August 21, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
177 
nitrogen. Now comes the remarkable fact, shown by many investigations, 
but recently and remarkably demonstrated in over thirty years’ culture on 
trial plots of various crops by Lawes and Gilbert, that the crops poor in 
nitrogen—namely,cereals and grasses, require the presence of a larger quantity 
of assimilable nitrogen than do those rich in nitrogen. The experiments are 
grouped in three classes, made in each case on both kinds of crops :— 
{a) With nitrogenous manure. 
{h) Without any manure. 
(c) With mineral manure containing phosphates and potash, but no 
nitrogen. 
The results maybe tabulated thus :—1, Without any manure, the nitrogen 
in all crops gradually diminished, and also the soil content was lessened— 
that is, the crop diminished. 2, With mineral manures the amount of 
nitrogen in the cereals still diminished, as also in the soil, but at a somewhat 
less rate ; while the nitrogen of Glover and Beans is diminished but little, and 
the soil content even increased. In other words, the mineral fertilisers, par¬ 
ticularly potash, enabled the Clover to use more nitrogen, and thus to produce 
a good crop, and at the same time increase the store of nitrogen in the 
soil, even rendering it assimilable. 3, What is more remarkable, the 
crops rich in nitrogen derive far less benefit from nitrogenous manures than 
do those poor in nitrogen. 4, Root crops exhaust particularly the superficial 
layers of soil of their nitrogen under any of these conditions. Two con¬ 
clusions must appear from these results :— 
(a) The Leguminosae must draw a considerable portion of their supply 
of nitrogen from the air, and, as already stated, through the soil. 
(i) Mineral fertilisers have at least as valuable indirect action, in reference 
to supply of nitrogen, as direct in furnishing phosphates and potash to the 
growing plant. 
If nitrogen is to be added to the soil in fertilisers, in what form is it most 
conveniently and cheaply applied ? The answer to this has already been 
suggested. Clover is the best, from the amount of nitrogen it gathers in its 
own tissues, and from the increase it effects on the soil, besides the consider¬ 
able amount found in its roots. Of mineral manures, nitrates are the best, 
particularly in dry weather. Sulphate of ammonia in a wet season is equally 
good. For leguminous plants, particularly for Clover, no large quantity of 
nitrogen is required by ordinary good soil, but use a complex mineral fer¬ 
tiliser containing a goodly per-centage of potash. 
The chief nitrogenous substances used as manure are sulphate of ammonia, 
nitrate of soda, and nitrate of potash. The first is the cheapest source of 
nitrogen. It contains 20 per cent, of nitrogen, and at the present price 
(about ^22 per ton) of this fertiliser, the nitrogen it contains costs the 
farmer about Is. per lb. If nitrate of soda is to be used with equal profit, 
it should not be more than three-fourths of that of sulphate of ammonia. 
It contains only 15 per cent, of its weight of nitrogen. The soda contained 
in it is of no value as manure. Nitrate of potash is at once useful both as a 
source of potash and of nitrogen, but its price is too high to admit of the 
farmer using it with profit to himself. 
The per-centage of nitrogen in each of these three substances, at 5 per 
cent, refraction, is as follows ;— 
Nitrogen 
Sulphate of ammonia, at 95 per cent., contains ... ... 20'30 
Nitrate of soda „ „ . 15’72 
Nitrate of potash „ ,, . 13 00 
In sulphate of ammonia the nitrogen is present as part of the ammonia 
which is the base of the salt; in the nitrates of soda and potash it is 
contained in the acid of the salt. 
Sulphate of ammonia is prepared from gas liquor in the process of gas 
purification, and from the bones in the burning of animal charcoal for the 
sugar refiner. It is generally sold by the manufacturer under a guarantee 
to contain 24 per cent, of ammonia, which is equal to 93T5 per cent, of sul¬ 
phate of ammonia, leaving a difference of 6’85 per cent, tor moisture and 
other extraneous matters. 
The sulphate of ammonia supplied to farmers is not always of the above- 
mentioned purity. It is often adulterated to the extent of 25 per cent, with 
sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts) or chloride of sodium (common salt). 
The crystal of Epsom salts is dangerously like that of sulphate of ammonia, 
but, unfortunately for the farmer, sulphate of magnesia does not possess the 
same fertilising properties as the other, the cost of which is eight or ten 
times as much. 
Commercial nitrate of soda is never quite pure. It is always associated 
with small quantities of chloride of sodium, and sometimes it is found 
adulterated with that article to the extent of 33 per cent., the crystals of 
common salt being very similar to those of nitrate of soda. Sulphate of 
magnesia is also used as an adulterant. Nitrate of soda is usually sold 
under a guarantee of 5 per cent, refraction, or, in other words, to contain 95 
per cent, of pure nitrate of soda. 
Organic nitrogen is never worth more than two-thirds, or, at most 
three-fourths for the same per-centage of ammoniacal nitrogen. To keep on 
the safe side, never pay more than two-thirds of the price at which you can 
buy the latter; even this vill be dear inmost cases—that is to say, if the 
price of nitrogen (ammoniacal) is Is. per pound the price of nitrogen 
(organic) should not exceed Si. per pound.— {The Irish Farmers' Gazette.) 
WAKEFIELD CARNATION AND PICOTEE SHOW. 
This Show was held at the Brunswick Hotel, Borough Market, Wakefield, 
on August 9th and 11th, when the following prizes were awarded :— 
CARNATIONS. 
Pan of twelve Carnations, not less than nine varieties :—First Mr. T. 
Haddock, gardener to G. Ramskill, Esq., Lofthouse Hall, with Mercury, 
James Merry weather. Mars, John Keet, Sarah Payne (2), Sportsman, Lord 
Napier, Eccentric Jack, Admiral Curzon (2), and Lord Milton. Second Mr. 
G. Gill, East Moor, Wakefield, with Arthur Medhurst (2), Sportsman, John 
Simonite, True Briton, Thomas Moore, Juno, True Briton, Lamplighter, 
Rose of Stapleford, Sportsman, and Admiral Curzon. Third Mr. George 
Lumb, Kirkgate, VVakefield, with Illuminator, Mars, Rembrandt, and nine 
seedlings. Fourth Mr. J. Steel, East Moor, Wakefield; and fifth Mr. W. 
Wilson, Park Lane, Wakefield. 
Pan of six Carnations, dissimilar.—First Mr. T. Maddock with James 
Merryweather, Lord Napier, Admiral Curzon, Eccentric Jack, Sarah Payne, 
and Clipper. Second Mr. George Lumb with Mars, Rembrandt, George 
Henry, and three seedlings. Third Alfred Spurr, East Moor, Wakefield, 
w'ith Lovely Ann, Dan Godfrey, Mayor of Nottingham, Thomas Moore, 
Sybil, and Sportsman. Fourth Mr. George Gill. Fifth Mr. Thomas 
Spurr. Sixth Mr. W. Wilson; and seventh Mr. Jesse Hardwick, East Moor, 
Wakefield. 
Single Flowers.—Scarlet Bizarres.—First and second Mr. T. Maddock with 
Admiral Curzon. Third Mr. G. Gill with the same. Fourth and sixth Mr. 
G. Lumb. Fifth Mr. G. Gill. Seventh and eighth Mr. A. Spurr. Crimson 
Bizarres.—First and second Mr. T. Maddock with Eccentric Jack. Third and 
fourth Mr. G. Gill with Lamplighter. Fifth Mr. J. Steel. Scarlet Flakes.—First 
and second Mr. T. Maddock with Sportsman and Clipper. Third and fourth 
Mr. G. Lumb with seedling. Fifth Mr. J. Steel. Sixth Mr. G. Hardwick. Seventh 
and eighth Mr. Wilson. Rose Flakes.—First and second Mr. T. Maddock 
with James Merryweather and Electric Light. Third and fourth Mr. G. 
Lumb with Rose of Stapleford. Fifth Mr. A. Spurr. Sixth Mr. J. Steel. 
Seventh Mr. A. Spurr. Eighth Mr. J. Hardwick. Purple Flakes.—First 
Mr. T. Maddock with Squire Trow, and third with T. Maddock. Second and 
fourth Mr. G. Lumb with seedlings. Fifth and eighth Mr. A. Spurr. Sixth 
Mr. G. Gill. Seventh Mr. J. Steel. Selfs.—First and second Mr. T. Maddock 
W'ith Mars. Third and fourth Mr. G. Lumb with seedlings. Fifth Mr. A. 
Spurr. Sixth Mr. J. Hardwick. Seventh and eighth Mr. J. Steel. 
PICOTBES. 
Pan of twelve Picotees, not less than nine varieties.—First Mr. T’ 
Maddock with Miss Wood (2), Mr. Nichols, Tinnie, Zerlina, Ann Lord (2) 
J. B. Bryant, Morning Star, Thomas Williams, Brunette, and Tinnie. Second 
Mr. George Lumb with Master Nichols, J. B. Bryant, Mrs. Gorton, Beauty 
of Plumstead, Ann Lord, Fanny Helen, and six seedlings. Third Mr. George 
Gill with Lady Holmesdale (2), Mrs. Dodwell, Zerlina (2). Ann Lord, Miss 
Wood, Mrs. Bowers, Norfolk Beauty, Mr. Nichols, Miss Horner, and J. B. 
Bryant. Fourth Mr. J. Steel ; and fifth Mr. W. Wilson. 
Pan of six Picotees, dissimilar.—First Mr. T. Maddock with Master 
Norman, J. B. Bryant, Zerlina, Violet Douglas, Morning Star, and Master 
Nichols. Second Mr. George Gill with Zerlina, Mr. Nichols, Miss Moore, 
Mrs. Gibbons, Brunette, and Mary. Third Mr. Alfred Spurr with Zerlina, 
Miss Wood, Mrs. Dodwell, Norfolk Beauty, Mrs. Bow'ers, and a seedling. 
Fourth Mr. T. Spurr. Fifth Mr. G. Lumb. Sixth Mr. W. Wilson. Seventh 
Mr. J. Steel ; and eighth Mr. J. Hardwick. 
Single Flowers.—Heavy-edged Red or Scarlet.—First Mr. G. Gill with 
Mrs. Dodwell. Second and third Mr. T. Maddock with J. B. Bryant and 
Master Norman. Fourth and fifth Mr. T. Spurr. Sixth Mr. A. Spurr. 
Seventh Mr. G. Gill. Eighth Mr. J. Hardwick. Light-edged Red or Scarlet. 
—First and third Mr. T. Maddock with Violet Douglas. Second Mr. Gill 
with Thomas Williams. Fourth Mr. G. Lumb. Fifth and eighth Mr. T. 
Spurr. Sixth Mr. G. Gill. Seventh Mr. W. Wilson. Heavy-edged Purple.— 
First Mr. T. Maddock wdth Zerlina. Second and third Mr. G. Gill with the 
same. Fourth Mr. W. Wilson. Fifth and eighth Mr. A. Spurr. Sixth Mr. 
J. Steel. Seventh Mr. T. Spurr. Light-edged Purple.—First Mr. T. Maddock 
with Mr. Nichols and second with Minnie. Third Mr. G. Gill with Mars. 
Fourth Mr. A. Spurr. Fifth Mr. G. Gill. Sixth and seventh Mr. W. Wilson. 
Eighth Mr. T. Spurr. Heavy-edged Rose or Salmon.—First Mr. G. Gill with 
Lady Holmesdale, and third w'ith Miss Horner. Second Mr. T. Maddock 
with Charles Williams. Fourth Mr. T. Spurr. Fifth Mr. W. Wilson. Sixth 
and eighth Mr. Lumb. Seventh Mr. T. Maddock. Light-edged Rose or 
Salmon.—First and second Mr. T. Maddock with Miss Wood. Third Mr. 
G. Gill with the same. Fourth and seventh Mr. W. Wilson. Fifth and 
eighth Mr. A. Spurr. Sixth Mr. G. Gill. 
Premier Carnation.—Sarah Payne, shown by Mr. T. Maddock. 
Premier Picotee.—Zerlina, also shown by Mr. Maddock.—J. WiLCOCK, 
Hon. Sec. 
FLOWER GARDENING AT KOOLAYNA, KILDARE. 
A REALLY tasteful flower garden is to be seen at the above-named 
demesne, which is in the possession of F. Hamilton, Esq. Koolayna is 
situated under the celebrated Hill of Carbury, about one and a half mile 
from Carbury railway station, and it would be difficult to find a prettier 
position in which to place a dwelling. The front of the house is built to 
face the hill above mentioned, which is enough at once to take the 
attention of anyone who admires picturesque scenery. 
The flower garden attracts the eye some distance before reaching the 
house, and after leaving the mam road it is approached through a well- 
furnished avenue of Laurels, forming a slope on each side. Mr. Hamilton 
and his gardener, Mr. Connell, have together managed to render this very 
neat and showy without the strong glare of Calceolarias or scarlet 
Pelargoniums, which are too prevalent in most Irish flower gardens, and 
often in English gardens also. Of Pelargoniums bronze and silver- 
foliaged varieties are mostly used, such as Marshal McMahon. Of golden 
varieties Crystal Palace Gem holds its own. Golden Harry Hieover is 
very effective, and such silver varieties as Mrs. Mappin and Flower of 
Spring are much used. Mrs. Pollock is grown in large quantities, also 
Mrs. Crab, a very pleasing variety. Distinction is used with effect, and 
a very dark Lobelia without name is very attractive. Iresine brilliant- 
issima has been in use there, but was found to degenerate ; I. Herbsti is 
now employed. Echeverias, Ajugas, and Sedums are used in large 
numbers. Round the principal beds a margin of broken crocks, coloured 
blue and about 9 inches in width, makes a very good finish. Some of 
the beds are barred—that is, the lines are planted diagonally ; the kinds 
used for this work are principally Iresines, with silver and bronze 
Pelargoniums, which have a chaste appearance. On the left of this 
design of beds is a ribbon border in which Pelargoniums, single Dahlias, 
and the Gladiolus before mentioned are doing well. The whole garden is 
well kept, and reflects much credit on the management. 
Leaving the flower garden we find a notable house of Cucumbers, and 
