13 



THE GARDENERS 1 CHRONICLE 



195 



- JBI M^fTT the Kino «' S ^^'priS C *T ALOGU E 



CSS** ** *° *p'>^ d, ^L_ 



^SmFUL FLOWERS.- FLOWER SEEDS, 



B EA J h.if hardv and perennials, forwarded free by post, 

 |Mr4f. ^1 ,«* /rice, all warranted :-l00 packets 5*. ; 

 ^ ftotowniff low prtces .i ^ ^^ anQnal t 



m * 5 * !LV« imckets • parden seeds in packages, at os , 



£ *AWiJ* near * double , the ? saal rr w " 



JJ^ and 20$. eacn. t dg . q caltivatlon . A , e w 



fc^f^trt "final Balsam seeds at 15.; Cucumber and 

 !*** °H « I a packet. Lis', with sample packet, for two 

 ^^dHresi^Jo^PH Golding, Seedsman, Hastings. 



— j^TJtwerTof the day— variegated 



TarARLET GERANIUM- This ele-ant plant is of 

 8 hfbit the foliage bright green, with a broad si yer 

 h The nWt light Icarlet. in large trusses, like 

 w.^oictum John and Chaeles Lee are seliing extra 

 ^ obtC< fSL at^l05 6d each. Small plants for bedding on 

 ^ ft ana 6^ per dozen.--Nursery and Seed Establish- 

 flyffltmmers mith, near London. 



S™7oiTTflB"FARIf, THE KITCHEN-GARDEN, AND 

 jfEDSrUK A « THB FL oWER-GARDEN. 



TAM8S SALTER having tested the Growing Quali- 



J JL of the Seedn he is now sending out, can with confidence 

 ^t them to be as good, and as low m price, as at anv 

 I^We^ed Establishment in the Kingdom All the most 

 fSBwrietlea of CUCUMBER and MELON, Is. per packet. 

 ^ r 1e*dVfor^ard € d (free, by post. Descriptive Lists, with 

 j*r«*i*ni for sowing, sent on application. ' 



vii i.i«t imported, a fine collection of CONTINENTAL 

 jA^tt^PFD^ aUo fine double ITALIAN TUBEROSES. 

 ^^LrP ^^usHMENT, 2, New Bond street, Bath. 



* CHOICE VEGETABLE AND FLOWER SEEDS. 



JOHN C\TTELL, Nurseryman and Seedsman, 

 Weiterham, Kent, begs to offer to the Public a few very 

 Mcrior 8 E B D^, selected from his collection, which may be 

 Sf at the anaaxed prices free by post. 



TBGETABLE SEEDS.— Beet: Cattell's dwarf purple top. 

 Broccoli: Mammoth White, Wilcove White, and Jones's Cauu- 

 £»r, White. Cabbage : Cattell's Green Colewort, Dwart 

 Barnes and Nonpareil. Savo? : Dwart Drumhead, Scotch 

 Kale, fiaa feathered and Dwarf Curled. Celery : Cole's Superb 

 led. Seymour's Champion White, and Seymour's Superb 

 Whi'te. Lettuce: fine Black Seed, Brown Bath Cos, and tine 

 Mack Seed Green Cos. Parsley : fine Curied, garnishing. 

 Teretable Marrow: true White. Leek: fine Broad-leaved. 

 Parsnip : Guernsey. Tne above at 6d. per packet. 



auliflower: tine Early and Dwarf Late Walcheren, and 

 Cattell's Rehacce Cabbage, at Is. per packet. Cucumber : 

 Manchester Prize, S>on H >use, Early and Improved ; CutniU's 

 Black Spine, Man of Kent, Kerryson's Prize, Carpenter's 

 Winder, Walker's fine Long, and Green Emperor, 1*. per 

 dozen Seeds. 



j» 



6 

 6 

 



6 



6 

 6 

 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



Per packet— 5. d. | 



Coovolvmlus major, new 



Red 



new Purple 



„ rubra coerulea 1 



Geranium, from newest 



florist varieties 2 



Geranium, from newest 



fancy varieties 2 



Geranium, scented do. ... 

 ^emopbilamacu'ata ... 1 

 Jacobaea, extra fine donble 



Purple 



Per packet— s. 

 Larkspur, dwarf double 

 Rocket, extra fine mixed 

 Stock, Red, Intermediate, 



extra fine 



Coreopsis nigra speciosa 

 Calceolaria, from first- 

 rate sorts, impreg- 



D<*Vvv* mi ••• ••• •*• m 



Schizanthus retusus alba 1 



Ijomopsis elegans 1 



Pentstemon speciosum ... 1 

 Rhodanthe Manglesii ... 1 



d. 

 6 



6 

 6 



6 

 

 

 

 



J, C.'s Descriptive Priced Catalogues of Vegetable and 

 Plewer Seeds, may he had on application, or if by post, by 

 enclosing two penuy stamps. 



penuy stamps. 



^ 



UGH LOW and CO. beg to offer established 



Plants of the undernamed ; 



if 



99 



If 



1 



6 



2 



G 



9 







50 







18 







PHLOX, 24 superior sorts, each la. Od. 



24 newer varieties, each 



V2 best Belgian varieties of last year, each 

 CHRYSANTHEMUMS, in great variety, per doz.... 



per 100, one plant of each 



sore • •* « • • • •• 



newer varieties, per doz.... 

 LILIPUTIASr CHRYSANTHEMUMS. — These miniature 

 varieties have, duriug the past season, established themselves 

 m great favourites, on account of their dwarf habit and pro- 

 Um blooming. 



12 varieties of 1849, Is. each, or 9s. per dozen. 

 18 „ of 1850, 2s. each, or IBs. per dozen. 



LOXINIAS. 6 fine Continental hybrids, 2*. 6d. each. 

 BLUi-; MIMULCS (Mimuius ringens), a fine hardy herba- 

 «oos plant, 25. 64. each. 



Afar fine round-headed SWEET ORANGE TREES, 2 feet 

 tims,fttlL of fruit, 15a. each. 



Post-office orders payable at Hackney, 

 iapton Nursery, London. 



EW VALUABLE FLOWER SEEDS.— Portulaca 



nova ro-ea, new Rose var., very handsome, Is. per pkt. 

 Ipomeea Quamoclit alba, half-hardy 



11 Burridgii, splendid hardy 

 Saponaria Calabrica, var. multiflora 

 « garden Bhould be without this most valuable 



u t Annual. 



Jf tr ^iaia angularis, new and handsome 

 Woxinia, hybridised by a iirst-rate grower ... 

 v»««Bdrinia umbellata, new and handsome 



half-hardy Annual 



i ^Packets of Lisianthus Russellianus 



AropaBulum speciosum, very handsome ... x S . „ 



his ^ni? AW - ** A1Ra ' object, in selecting the above few Seeds from 



are 2flS Ct ) W,, id t0 draw the P Articular attention of those who 



of ttah ° Velry * na Deautv ; Amongst other departments 



"^Msmegg, B. H. prides himself on having some first-rate 



eise, 



• # • 



. ■ ■ 



■ • » 



• * • 



• • • 



• • « 



13. 



6d. 

 6d, 



it 



it 



99 



• . . 



. • » 



6<J. 

 la. 



15. 



15. 



Is. 



l| 



99 

 99 



n Vv Tlhl Flow ^ r s— viz., Calceolaria, Cineraria, Hearts- 

 ™m i! a ' Veroeoa » Carna ions, Pink, Cockscombs, and 

 S™ 8 » *©-, in6d. and I5. packets. 

 ™man stocks and Asters in collection!, 25. to 5*. 

 *r ^t, Martin's-iane, Charing Cross, London. 



Catalogues per post free. 





RM. STARK begs to intimate that his Spring 

 . Cat*t»ittfe of FLORISTS* FLOWERS, BEDDIKG, 



GREEN HOUSE and other plants, containing many interesting 

 novelties, 13 now r^ady, and may be had on application. 

 Ga»den, Farm, and Flower Seeds of fine quality, and from the 

 mofct approved Stocks. 



Ed-ehili Nur sery, Edinburgh, March 29. ____^_ 



NEW DVHLTAS; E. FOSTER'S, Esq. CHOICE PELAR. 

 GONTUVfS; PICOTEES, CARNATIONS, HOLLYHOCKS. 

 PANSIES, Ac. 



WILLIAM BRAGG, Star Nursery, Slough, begs to 

 say his Catalogue of the above Flowers is now ready, 

 and can be had on application. His choice SEEDLING 

 DAHLIAS will be sent out the first week in May at 10s. 6d. 

 each, viz. :— 



ADMIRAL, rich lilac, very constant, gained first Seedling 

 prize, 255., at the Royal South London Exhibition ; 215. Shackle- 

 well Open Shows, <fcc , fourteen first class certificates ; the most 

 successful flower of the year. 



CARMItf A, rich carmine, constant show flower, gained six 

 first class certificates, <fcc, shown in several winning stands. 



The Hon. Mrs. ASHLEY, waxy white, tipped with ro3e, 

 splendid show flower, «fcc. W. B. thinks it the best Dahlia of 

 the season ; was awarded by Dr. Lindley a certificate of merit 

 at the Horticultural Society, <fcc. Gained five first class certi- 

 ficates. 



QUEEN OF FAIRIES, Domeyer. W. Bragg has purchased 

 the stock of this fine and constant fancy Dahlia, from the 

 above amateur, who will give 51. in prizes the next season for 

 thi-» flower. It gained a Seedling prize and first class certificate, 

 with Edwards's Mra. Hansard; at the Royal South London 

 Open Show E xhibition five first class certificates. 



W. B.'s stock of Picotees, Carnations, and Pinks are strong 

 and good ; the best Hollyhock Seed ever sent out can be had 

 in 25. 6d. and 55. packets, po»t paid, for prepayment. 



HOLLYHOCK SEED. 



EDWARD TILEY begs to inform the lovers of that 

 beautiful flower that he nas been successful in procuring 

 a quantity of good sound SEED of the above from an Amateur 

 Gentleman who has one of the mo*t superb and choice 

 collection* in cultivation ; the seei having been selected with 

 every care and attention, be can confidently recommend it. 

 Sold at 2s. 6d. per packet, containing 150 seeds, or 5s. for a 



packet of 400 seeds. 



GERMAN ASTER SEED. 



Unequalled for the superiority of flower, the shape of which 

 forms that of half a globe, and has been admired by thousands 

 of spectators at numberless exhibitions. There are from 2a 

 to 30 varieties, Is. per packet. 



SWEET- WILLI AM SEED. 

 Saved from 24 superb varie ies. The flowers are very lar?e, 

 and of dwarf habit. They were much admired when in bloom, 

 by countless spectator**, and the Seed numtrously ordered by 



them ; 15. per packet. 



ANTIRRHINUM SEED. 



E. T. being a most extensive grower of all the choicest' sorts 



known in cultivation, has selected the Seed with great care 



from the finest varieties, as to colour, j-hape and habit of plant. 



There are more than 50 distinct varieties ; Is. per packet. 



DWARF ORANGE AFRICAN MARIGOLD SEED. 

 Unrivalled for its superior size and darkness of colour, many 

 of the flowers last season measuring 5 inches over, and not 

 more than I foot high ; 6d per packet. 



Or, if preferred, a 5s. packet of Hollyhock and a packet of 



esch of the above varieties for 7s. 

 Walcheren Cauliflower Broccoli (as imported) Is. Od. p. packet. 



Tamworth Broccoli 1 



Wilcove Broccoli 1 



Cole's Superb So^id Celery 6 



Bath Cos Lettuce, seed true, the best and finest 



flavoured in cultivation ... 10 ,, 



A remittance rou>t accompany the order, either in cash or 

 penny postage stamps for the amount. 



Sold by Edward Tiley, Nurseryman, Seedsman, and Florist, 

 11, Abbey Churchyard, Bath. 





(JARNATIONS, 25 Show Varieties, 1 pair of each, 



^ n *med ' m\ n. t\J 



P^W A 2 5do.do 10 



^siEfc, 25 varieties, extra fine show 



Tbiihl-** n *u m t d 12 



kl a ,lf hest time for planting out the above beautiful 



**iiL I. IN HOLLAND, Bradshaw Gardens, Middieton, 



** £uT *?' be »* to inft » m Gentlemen, Florists, *c, &c, 

 p ric J*« vl ng a lar rfe Stock, he effers them at the above low 



*» »ldf? perincluded -"~ Po8t - oaiceoraer8 to b<3 maa « payable 

 *tt7 a. n ^ near Manchester. Auricula*, Alpine*, Polyan- 

 ^■*»*c. Catalogues on application. ' * 



aCfie ©avtrwersT Cftromclt* 



SATURDA Y, MARCH 29, 1851. 



MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 



Monday, March 31 — Chemical {Anniversary) 8 p.m, 



(Horticultural 3 p.m. 



m.._,_ . — Anvil i / l^i n nean ■•..•••«••••••••••••••. .8 p.m. 



10MDAY, Apru l< civil Engineers 8 p.m. 



( Pathological S p.m. 



r National Floricultural 2 p.m. 



Thubsday, — 3< Antiquarian S p m. 



( Royal 8.* p.m. 



«„„,„ .f Botanical .....8p.m. 



jtriday, — 4 i Royal Institution S*f m. 



»- - .r Asiatic 2 p.m. 



Satitkday. - 5 i Medical S p.m. 



L 



We are happy to announce that by the last Indian 

 Mail, Dr. Hooker, and his friend, Dr. Thomson, 

 arrived safely from Chittagong. We have had 

 freqnent occasion to speak of the important and 

 dangerous travels of the former of these gentlemen, 

 from which the most valuable contributions to 

 physical geography and natural science are to be 

 expected. We understand that Dr. Hooker's col- 

 lections, which are on their way home by the Cape 

 of Good Hope, are equally remarkable for their 

 interest and great extent. 



The power of absorbing and retaining ammonia, 

 w T hich most experiments have shown the soil to 

 possess, probably will explain the reasons why in 

 certain cases, on particular soils, and applied to 

 particular plants, the salts of ammonia sometimes 

 appear to produce little benefit. Several observers 

 have at different times stated, that to their great 

 surprise, they had found many of the salts of 

 ammonia, not only without any beneficial influence 

 on vegetation, but even absolutely hurtful to plants. 

 It was this which some years since led Boussingault 

 to the conclusion, that salts of ammonia were only 

 useful to plants when the ammonia was either com- 

 bined with carbonic acid or some easily destructible 

 organic acid. Plants fed with water alone, or planted 

 in pure siliceous sand, and watered with solutions 

 of various salts of ammonia, in place of being bene- 

 fited, were killed ; although the same plants, when 

 grown in common soil, and watered with the same 



.immoniacal solutions, were certainly rendered more 

 henlthy and vigorous. The conclusion to which 

 BonssiNGAULT was at last led, was, that the only 

 salt of ammonia really useful to plants was the 

 carbonate, and, therefore, that in all cases where the 

 other salts of this alkali were used as manure, the 

 acid must, by some process of chemical decom- 

 position, be removed, and replaced by the carbonic. 

 A key to some of the difficulties which these 

 observers could not explain is now given to us, 

 in the fact that an ordinary fertile soil possesses the 

 power of decomposing the salts of ammonia, and by 

 the acid of lime displacing the acid with which the 

 ammonia is combined. It has often been stated by 

 careful observers that they could find no difference 

 in the relative value of the various salts of ammonia 

 as manure, and that they all acted perfectly alike on 

 plants ; this is not what might reasonably be 

 expected, but it would, of course, follow as a 

 necessary consequence from the power of the soil 

 which has lately been brought to light. 



There is, however, still another question which 

 must be satisfactorily explained, before we can have 

 any very accurate idea of the precise mode in which 

 these changes are effected; and that is, the sub- 

 sequent process whereby the ammonia which the 

 soil has absorbed is given off again, and taken up by 

 plants. All that is now shown is, that the soil is 

 able to fix a considerable quantity of ammonia, 

 which is retained by it with a good deal of force, 

 so that mere subsequent washing will not remove 

 it. By whatever means it is that the soil is able to 

 do this, it is tolerably certain that there exists 

 some means whereby plants are able to avail them- 

 selves of the ammonia thus arrested, and stored up 

 by the soil. Whether these means are simply 

 chemical ; whether they depend in any way on the 

 influence of light, or whether they are to be traced 

 to the vital powers of the plant and the peculiar 

 structure of the roots, is not yet ascertained ; but 

 two things are plain; firstly, that the soil takes 

 up from rain-water all the ammonia which the 

 latter contains; and, secondly, that the soil again 

 parts with some of this ammonia to plants growing 

 in it. 



The power of any soil thus to absorb ammonia is 

 unquestionably limited ; and if we continue to 

 filter a weak solution of ammonia through a portion 

 of any soil, though the water which comes through 

 at first will not contain any ammonia, yet after a 

 short time, and w T hen the soil has taken up as much 

 as it is able to absorb, then the water which passes 

 through will be found to contain as much ammonia 

 as it did before it was thus filtered. The quantity 

 which the soil is able to retain is not great, but it 

 is abundantly sufficient for the wants of plants. 

 Until we know- the mode in which clay subsequently 

 parts with the ammonia which it has absorbed, we 

 shall not be able to devise the best means of pre- 

 venting the loss of that substance, or of making the 

 most of the power in question. There is, however, 

 every probability that by continued exposure to the 

 air alone, much of the ammonia which has been 

 absorbed during a summer shower, for example, is 

 again slowly given off; an effect which the mere 

 gradual evaporation of the surface water would 

 greatly tend to accelerate. Hence it is not to be 

 expected that any soil, however constituted, could, 

 by mere exposure to the air, ever become very rich 

 in ammonia, or indeed contain more than a minute 

 trace of it; because the entire quantity which it 

 could possibly receive in any one day could only 

 be very minute ; and though it is true that the 

 constant repetition of such additions to the soil 

 would in time amount to a considerable quantity ; 

 yet, as it would take a long time, and as, during the 

 whole of this time, the soil would be necessarily 

 exposed to the influence of evaporation, and the 

 other causes, whatever they may be, which tend to 

 remove ammonia again from the soil ; so it is not to 

 be expected that, even under the most favourable 

 circumstances, any large accumulation could take 

 place. 



It will be an important subject of inquiry, to 

 ascertain how much ammonia a good clay soil is 

 able to absorb under the most favourable circum- 

 stances ; for if the quantity is sufficiently large, it 

 would unquestionably be worth w r hile to form large 

 filter beds in the reservoir of drainage water from 

 towns ; not as has often been proposed, merely for 

 the purpose of purifying it from all the solid matters 

 mechanically suspended in it, but also to arrest the 

 ammonia and other valuable soluble elements of 



manure which it contains. 



Some of Mr. Way's 



He 



experiments on this subject are very curious, 

 not only found that by filtering a portion of pu rid 

 drainage water through a few inches of soil, it had 

 lost all bad odour, and contained no longer any 

 ammonia ; but he also iound that on filtering fresh 

 j liquids of this sort, which had not yet be^un to 

 I putrefy, through such a layer of soil, they even lost 



