June 23, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
511 
a chimney where coal fires are burnt; next add another layer of 
manure, pressing it close round the sides as before, then more 
soot, and so on until full, when a plate or tile should be placed 
upon the top to prevent it floating. Now insert this in the cask, 
supporting it by a rod through the handles resting on the edge of 
the cask, and fill up with water; let it remain for three or four 
days, lifting it out a few times during the interval to drain ; then 
lift it out altogether, and support it on two sticks across the top, 
and pour a few canfuls of fresh water to wash out by displace¬ 
ment the manure left in it, and when sufficiently drained the 
contents may go back to the manure heap for further decom¬ 
position, or may be made use of in any other way. 
The solution thus obtained forms the “ stockpot,” and may be 
diluted to any extent according to circumstances. It may be used 
either alone of almost any strength, or it may be further enriched 
by the addition of about a teaspoonful of sulphate of ammonia to 
each gallon of liquid. Or, on the other hand, a very good substi¬ 
tute for guano will be formed by introducing a solution of chloride 
of lime in the place of the ammonia. The chloride solution is 
made by adding 2 ozs. of the dry powder to a wine bottle (24 ozs.) 
Fig. 113.— Taj gardens, agra. 
consideration of those materials which supply at the same time 
both the nourishment and the appetite for promoting its consump¬ 
tion. Notably among these are guano, night soil, and other 
manures, which contain a variety of chemical ingredients as well as 
of organic remains consisting of albuminous compounds. Ammonia 
is, however, probably one of the most important elements, and 
which superiority is commonly supposed to arise from its afford¬ 
ing nitrogen ; but the more likely reason is that albumen is 
slightly soluble in its solution ; hence, soot added to decayed 
stable manure makes a far more efficient liquid manure than 
when the latter is used alone, and probably this would be more 
generally made use of were it not for the difficulty and unplea¬ 
santness of its preparation ; yet, if the following plan be adopted 
these nuisances will all disappear, as I have experienced for years 
past. For a cask of any dimensions take a common cheap skep, 
such as are made to encase one, two, or three-gallon stone bottles, 
or any other that will just enter the former and hold a few spade¬ 
fuls of manure. Put in first a spadeful of manure and pack it 
closely down to the bottom and around the sides, so as to form a 
cavity that will hold a pint or more of good soot from the top of 
of water, shaking well up several times before using. From one- 
half to an ounce of this liquid to be added to each gallon and given 
to Stocks, Primulas, Primroses, and numerous other soft-stemmed 
plants, will be found highly efficacious.—W. K. Bridgman, 
Norwich. 
THE TAJ GARDENS, AGRA, INDIA. 
We have been favoured with views and a brief description of 
the Taj Gardens in the city of Agra, which was originally the capital 
of the Mogul Empire, one of which, known as the Locust View, is 
represented in the annexed engraving. 
The Taj Garden contains fifteen acres of cultivable ground. 
Many vistas have been made during the last few years. Ten years 
ago nearly the whole of it was in the native style, in fact little 
better than a native market fruit garden. Eight plots, containing 
nine-tenths of an acre each, have been cleared and converted into 
ornamental garden, which is being kept up at very little more 
expense than the former native style. The fruit revenue has 
suffered to some extent, but not much, as the best fruit has been 
left. There are about four hundred varieties of choice Roses 
planted by Mr. Smith the Superintendent, some of them not by 
any means old, as the following have bloomed this season—Diana, 
Magna Charta, Princess Beatrice, Antoine Mouton, Anna Blanchon, 
Pierre Guillot, Madame Ducher, Julius Finger, Souvenir d’Adolphe 
Thiers, Paul Neyron, Madame Maurice Kuppenheim, Madame 
Alexandre Bernaix, Madame Lambard, Capt. Christy, and many 
others too numerous to mention. A large bed of Mardchal Niel 
on rough trellises has been a pleasing sight. 
This view is taken from the south-west corner of the marble 
platform or dam. The plants in pots on the ground are Opuntias 
of various curious kinds. The hedge in front is Bougainvillea 
spectabilis; the Palm leaf hanging over the tall Cypress is 
Arenga saccharifera ; the thick dense foliage is mostly composed 
of Mimusops Elengi ; the plants in tubs on the platform are Dra- 
cmnas and Excascarias. The view was opened out about two 
years ago, and is called Locust View because a large army of 
locusts visited the garden. They did not fly as locusts usually do, 
but came marching, crept over the high walls, and ate the leaves 
and flowers of a large number of ornamental shrubs and creepers. 
In a very short time they devoured the leaves of the Bougainvillea 
which now forms the low hedge. It was perceived that this 
