August 25, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 183 
a lower level by volcanic action, and deeply imbedded in tufa, 
still with many portions of trunks some feet above the surface, 
were still to be found midway between Gclden Pass and the Ute 
Pass, near Pike’s Peak. It is now said to have disappeared, at 
least so far as anything is to be seen above the surface. It is said 
that another of these wonderful pre-historic series of remains in 
Sonoma, California, is fast disappearing before the zeal of relic 
hunters. It is to be regretted that these wonderful remains of the 
mysterious past could not be preserved, and it may not yet be too 
late for the State governments in which they are to be found to do 
something towards that end. The one in Colorado must have been 
buried very deep by the volcanic dust, as at the time the writer 
refers to one of the trunks was hollow, and a string and a stone at 
the end was let down aud found to go many feet beneath the 
surface. No doubt if this old forest could be dug out to the original 
surface of the ground many interesting relics of plants and animals 
might be brought to light. Some exposed strata near, thrown up 
at the time the trees were destroyed, exhibited numerous skeletons 
of fish, showing that life at least of a high order of creation existed 
when these Redwood trees were growing there. There are now no 
Redwood trees living in Colorado, nor any Oaks beyond one shrubby 
species, Quercus undulata.—( American Gardeners' Monthly.) 
WINTERING SUMMER-STRUCK ROSES. 
In answer to “ L. T.” who, having inserted R,ose cuttings as 
directed, requires information concerning wintering them, I have 
to say that summer-struck Roses require some protection during 
such winters as the last two, about as much as is given to autumn- 
sown Cauliflowers being quite sufficient. If they do not show 
much sign of growth by the middle of September they will not 
be likely to become much crowded where they are, and may be 
protected in very cold weather by means of a few stakes and 
some litter or a mat, making the bearers so secure that a snow 
storm will not break them down. If they show signs of vigorous 
growth they may be either planted out in the cold frames, or 
potted in small pots and plunged in ashes with the rims half an 
inch below the surface. The lights should be kept off except in 
frosty weather, when they may have some litter thrown over 
them ; and if covered in this way for a month at a time, so long 
as frosty weather continues, they will take no harm. 
In the absence of gla-s any kind of protection may be made to 
answer the purpose, so long as not more than 8° or 10° of frost 
can reach the young plants, and they can be freely exposed on all 
occasions except when the weather is severe.—W m, Taylor. 
WHAT PLANTS USE. 
( Continued from page 84.) 
The Mineral Matters. —We have seen that plants require 
carbon to build their structures, and that they find it in the air. 
It is prubable also that some enters the roots of plants also in the 
form of carbon dioxide, either in combination or by itself, for all 
fertile soils containing the decaying remains of vegetable or 
animal matters constantly produce it. We have seen that plants 
need hydrogen and oxygen, and that these elementary gases are 
found in and manufactured by the plants from water. Other two 
gases are required—nitrogen and chlorine. Nitrogen is largely 
present, 0'29 per cent, of the whole bulk in the air in a pure form, 
and intimately mixed with the oxygen, which it serves to dilute. 
In this form it is of no use to plants. It is only when in combi¬ 
nation with other elements that it becomes of use. For instance, 
ammonia—say as sulphate of ammonia, which is a common manure 
■—is found partly in the air, and also in all fertile soils in diiferent 
combinations. Ammonia is composed of nitrogen and hydrogen ; 
17 lbs. of ammonia contain 14 lbs. of nitrogen and 3 lbs. of hydro¬ 
gen.”— (“ Agricultural Chemistry and Geology ,” ninth Edition, 
page 29). Nitrogen is also available as plant food in the form of 
nitric acid. This is generally in combination with some alkali, 
such as potash, soda, or even ammonia. Nitrate of soda is a 
common manure, which owes its chief value to the nitrogen it 
contains. Saltpetre or nitre (nitrate of potash) is another familiar 
form. Nitric acid is composed of nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. 
Nitrates are very soluble in water, and when dissolved enter plants 
by the roots readily. Nitrogen in some such form is necessary to 
plants. Out of them the plants form their nitrogenous or flesh- 
forming compounds. 
Plants find ammonia in the air and in the soil. Many physi¬ 
ologists consider that the amount taken from the air is so small 
as to be of no consequence. We think they are wrong in this, 
for although the amount in the air is small the amount required 
is small ; at the same time nitrogen in some form in the soil 
promotes not only a rapid growth, but the formation of a greater 
per-centage of flesh-forming matters in the plants to which it is 
applied. The per-centage of nitrogenous compounds in Cabbages, 
Cauliflowers, Wheat, &c., varies a little, but the greatest per¬ 
centage is always obtained when the plants are growing on soils 
which contain plenty of nitrogenous manures. There is one 
exception to the rule in the case of the Leguminosae—Peas, Beans, 
Vetches, and Clover, although containing more nitrogenous matter 
in themselves than any other plant almost, yet leave the soil 
richer in nitrogen than they find it, aud are not benefited but the 
reverse by an application of ammonia. Indeed they fill the soil 
with ammonia to such an extent that it becomes “Clover-sick” 
or “ Pea-sick,” and they refuse to thrive on the same soil till the 
ammonia is removed by a different crop. 
There is another fact worth mentioning in connection with 
manures rich in nitrogen. The nitrogen of nitrate compounds is 
much more easily washed out of the soil than that of ammonia 
compounds. Acids are very easily washed out of the soil while 
alkalies are retained. Soil manured with sulphate of ammonia— 
the value of which depends on the ammonia—will part with the 
sulphuric acid and retain the ammonia. In the case of nitrate 
of soda—the chief value of which depends on the nitric acid— 
the nitric acid will go and the soda remain if the ground is sub¬ 
jected to washing rains; nitrates should therefore be applied in 
moderately showery weather to growing plants. The showers 
will carry them to the roots, when they will be used up at once 
and before the season is done. Chlorine is the only other gas we 
have mentioned. It exists chiefly as a chloride of something, 
such as common salt (chloride of sodium), which is a compound 
found in greater or lesser degree in all plants.— Single-handed. 
(To be continued.) 
CLAY CROSS FLOWER SHOW. 
August IGth. 
The twenty-fourth annual Show was held in the park adjoining 
the residence of C. Binns, Esq. This Show well deserves the patron¬ 
age that is bestowed on it by people in the immediate neighbourhood, 
and the excursion trains from Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, and 
other towns showed the estimation in which it is held. In the 
cottagers’ class the vegetables were remarkably good and the com¬ 
petition keen, five prizes being given in each class. In the amateurs’ 
class also the exhibits throughout were very good, Grapes especially. 
The Black Hamburghs from Mr. Ashmore would have taken at least 
second honours in the gardeners’ class. The exhibits in the open 
class were, on the whole, of fair quality, particularly the plants. 
Plants .—The five substantial prizes offered for twenty plants—con¬ 
sisting of six foliage plants, six Ferns, and eight in bloom—brought 
out five competitors, Messrs. Cole A Sons of Manchester being first 
with a meritorious group. The flowering plants, which were all very 
good, were Erica remula, E. Marnockiana, E. Turnbulli, Allamanda 
nobilis, A. grandiflora, Ixora Fraserii, Vinca alba, and Dipladenia 
amabilis. Mr. Ward, gardener to T. H. Oakes, Esq., Biddings House, 
Alfreton, was second, staging good plants of Dicksonia antarctica, 
Cyathea Smithii, Gleichenia rupestris glaucescens, Kentia Fosteriana, 
Dasylirion glaucum, a fine plant of Croton Challenger well coloured, 
Croton Johannis, Ixoras Fraseri and Dixiana, Eiica Thomsoni, 
E. Austiniana, Statice profusa, Clerodendron Balfourianum, and Kalo- 
santhes coccinea. Mr. Cypher of Cheltenham was third ; Mr. Dore 
of Clay Cross fourth, the latter with very healthy plants, though 
rather small; and Mr. Anderson, gardener to W. Walker, Esq., 
Cromford, being fifth. These hundred plants were all staged in one 
large circular group, and they had an imposing effect. For six 
flowering plants Mr. Haslam of Hardstoff was first, followed by Mr. 
Lyon, gardener to Lady Ossington, Newark ; Mr. Swanwick being 
first for three with healthy plants of Eucharis amazonica, Allamanda 
nobilis, and Bougainvillea glabra. For six foliage plants Mr. Lyon 
obtained chief honours, closely followed by Mr. Swanwick. The 
same order was obtained for six Ferns. Fuchsias, Balsams, Begonias, 
and Geraniums were not very good. Mr. Anderson was first with six 
Gloxinias, Mr. Webb with six table plants. Mr. Ward was first with 
four Palms ; and Mr. Proctor, nurseryman of Chesterfield, first with 
herbaceous plants and bedding plants. Four groups for effect were 
staged, Mr. Ward being first with a bright arrangement, Mr. Lyon 
a good second. Messrs. Dore and Webb third and fourth. 
Fruit .—The fruit was generally good, though the prizes were small. 
For collection of eight dishes Mr. Ward was first with good Muscat 
of Alexandria and Madresfield Court Grapes, a Queen Pine, a Colston 
Basset Melon, Barrington Peaches, Elruge Nectarine, Black Turkey 
Figs, and Jefferson Plum. Mr. Webb was a close second, having a 
very good Pine and Peaches with fair Grapes. Two Pines only were 
staged, Mr. Webb being first; the other was not considered worthy 
of a prize. Amongst seven collections of black Grapes Mr. Ward 
was first with well-finished bunches of Madresfield Court; Mr. Lyon 
second; and Mr. Egglestone, gardener to C. Binns, Esq., third, both 
with fair Black Hamburghs. Five collections of white Grapes were 
staged, all Muscats, which were in better condition than the black 
