August 2, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



93 



spirit.^ll can'say that in Icommon with my frienda Messrs. 

 Paul & Cant we have to express our grateful recollections for 

 muehjwarm-hearted hospitality and kindness. — D., Deal. 



ARTIFICIAL FERTILISERS. 



I must disclaim the compliments paid by "A Retired 

 Gardener " to what he calls my " science," if they are meant 

 to imply that my criticism on his praotice was not founded on 

 practice also. The faot is, we are both agreed that certain 

 manures are useful. He cites his practice, in which enormous 

 quantities were followed by good crops ; I can cite my own, in 

 which much Bmaller quantities have given equally good results, 

 and I have confirmed that by citing also the practical experi- 

 ments of Mr. Lawes, extending now over twenty years, in 

 •which the results obtained by different quantities have been 

 most carefully compared. 



" A Retired Gardener " urges, however, that I have over- 

 stated the amount of guano he applied, beoause his rows of 

 Peas were 5 feet apart ; but I presume if he grew anything 

 (which certainly a market gardener would do) between the 

 rows it would have been manured in the same proportion ; 

 and I understood also that he applied the same quantities to 

 Carrots, Onions, &c, which were, I imagine, grown closely over 

 "the ground allotted to them. I took his own figures, and 

 assumed that they were intended to apply to full crops as well 

 as to half crops. Next " A Retired Gardener " argues that 

 to stint manure is to waste it, and he cites the contrast 

 between a neighbouring farm and his own garden in a droughty 

 year ; but to make the contrast accurate between the two sys- 

 tems of manuring the farm ought to have had the same water- 

 ing for at least half as much as the garden, which I take for 

 granted it did not. I fully admit that garden crops will bear 

 and profit by heavier doses than field crops, and for this reason 

 1 assigned to the garden double the heaviest dose that a farmer 

 would give to his land. Instead of recommending 3 cwt. of 

 guano, as " A Retired Gardener " seems to imply I did, 

 -merely because I said it was a common farm top-dressing, I ex- 

 pressly reoommended for the garden a proportion which would 

 equal 14 cwt. per acre. "A Retired Gardener" adduces 

 the heavy manuring and heavy crops of market gardeners, and 

 I need not say that I admire their practice and its results ; but 

 these heavy manurings are almost entirely composed of stable 

 litter with occasionally a small mixture of cow and pig dung, 

 and we are discussing guano and nitrate of soda. The differ- 

 ence is this — that dung decomposes very slowly and is not 

 available for plant food till decomposed, while a great deal of 

 •guano and the whole of nitrate of soda is instantly soluble, and 

 is taken up into the plants as fast as their roots can absorb the 

 water in which it is dissolved ; hence dung produces an effect 

 extending over many seasons, while the artificial manures are 

 practically exhausted in one. Nor does even a market gardener 

 succeed in growing any one crop to heavier weight than a single 

 crop of roots on a farm. The difference is that he makes crop 

 closely follow crop, and that his crops sell at higher prices ; 

 but no market gardener would ever dream of applying to any 

 crop a dressing of a ton of guano per week to an acre ! 



"A Retired Gardener" in truth gives up his case as to 

 •quantities when he says not ODly that half the dressing may 

 be pure water, but that in a wet season he would apply the 

 artificial manure only onoe or twice, while in a dry season he 

 would apply it eight times. It is clear that if he grows crops 

 that are " luxuriant, full, profitable," with one or two doses of 

 manure, the extra Bix must be simply wasted. They were 

 wasted, and did not in his caBe poison the plants, only because 

 the water given was also so excessive. A soil from which the 

 evaporation is checked by mulching, and which is therefore 

 &ept tolerably moist, cannot poBeibly absorb 2 inches of water 

 poured on its surface. At least one-half of the water will 

 ■drain away into the subsoil, and will carry with it the larger 

 portion of the soluble matter of any manure that has been 

 previously or simultaneously applied. This is not a scientific 

 •theory ; it is a fact established by the experience of all who 

 have examined into questions of drainage. 



I may add, in reference to the remarks of Mr. Douglas, that 

 in dry soils and seasons he prefers farm dung to artificial 

 manures, because the former helps to retain the moisture. I 

 •entirely agree with him. On such soils artificials are only use- 

 ful if a sufficient supply of water can be afforded throughout the 

 season ; but he will remember that I suggested artificials (with 

 water when requisite) in answer to the inquiry of a gentleman 

 who could not obtain farm manure, and who sought to know of 



a substitute. That gentleman stated that during the present 

 season he had been obliged to restrict his Roses to guano, and 

 the high place he has taken at Rose shows seems to indicate 

 that the substitute has been successful. Guano is, however, 

 now-a-days of very uncertain, and often of very poor, quality; 

 besides, it may at some seasons be too stimulating. The 

 mixture of nitrate of soda, superphosphate of lime, and potash 

 may be made to any strength and in any proportions desired. 

 If I were to presume (from some little experience with other 

 plants) to advise such veteran Rose-growers I would say, Use 

 during autumn neither much guano nor much nitrate of soda, 

 but apply superphosphate and potash with just a little nitrate. 

 This will cause growth of roots rather than of leaves, and will 

 give firm and ripe wood and strong buds. — J. B. E. 



SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



This Association was formed at Edinburgh on the 20th of 

 March, 1877, for the promotion and advancement of the 

 science and praotice of horticulture, and for the dissemination 

 of a knowledge of such branches of natural history as are con- 

 nected therewith. 



TheBe objects are proposed to be attained by the holding of 

 periodical meetings for the interchange of information bearing 

 upon these subjects, and the application of such knowledge to 

 productive and decorative gardening, industrial economy, and 

 the arts ; by forming a museum and library suitable for the 

 general information and reference of members ; by encourag- 

 ing the introduction and raising of new and meritorious plants, 

 fruits, and vegetables, and the selection of such sorts as are 

 suitable to the olimate and soils of Britain with a view to their 

 general cultivation. 



That any person interested in the objects of the Association 

 shall be eligible for membership, and be admitted as a member 

 on being proposed, seconded, and duly elected by a majority 

 present at any ordinary meeting. The annual subscription to 

 be 2s. 6<f., and payable in advance. 



For 1877-78 Mr. Malcolm Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, is Pre- 

 sident ; Mr. H. Fraser, Leith Walk Nursery, Vice-PreBident ; 

 Mr. John Methven, Leith Walk Nursery, Secretary ; and Mr. 

 David Laird, West Coates Nursery, Treasurer. 



This is only a temporary statement of the aims, &c, of the 

 Association — just sufficient to carry on the Association till the 

 first annual meeting in March, 1878, when it will be revised 

 and extended into laws, rules, &e., and the Association put on 

 a proper and a permanent footing. Up to this there have been 

 four numerously attended meetings held and various very in- 

 teresting and useful papers read, the merits of which have 

 been intelligently discussed by the members present. Even- 

 tually a summary of the papers and discussions for the use of 

 members at a distance and the general public are hoped to 

 be published. The Association already numbers above 150 

 members from all parte of the country. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



Amongst the many treasures now approaching their ful- 

 ness of beauty in Battersea Park — examples of both tropica!- 

 and temperate vegetation — not many plants or shrubs are 

 more effective than the Golden Elder (Sambucus nigra var. 

 aurea). Several plants are growing in one of the large flower 

 beds, and their bright golden foliage is very conspicuous, and 

 has a fine contrasting effect with the dark green of the sur- 

 rounding trees and shrubs. The Elder appears to have been 

 out down during the winter, and to tbis with good soil is to be 

 attributed the healthy growth and rich goldnn hue of the 

 Bhoota and foliage. This Elder is a very Btriking plant for 

 shrubberies, and presents anything but a coarse appearance. 



It cannot be too widely known that many of the double 



Geraniums of comparatively recent introduction possess the 

 same oloae and compact habit and free-flowering qualities of 

 the single varieties. A recent inspection of Mr. Cannell's fine 

 collection of them at Swanley affords ample proof of that 

 being the case, and also for noting a few of the best varieties 

 at present in cultivation. One of the most free is undoubtedly 

 the semi-double variety Wonderful, and one of the moBt useful 

 is Madame Thibaut. Very fine are Eugene Baudawin, J. C. 

 Rodbard, C. H. Wagner, Lucie Lemoine, Depute Laflize, Simon 

 Delaux, LittrS, Jean Dolfus, and Purple Emperor, new, very 

 rich. Mdlle. Amelie Baltet is the best white variety. 



While in most gardens walls are considered to be 



necessary for the ripening of Tomatoes even in the south of 



