THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
343 
A' 
GARDEN CHEMISTRY IN SOIL CULTIVATION 
( Coiiliiuicd from page 535.) 
curable potassic manures is wood ashes. It is necessary 
that these be kept dry before using, as rain will cause 
them to deteriorate in value. 
There are several valuable forms of fertilizers I have 
omitted to mention, but their price puts them beyond the 
reach of most gardeners. Of these the most notable are 
phosphate, nitrate and muriate of potash and phosphate 
of ammonia. 
Cover cropping is a good practice and serves several 
purposes. A heavy cover crop is a poor place for weeds, 
it provides humus when turned under and, in the case of 
legumes, supplies nitrogen to the soil. As this is the 
most easily exhausted chemical fertilizer the value of 
legumes for this purpose is readily seen. 
The character and condition of soils varies so much 
according to locality that no hard and fast rule can be 
made to cover them all. Each gardener in this matter 
has his own problems to solve. A knowledge of the 
action of the chief fertilizers and the results to be looked 
for from the use of the same will be of great value in 
determining the treatment of soils. 
Intelligent experimenting will then enable us to know 
which fertilizers will be the best for us to use without 
waste and with best results in successful cropping of our 
gardens. 
NORTH SHORE HORTICULTURAL HALL 
N epoch in the history of the North Shore Horticul- 
tural Society, Manchester, Mass., long to be re- 
membered, was reached when Alfred E. Parsons, chair- 
man of the building committee, with a few brief, well 
chosen words tendered the key of the newly completed 
Horticultural Hall in. Manchester to the president of the 
society, Frank P. Knight. The beautiful main hall of the 
society's new home was filled with members of the society 
and their guests, a majority being summer residents 
whose generous support of the project from the start 
made possible the success of the energetic building com- 
mittee, whose completed work was dedicated by the ap- 
propriate exercises. 
The exercises began with a Grieg selection for the 
violin and piano. After this rare introduction the ex- 
ercises continued with the address of welcome by the 
president of the society, Frank P. Knight. 
Lieutenant-Governor Calvin Coolidge gave an official 
touch to the dedication of the 
new building by appearing at 
the exercises and making a 
brief address. "It seems 
strange at a time like this, when 
we are in the midst of war and 
the preparation for war, to be 
engaged in the dedication of a 
building for such a peaceful 
purpose as is embodied in the 
aims of this society. Btit is it 
not altogether fitting that we 
should recognize this ideal of 
peace? It is said that the 
strength of a nation rests on its 
ideals, and isn't that the pur- 
pose of the war we are engaged 
in — the preservation of an 
ideal? This war is not for a 
material gain, but for the pres- 
ervation of the ideal of hu- 
man rights. Ever since this 
nation began we have been 
working out that ideal the 
Pilgrims brought with them — 
the individual right of a man to develop himself inde- 
])enflently of purposes of other men. We need the spirit of 
sacrifice, such as was necessary to create such a building 
as this for community service, in the furthering of our 
national aims. We shottld dedicate this building to the 
highest ideals of beauty and service and may we go into 
the future making more secure the rights and privileges 
of American citizenship." 
"I, too, find it hard to concentrate my mind on a peace- 
ful subject such as your society represents," said Wilfred 
Wheeler, state secretary of agriculture. "While we are 
engaged in raising an army and increasing the food pro- 
duction, it is hard to think of peaceful things. But while 
we are so engrossed in our task of urging the farmer to 
increase production it is not untimely to listen to a plea 
in behalf of the agriculturist and at the same time the 
horticulturist." Mr. Wheeler urged governmental recog- 
nition of the scientific achievements of the tmderpaid men 
in the government service and in private walks of life who 
accomplish new methods of increasing food production 
and of creating an American independence in the culttire 
of the flowers now imported from the old cotmtries 
abroad. 
"Agriculture must be recognized by the state and 
nation," he said, "for the life of the nation depends upon 
its agriculture." He urged the society to pledge itself to 
securing this recognition. 
At the conclusion of Mr. Wheeler's talk the audience 
sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." The guests of the 
society then inspected the new building. Every one 
marveled at the excellent planning of the new home and 
the splendid finish. 
The main floor is fitted with comfortable theatre seats 
and the stage is of plentiful size. The interior finish of 
the building is particularly striking, the walls being rough 
plastered and stained ; it is paneled with fumed oak 
stained a brighter hue than the walls. 
The framework of the doors and windows is of the 
same material. 
The building committee is composed of A. E. Parsons, 
chairman ; William Till, secretary ; Herbert Shaw, Axel 
Magnuson and Frank Foster. H. W. Purington, treas- 
urer of the Manchester Trust Company, handled the 
financial end of the business. F. J. jNIerrill, R. C. Allen 
and G. S. Simrick also gave valuable assistance to the 
committee. 
NniL' Horliculliiral Hall oj Xorth Shnrc ( Massailiusi.-tts) Horticullunil Smiily 
chcslrr, Mass. 
at Man- 
