pit, 38 feet in length. The height and 
depth are, of course, Proportionate, and the gardener has 
as many frames as he requires. ‘The kitchen-garden com- 
prises one acre of ground within the walls ; and round the 
outside, fruit and vegetables are cultivated. There is’an 
anxious to obtain, is, what flowers at this season of the 
year I may expect to be brought in from the houses in 
jon? What » roots, &c. for household 
g 
consumption? My family consists of 18 or 20 persons, 
who require to be well supplied with vegetables, which at 
the present moment I do not find the case, or indeed 
much later in the year. I ought perhaps to State, that, 
fuel being very expensive in this country, we do not com- 
mence forcing till the end of December. The natural 
soil is chalk and clay (in some parts), but the garden soil 
was artificially made about ten years ago; the gardener 
has as much manure as he requires, and there is abundance 
of loam, peat, &c., in the neighbourhood, besides rotten 
leaves, road-scrapings, &c., any quantity of which he can 
always have when he requires it. The flower-garden is 
under his direction also ; but as it is chiefly American and 
Rose garden, it is not so troublesome as a mixed garden 
usually is. The gardener has six men and one woman 
under him, for his exclusive use, all the year round. [ 
have stated all these particulars, as I am anxious that my 
garden should produce as much as possible, without being 
unreasonable in my requests; and I should be much 
obliged to you, or any of your correspondents, if they 
would give me some information on the subject.—G. L. EB. 
[We must refer this question to sone good practical 
Gardener. ] 
Camellias.—At p, 102 are some remarks on Camelliag 
by Mr. Sherwood: I beg to say that I entirely agree with 
Mr. S., and I trust Mr. Beaton will excuse me for thus 
adding my testimony, and also for doubting the propriety 
of placing the pots in warm water. If it is bottom-heat 
alone which they want, by all means let them have it, in 
the shape of tan, or leaves, or Rendle’s Tank mode, if 
novelty is desired. If moisture at the root is required, 
let them be freely watered, and that too with liquid mas 
nure. Nothing is more frequent, however, than to meet 
with Camellias in a “pot-bound state; ”’ in which case 
the old ball is frequently as hard as a brick, and if it 
once becomes thoroughly dry, a score of waterings will nog 
suffice to penetrate it. The only plan in this case ia ta 
plunge the pot, containing the plant, overhead in tepid 
water ; if there is alittle liquid manure in it, so much the 
better, A plant, in this state, ought to remain in the 
water for an hour or two: in may then be removed to its 
place, and after a day or two may be regularly watered 
with the rest. One caution, however, is necessary, and that 
is, that no plant ought to be repotted immediately on being 
taken out of the water, for this reason—the outer part of 
the ball will have become saturated before the moisture 
can have penetrated the interior. The plant or plants 
must by all means be allowed to stand in an airy situation 
for two or three days before potting; and the ball should 
then be, what gardeners term, ina ‘‘ mellow”’ state. With 
regard to ‘forcing them into wood,” I agree with ithe 
principle, but it should not be carried too far. _ The mid- 
dle of March is a good time for beginning this process, 
and if plants now in blossom, or just done blooming, are 
placed in a cool, moist atmosphere of 40° to 50°, it will 
greatly benefit them, and in this respect particularly 
plants excited into blossom, the excitement being carried 
on without interruption, through the growing process, are 
apt,{(especially if there is not a powerful action of root. 
to push few buds ; especially if the heat recommended b 
some Camellia forcers is followed. Whereas, the mode 
now recommend will give them time to break more buds 
and consequently hecome more bushy: added to which, 
the accumulation of excitability, (the basis of forcing) will 
cause them to develop larger leaves, and in proportion ta 
the healthiness of these important organs (provided the 
subsequent treatment be right) will be the size and per- 
fection of the flowers. I may perhaps be pardoned for 
observing that I made some observations on Camellias at 
p- 139 of last year’s Chronicle, When I wrote tha¢ 
article, I felt myself warranted in doing so, by the success, 
which I had met with in following the mode of culture 
there detailed. I have pursued through another year 
similar plan, and my success has been still greater, M. 
plants began blooming in the last week of October, have 
bloomed incessantly from that time, and will continue 
until the beginning of March; thus, for four months, (in 
the depth of winter too), a small conservatory about 2¢ 
feet long has been in a continual blaze. 1 have, in fact, 
had thousands of blossoms, and the plants now are of so 
good a colour in the leaf, that they rival the healthiess 
Portugal Laurel. Having excellent roots, my plants are 
now endeavouring to push intowood: J am, however, as 
resolute on the other side the question, and shall endea- 
vour, as far as is consistent with the condition of the late 
bloomers, to keep them back until the middle of Mareh, 
when I shall manage them nearly as Mr, Sherwood does, 
excepting that I shall not place them out of doors. I live, 
however, in a different degree of latitude from Mr. S., and 
being within 30 miles of Liverpool, as well as on the edge 
of Delamere Forest, ‘‘the cooling gales” are more fre- 
quent than refreshing — Rober Errington, Oulton Park, 
‘alvia patens,—Several correspondents have stated, in 
the Chronicle, that the above plant will survive unprotected 
in the open ground during winter: my experience, however, 
proves otherwise. In the neighbourhood, of Edinburgh, 
where the climate would be supposed to be milder than at 
