January 10, 18?4 J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
33 
•one part each of peat and loam. It requires abundance of air, and does not 
succeed in close frames. 
Ville’s System of Manuring ( Paideia). —The author named advocates 
the employment of chemical or artificial manures instead of ordinary farm¬ 
yard manure, but you will find the whole fully explained in Crooke’s 
translation of Ville’s work on artificial manures, published by Longmans, 
C-reen & Co. We do not understand the second question in the form you 
state it. Cannot you obtain the information required from the science 
schools you appear to be connected with ? 
Materials for Vine Border (Old Subscriber). —You appear to have all the 
materials you need, as, although you do not name it, we presume you have a 
supply of good fresh loam of medium texture; and the ashes you name are, 
we presume, wood ashes, as they should be, and not the remains of coal. 
You mention “ improving ” a Vine border, and then ask when the border 
should be “ made.” This implies that you intend taking up the Vines, 
removing all the soil, adding fresh, and then replanting. You may do this 
now. Does not your gardener understand the work ? If he does not we 
will readily aid you and him if you can enable us to understand the actual 
condition of the Vine and border. 
Ivy for Growing under Trees (Idem). —Both the common large-leaved 
Irish Ivy that is usually employed for covering buildings, and the small 
English Ivy that grows wild in woods and covers the stems of trees, will 
answer your purpose, and you may plant the one you prefer. It is advisable 
to get healthy well-rooted plants, and dig and enrich the soil before planting 
to insure a free growth and quick covering of the now bare space. 
Shading Melons (J. T. S.). —The necessity for shading Melons has rarely 
•occurred with us, never, perhaps, except a few days of very dull weather are 
followed by a sudden outbust of hot sun, and then the shade afforded is of 
the lightest, such as a covering of hexagon netting ; but we are always 
careful that the plants are well supplied with water, and that by timely 
thinning stout thinly disposed leaves are insured that do not flag during the 
brightest weather. Early morning ventilation, too, is always practised ; in 
fact, the pits are not entirely closed at night during hot weather. Melons 
need shade occasionally when the glass is faulty and when the plants are 
grown in light soil; with strong soil, good glass, and good management the 
necessity for shading is reduced to a minimum. Where much shading is 
resorted to the fruit is seldom of high quality. Notes on Mistletoe propagation 
will shortly appear in our columns. 
Relative Value of Manures (W. R.). —It is impossible for us or anyone 
to answer your questions categorically. An analytical chemist could tell 
you the constituents of any samples he examined, but farmyard manures 
•differ very materially, and the term “ average,” as applied to them, is 
meaningless for all practical purposes. We give the analysis of Boussingault 
of good yard dung. 
Carbon . 
• • • 
Fresh. 
74 
Dry. 
358 
Hydrogen . 
... 
9 
42 
Oxygen . 
• •• 
53 
258 
Nitrogen . 
• •• 
4 
20 
Inorganic matter 
... 
67 
322 
"Water. 
... 
... 
793 
— 
1000 
1000 
The composition of the inorganic part of such manure, like that of the 
organic, varies considerably. The following shows the composition of 
10,000 parts of the inorganic matter in yard dung (Richardson) :— 
Potash, 322 ; soda, 273; lime, 34; magnesia, 26; sulphuric acid, 327; 
chlorine, 315; soluble silica, 2705; phosphate of lime, 711; phosphate 
of magnesia, 226 ; phosphate of iron, 468; phosphate of manganese, trace; 
phosphate of alumina, (?) trace; carbonate of lime, 934; carbonate of 
magnesia, 163; sand, 3099 ; alkali and loss, 397 ; total, 10,000. Soot also 
varies greatly. The constituents of a good sample are—charcoal, 371 ; 
salts of ammonia, 426 ; salts of potash and soda, 24 ; oxide of iron, 50 ; 
sillica, 65; alumina, 31; sulphate of lime, 31 ; carbonate of magnesia, 2. 
Johnston, in his “Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry,” thus refers to the 
variability of soot :—“ The earthy substances which the soot contains are 
chiefly derived from the walls of the chimney and from the ash of the coal, 
part of which is carried up the chimney by tbe draught. These, therefore, 
must be variable, being largest in quantity where the draught is strongest, 
and where the earthy matter or ash in the coal is the greatest. The quantity 
■of gypsum present depends upon the sulphur contained in the coal ; that 
which is freest from sulphur will give a soot containing the least gypsum. 
The ammonia and the brown soluble substance containing nitrogen will vary 
with the quantity of nitrogen contained in the coal and with certain other 
causes, so that the composition of different samples of soot may be very 
-unlike, and their influence upon vegetation therefore very unequal. The 
consequence of this must be, that the results obtained in one spot, or upon 
■one crop, do not indicate the precise effect which another specimen of soot 
will produce in another locality, and upon another crop even of the same 
kind. And thus it happens that the use of soot prevails more, and is 
.attended with more beneficial effects, in some districts than in others.” The 
relative value of manures for practical purposes also depends greatly on the 
soil to which they are appfied and the crops that are being grown ; and you 
can only ascertain by experiment what kinds are the most effective and 
economical in your case. There is no other method of determining this so 
well. The market price of soot varies in different localities. We know of 
no book such as will exactly meet your expectation. Ville’s work on 
artificial manures would probably be interesting to you ; whether it would 
be useful depends on yourself. 
Names of Fruits (E. J. Lowe ).—Herefordshire Costard. (T. H. A!). — 
1, Ravelston Pippin; 2, Stirling Castle. (Dorset). —Golden Noble. You 
will find Melon culture in the “ Manual on Kitchen Gardening,” which you 
can have free by post by sending 4 ^d. in stamps to this office. (Colvile 
Browne). —1, is not Round Winter Nonesuch, name not known ; 2, Winter 
Majetin ; 3, Pear perfectly worthless and name not known; 4, Vicar of 
Winkfield. Seedling Apple (E. Charlton ).—Your Apple is of good flavour 
and handsome appearance, and though it is worth your keeping, it does not 
possess merit sufficient to warrant its being put into commerce. 
Names of Plants (A. II .).—We cannot name two such diminutive 
fragments of plants as those you sent. Better examples in flower would 
be readily determined. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 9th. 
Business still keeps quiet, and prices have given way again. Kent Cobs easier. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples. 
. £ sieve 
1 
6 
to 5 
0 
Nectarines .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
per barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Apricots .. . 
. box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
bushel 
10 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
1 
0 
I 
6 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Filberts. 
. .. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs. 
. per lb. 
1 
4 
0 
0 
Plums and Damsons .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes. 
. ..lb. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Strawberries.. 
.. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemon. 
IS 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
S 
0 
Melons. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes 
. dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
1 
0 
to 1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
3 
Broccoli .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. £ sieve 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
I 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
. bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale. 
basket 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cucumbers 
. each 
0 
4 
0 
10 
Shallots. 
.. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
.. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
10 
Leeks .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
NEW AND IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL 
MACHINERY. 
In resuming this important subject we find various objects 
that were exhibited at the Islington Hall meeting of the 
Smithfield Club which demand attention. These must prove 
interesting to the farmer not only on account of their value for 
agricultural purposes, but also for the great ingenuity displayed 
in providing the most useful and at the same time the most 
effectual implements, calculated, not only to save and economise 
labour, but to afford the best methods for assisting and promoting 
new objects of profit in the profession of farming. Numbers of 
these implements are no doubt extremely valuable, but are also 
suggestive of objects and improvements as yet to be forthcoming 
in the future ; and when we look back only a few years it must 
to every thoughtful mind be matter of astonishment that many 
of the recent discoveries had lain so long unavailable. 
We find illustrated and noticed in Bell’s Messenger various 
useful implements, some quite new, others improved. Amongst 
the former must be classed as a speciality exhibited by Mr. 
Thomas Corbett, of the Perseverance Iron Works, Shrewsbury, 
an implement which has not, perhaps, received the attention 
from English farmers which it deserves. The original and 
peculiar construction of the revolving mould board plough, 
should induce practical farmers to give it a fair trial of its 
merits in the field, upon suitable land and under circumstances 
for which it is recommended. The revolving mould board is 
simply a wheel or disc, with concave and convex surfaces, the 
concave being presented to the furrow at a proper angle Irom 
the face on the land side. By a simple contrivance the mould 
board is adjusted to any required pitch, enabling the ploughman 
to adapt it’at will to the varied requirements of the soil to be 
worked. A plough, therefore, which will make possible a moie 
thorough tillage at a great saving of time and expense, ought to 
be doubly acceptable to every farmer. Believing that the patent 
revolving mould board plough possesses this merit in a very high 
degree, Mr. Corbett confidently submits its claims to the careful 
examination of the public. It is stated to possess the following 
advantages:—1st, It has a very superior pulverising power. 
Stubble land ploughed with this plough requires no harrowing. 
2nd, It does not, in any circumstance, compress, smooth, and 
glaze the surface of the land slice; an advantage in wet or clayey 
soils. 3rd, By reason of its adjustable mould board it is adapted 
to either turf or stubble. In combination with the skim coulter, 
the sod may be thoroughly inverted and buried, so as to leave no 
