PARK AND CCMCTCRY 
21 I 
son of its power of rendering the potash in the soil 
available as plant food, have a favorable influence 
upon the growth of the clovers.- On the other hand, 
nitrogenous manures, as nitrate of soda and sulphate 
of ammonia, promote the growth of grasses, and as 
a proper balance of grasses and clovers is essential 
to the formation of a velvety turf, it is important 
that the requirements of both classes be properly 
met. It therefore follows that, when artificial fer- 
tilizers are used, they should contain phosphates, 
potash, and nitrogen; superphosphates or bone 
meal, kainit, and nitrate of soda will give these con- 
stituents and in proper proportions if superphosphate 
and kainit are mixed in the proportion of two to one 
and applied at the rate of three pounds to the square 
rod, and subsequently a dressing of nitrate of soda 
be applied at the rate of one pound to the same 
area. The mixture may be applied late in the 
autumn or in February, but the dressing of nitrate 
should not be given until the end of March or begin- 
ning of April. Although these articles supply the 
food required by the various plants, they do not 
supersede stable or farmyard manure, as the latter 
not only contains all the food constituents necessary, 
but act as a mulch, and by increasing the humus 
near the surface materially assists in conserving the 
moisture about the roots. As usually applied to 
lawns, natural manures have an objectional appear- 
ance for a considerable period, and we should sug- 
gest that instead of spreading the manure over the 
lawn in a half rotted state, in accordance with the 
practice which obtains in dressing pastures, it should 
be dried sufficiently to permit its passage through a 
sieve and be then mixed with equal quantities of 
powdery leaf mould and old potting soil. This 
mixture spread over the turf in the autumn willl 
quickly disappear, and prove of great value in 
promoting the growth of the grasses and clovers, 
and preventing the lawn being burnt up during dry 
weather . — Scientific American. 
Some Druidical Stones. 
Old Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire, England, 
though steep and long, will well repay the climber 
who perseveres in reaching the summit, says Carrie 
Levina Hodsdon. 
There he will find the famous Rollerick stones. 
These stones are longer than they are broad, and 
stand upright in such a manner as to describe a cir- 
cle, which is thirty-three yards in diameter. Inside 
the circle is a group of scraggy fir trees. 
Two or three hundred yards to the north is a 
taller and larger stone, which is known as the 
“King’s Stone,” and at about the same distance to 
the southeast are five more, two of which are lying 
down. To these are given the name of “The 
Whispering Knights,” so called, doubtless, from 
the fact that they are placed in such a position that 
as the wind plays around them a sound as of whis- 
pering comes distinctly to the ears. 
How or why such stones should be found here 
is more or less of a mystery. The most generally 
accepted opinion is that they form part of a Druid- 
ical circle, consisting of about sixty stones. “The 
Whispering Knights” are five stones of what is 
supposed to be an overturned cromlech. 
Other students cling to the idea that the whole 
series of stones were placed there to commemorate 
a victory won by Rollo. 
Of course there is a tradition connected with 
these stones, which runs as follows: Years ago a 
Danish prince came over to England with the amia- 
ble intention of becoming its possessor. He landed 
at Dover, consulted a prophet, and set out for Long 
Compton. Leaving his^mcn at the spot where the 
fir trees now arc, he walked forward and was turn- 
ed into stone. His five knights shared the same fate. 
Thus ended the little excursion party of the 
Danish prince, but the five knights are still whis- 
pering over their sad fate. 
Crowded Cemeteries of London. England. 
The necessity of control of monuments in the 
public or parochial cemeteries of L.ondon, by the 
cemetery officials, will be obvious from a glance at 
the accompanying sketch. The old burial grounds 
are so crowded that the space between adjoining 
graves has become very limited, compelling the ar- 
rangement shown, where a row of upright stones 
and a row of flat ones alternate. The sketch, how- 
ever, does not altogether convey the ideaintended, 
the draughtsman failing to comprehend the exact 
situation. Mr. J. A. Randall, Morden Marble & 
Stone Works, London, informs us that the space be- 
tween adjoining monuments in which the proposed 
memorial is to be erected is fully occupied by a 
stone measuring six feet six inches by two feet six 
inches. If upright memorials were allowed in every 
case there would be no means of reaching any grave 
beyond the first row.” Hence the authorities, 
without exception, demand, before any work is pro- 
ceeded with, a sketch of the proposed memorial as 
well as a copy of the proposed inscription. 
