Mar™ 5 



1898 



GARDE NE RS MA G A ZINE 



143 



cutting 



inds and if the soil is properly prepared, splendid potatos, both 

 " use and for exhibition caS be obtained in this way. % 



Amygdalus Davidiana alba. 



^^L^«^PS^ the °P en the ground should be Umoq^ 



durinTthe autumn, but not manured. The soil should be left 

 ^^S^Vl state on the surface, and a warm, sheltered part 

 of ?he garden, such as 



a south border, should be chosen. 

 S £i the sets, which should have been previously selected and pre- 

 • 5 mav be Planted. ' Numberless varieties are now in existence suit- 

 P ^ for early crops, and very many are well adapted for early 

 ^riliS - m stpcop P lc have their "favourites, though Sharpe s Victor and 

 Ishleaf boTh of very excellent quality and quick to mature, will be hard 

 lo beat It is advisable to plant at a depth 



The almonds are noted for their extreme beauty and their precocity, for 

 they are among the earliest of flowering trees to brighten up our gardens. 

 The common almond is one of the most elegant of trees when smothered 

 Early in m pinky white blossoms, and already in the more favoured London 



suburbs its blossoms have expanded under the genial influence of the 

 recent bright sunshine. Far in advance of the common or sweet almond, 

 in time of flowering, is Amygdalus Davidiana, a Chinese species, that 

 commemorates that intrepid collector, the famous Abbe David. This is 

 still a] comparatively scarce itree in all but the gardens of the most 



of at least six 



horse manure and leaf soil be placed in the bottom. 

 Should be planted on this at a distance of fourteen inches apart, 

 niacins a good portion of the same mixture over them Oyer 

 this again should be drawn the soil taken from the trench, a line 

 being stretched along the centre and a mark made down the row 

 This will be of service in hoeing over the ground to clear it of 

 weeds if necessary, before the shaws are through the ground. 

 An enthusiastic gardener will be constantly on the watch for 

 the young growth as everyone knows how very tender the potato 

 is* and on the least sign of frost they should be carefully ex- 

 amined during the day, and a little soil drawn over them. 

 Frequent hoeings should be made, as this keeps the soil light 

 and open, as well as freeing it from weeds. When the growth 

 is too hi«jh for covering with soil and the weather is at all 

 uncertain some material must be used for protecting growth, 

 such as spruce branches, long litter, old tiffany, bracken, or, if 

 nothing better can be obtained, rhubarb leaves will keep the 

 haulm safe during a rather severe frost. No time should be 

 lost in thoroughly earthing them up, as the comparatively loose 

 soil will afford them much protection. This is best done with a 

 draw hoe when the tops are about three inches above the ground. 

 The ridges should be left neat and straight, and nothing more 

 will be required till lifting time comes round. The same care 

 should be taken with the most promising tubers as previously 

 advised if required for exhibition, 

 carefully, must not be rubbed 



A crood trench should be taken out, and a layer of spent 

 8 * * ^ — The sets 



They should be handled most 



or bruised in the slightest. 



Splendid specimens are often found in these plantations. A 



successional planting should also be made about the middle of 

 the month. 



E. Beckett. 



A I den ham House Gardens , Els tree ', Herts. 



Stable versus Moss-litter Manure. 



A oUESTiON is asked by A. D. on page 99 regarding the relative 

 values of ordinary stable or straw manure and moss-litter manure. 

 Farmyard manure differs from moss-litter manure in several im- 

 portant particulars. The quantity of straw employed as litter 

 must necessarily affect the general composition of fresh dung, 

 and more especially the amount of moisture which it contains. 

 The greater the amount of liquid manure it can be made to absorb 

 the larger will be the heat developed. In fresh dung the pro- 

 portion of organic and mineral substances is small ; this cir- 

 cumstance fully explains the slow action of stable manure when 

 compared with the effect which well-made moss-litter manure- 

 containing, as it does, more both of the solid and liquid excre- 

 ments of the animals— is capable of producing. 

 , The proportion of insoluble matters, more especially of 

 insoluble organic matters, in fresh dung, on the other hand, is 

 \ery Jarge, and considerably exceeds those of moss-litter manure 



fr!V°i am 1 ° 1 unt . of nitrogen contained in the soluble portion of 

 iresh dung likewise is inconsiderable. " 



which is gradually liberated as the fermentation of the dung 

 incTt? eS? 1S contained ^ the portion of the manure which is 

 En £ m Waten - In other words ' comparatively speaking, 

 a Is mS2 Tu eX1StS - ln fresh dun & in a sta *e in which it can be 

 2 t ^ y i S rowi ng P^nts ; while in moss-litter manure, 



ineredilnt f .£ rge am ° Unt of carbonate of lime present (an 



befomS i ^1 he Peat T SS) > the nitr °2 en of the excrements 

 bv u^nl a f ldl y averted into nitrate of lime, and is assimilated 



litter m n OI?C t F ? r this reason the St *y' m S Po^rs of moss- 

 Also tS C 15 less J han straw-litter manure, weight for weight. 

 Dlantc ■ nitro 2 e ? whlch is not at once taken up by the erowW 



£s liue r WaSted by draina ^ Therefore M & that although 

 the straw litt °/ 1 & inall y contain ™ore nitrogen thin 



croc S ^T^ lt does not last so lon &> n °r produce the 

 a JI 5 s which one would be led to expect. 



salts, 

 in great 



Most of the nitrogen, 



«p4SlvoH55 " h l ter - man " re 13 very poor m alkaline 

 I»rt was? P ?t S h V Smce th ese substances have been ir 

 princbS ,l°"-> the , water coverin S the P p at deposits. The 



on the 

 One 



Pnnc nal J _ 6 peat ueposil 



other P han? UtU / nt ° f the Soluble ash of fre sh dung, ( 



hundred ^rh S °nf i a ii qua ? ity is . concerned > * Potash, 

 real ootaih « soluble ash contain no less than thirty-seven parts of 



caibonate nfn^ a i5 Ua o tlty which is equal t0 fi fty-four parts of pure 

 of soluble «nU u , b . traw -litter manure also contains a large amount 



Practically ESS* m th - e soIuble and in the insoluble ash. This is 

 united Drinrtna ? g ! ° ™ oss - ht ter manure. In the soluble ash this silica is 

 wit h straw £ \Z WUh potash - Fresh farm y ar d or stable manure made 

 especially valJki • co " tains much soluble silicate of potash, which is 

 **S?V ^ al " a ble in the growth of plants. j. j. Willis. 



Harp en den. 



2£ S-SST GUIDE 



Garde 



Opmaining practical utuL . th e garden for the whole year is the "Gardening Year Book,' 



neri Ma^ne" QflL? 3 ■ * cu , !t .' v \ ltI 'i n of P™***' Fruit, ..Vegetables, &Q. Price is. 



e, 4, Ave Maria Lane, London. — [Advt.] | 



Amygdalus Davidiana alba 



(Flowers white) 



advanced horticulturists, but considering that it commences to unfold its 

 blossoms ere January has passed, and is soon clothed in wh.te rose- 

 tinted flowers it deserves to be more popular. The species was first 

 brought before the horticultural community by Messrs. J. Veitch and 

 Swho exhibited on March 3, 1892, and gained a first-class certifi- 

 cate for it A pure white variety is now available, and for.ns a beautiful 

 companion to the type ; this we figure in the present issue, and the illus- 

 tration serves to show how freely both variety and species produce their 

 charming flowers. Having regard to the early date at which this almond 

 blooms intending planters should provide a sheltered position for their 

 specimens so that the crop of blossoms may not be injured by cold frosty 

 winds following rain or snow. 



