Huy 21, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
417 
applied on the same day on a separate portion of the lawn during the 
month of March, and the two artificial manures had decidedly the best of 
the bones for the first season. The bouemeal did not improve the appear¬ 
ance of the grass in the least, while that treated with artificial manures 
displayed a marked improvement. The bonemeal produced more effect 
the second season than the artificial manures had the first, but the latter 
were evidently exhausted the first season. The third season, again, told 
in favour of the bonemeal, and what will be the case this year remains 
to be seen. Similar experiments were tried with Peas, Onions, Lettuces, 
Cauliflowers, and other vegetables, which resulted in favour of the two 
artificial manures, the bones evidently making no difference. 
These observations and experiments prove that bones, however fine 
they may be ground, do not act in any marked degree during the first 
season, but prove an invaluable lasting manure. If this is the case, and 
bones do not impart their stimulating influence to the plant during 
the first season, its use in the compost for many plants is waste so far. 
I do not wish to infer that the properties of the bone& will be destroyed 
by being mixed with the compost and not utilised by the plant; on the 
contrary, the soil after the plant has done its duty is the richer by the 
addition of the bones, and therefore more valuable for using for other 
purposes. If no benefits arise from its use for pot plants that have to be 
crown quickly for the supply of flowers and for the decoration, we had 
better abandon its use and apply artificial manures that act quickly to 
ihe surface when the plants require extra food and assistance. On the 
other hand, I consider it an invaluable manure for plants that are re¬ 
tained in pots for some years, or are potted and retained for at least two 
years in the compost in which bonemeal has formed a part. Up to 
the present time I have used bonemeal very freely for plants in pots, and 
frequently recommended it to be used, having had such faith in its last¬ 
ing properties for supplying plants with food long after they had ex¬ 
hausted the supply contained in the other ingredients of which the compost 
was formed. From the experiments enumerated and others conducted 
with plants in pots, I have serious doubts whether the plants can draw 
food from the bones used until a certain time has elapsed, when other 
sources at their command have failed. What say others ?— Scientia. 
EARLY PEACHES. 
When looking through Messrs. Rivers’ nursery at Sawbridgeworth on 
May 12th, I was very pleased to see a beautiful lot of early Peaches in 
pots. Early Alexander was within three days of ripening, Early Water¬ 
loo was a few days behind it, and Hales’ Early was later still ; then fol¬ 
lowed Early Beatrice and Early Rivers, nearly together, and next came 
Early Louise, Rivers’ Early York, &c. The last two appeared to be quite 
a fortnight later than Early Alexander; the latter is also a good-sized 
variety, and colours well. AH were started on January 1st at about 40° 
as a minimum temperature, it being the practice here to start very steady 
and to finish off in a high temperature. The first three are American 
varieties, and are found to be very impatient of forcing two years in suc¬ 
cession. This nursery is now well worth a visit from anyone interested 
in indoor fruit culture.—W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall. 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
held May 12th, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., President, in the chair, 
the following Fellows were unanimously elected :—E. H. Adcock, A. 
Andrews, W. Bagley, F. R. Barry, J. O. Beales, Major-General BeynoD, 
R. H. Blockey, C. Bonsall, A. Borwick, W. E. Brymer, J. W. Budd, F. M. 
Burton, G. Butt, T. E. By field, W. Clowes, W. Cobb, R. Dean, S. de Lissa, 
T. L. Devitt, W. M. Farmer, Capt. C. Far^uharson, T. Fisher, Mrs. 
Francis, Mrs. Gideon, Mrs. Godson, J. Gordon, Mrs. Gregory, R. S. 
Guinness, J. Gwynne, Mrs. F. Hartshorne, C. S. B. Hilton, Mrs. Hiltor, 
Mrs. Howarth, W. T. Kingsbury, Mrs. E. S. Knipe, G. Lawrence, 0. 
Leeson, W. Looker, G. F. Morris, J. S. Moss, Field-Marshal Lord Napier 
of Magaala, Lady Napier of Magdala, G. C. Norman, C. C. Paine, J. 
Parker, A. Pears, Mrs. Pears, Miss Pears, R. C. Powell, W, H. Pastheroe, 
Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. S. Rose, C. J. Shubrick, G. H. Smith, Mrs. E. M 
Smith, H. G. Smyth, Miss Towers, W. H. Townsend, W. Trotter, j', 
Yallance, Wm. Wadham, P. J. Worsley, Mrs. T. Wright, C. C. Wrigley. 
- We regret to record the death of the well-known and respected 
nurseryman Mr. Edwin Cooling of Mile-Ash, Derby, which took place on 
May 12th, 1885, at the age of 77 years. In the midlands Mr, Cooling 
long held a prominent position as one of the leading horticulturists. 
-- The site chosen for the American Exhibition to be held in 
London in 1886 is Eail’s Court, a short distance from South Kensington. 
The property to be occupied by the Exhibition covers about twenty acres. 
The station for the District Railway will be in the Exhibition grounds, and 
another one will be at West Brompton, a few steps from the entrance to the 
main building. 
- The Ramsbottom Floral and Horticultural Society is 
making steady progress. Last year about £25 was offered in prizes. 
This year they offer over £30. The receipts last year amounted to 
£58 13s. 9d., which gave a balance in hand of £19 16s. Gl. The Show 
this year will be held on November 14th. 
- A dispute between a Mr. Godfrey and Messrs. Waite, Nash 
and Co. respecting the supply of Lily of the Valley Roots was re¬ 
cently before the Exeter County Court. The action was brought by plain¬ 
tiff, a florist of Exmouth, against the defendant, the complaint being that 
whereas plaintiff ordered of Messrs. Waite, Nash & Co., Berlin Lily of 
the Valley roots, they sent Dutch roots instead. The case was originally 
launched as a breach of contract, and there was never a suggestion that 
what had taken place was of a fraudulent character. It was, however, 
proved conclusively by documents that the roots were what they were 
described as beiDg in defendant’s invoices—viz., German Lily of theValley 
roots, and the case was accordingly settled without requiring a decision of 
the Court. Plaintiff’s object was to get an early crop, and disappointment 
in that particular induced him to believe they were Dutch. Mr. Sparkes 
(speaking on hehalf of the defendants) sa : d that bad the case been tried 
their answer would have been twofold. In the first place they would 
have repudiated any legal liability in the matter ; but the broad moral 
answer was that the order sent in by plaintiff for German roots had been 
faithfully, honestly, and truly executed. 
- The annual report, schedules, and list of members of the 
National Rose Society is just to hand, and from it we learn that 
after the three shows last season a balance of £17 8s. remains to the 
Society’s credit. The date3 of the exhibitions for the present year have 
previously been giveD, hut we may repeat them now as reminders to 
rosarian readers—namely, South Kensington, Tuesday, July 7th ; and 
Manchester Botanic Gardens, Saturday, July 11th. 
- The usual monthly dinner and conversazione of the Horti¬ 
cultural Club took place on Tuesday evening, the 12th inst., when there 
was a good attendance of members, including Mr. John Lee, chairman ; 
Messrs. Cousens, Girdlestone, Wheelstone, Stothloff, Druery, &c. In 
the evening an interesting discussion took place on Ferns, the subject 
being opened by Mr. C. T. Druery, who very clearly, with the aid of 
diagrams, showed the difference of reproduction in the case of flowering 
and cryptogamic plants, both in their normal and abnormal aspects, 
alluding in the latter to his own recent discovery of apospory, which 
has already been alluded to in these columns. Mr. Cousens dwelt on 
the possibility of hybridising Ferns, notwithstanding the minute character 
of the organs of reproduction, and during the discussion which followed 
many interesting facts were brought forward, such as the occurrence of 
abnormal forms of varieties of British Ferns where only one plant has 
been found. It was announced that the subject for the meeting in June 
would be Alpine Plants. 
-The Leeds Flower Show will be held in the Horticultural. 
Gardens of that town on June 24tb, 25th, and 26th of the present 
year. Very liberal prizes are offered in a number of classes for 
plants, flowers, and fruits, but it is provided that if “ there be deficiency 
of receipts as against expenditure, the Committee will make a reduction 
from the prize money pro rata ; and, on the other hand, should there be 
a surplus after paying all expenses, that surplus will be divided, pro rata , 
amongst the exhibitors.” This announcement has been made in con¬ 
sequence of heavy rain falling on the Show days of previous years, and 
preventing the attendance of visitors. 
_A Meeting of the Wakefield Paxton Society was held 
last Saturday evening, when the following officers were appointed as the 
first officers for the Yorkshire Association of Horticultural Societies, in 
pursuance of the wish of the meeting of delegates held at Wakefield on the 
21st ult. President, T. Senior, Esq.; Vice-president, Messrs. H. Oxley and 
T. Garnett; Treasurer, Mr. Alan Willis ; Secretaries, Messrs. H. Chapman 
and J. Whitworth. The Committee will consist of two represenlatives 
from each Society in the Association, and the two appointed from this 
Society are Messrs. W. Hudson and W. Holmes. 
_Owing to the extreme pressure on our space last week we were 
