602 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COT2AGE GARDENER. 
[ December 4, 1884. 
like myself, contemplate cultivating more of this section of this grand 
autumn flower.—T. H., Brixtul. 
Chrysanthemums at Beechdale.— I read “ T. W. S.’s ” report of 
the Chrysanthemums grown at Beechdale in the Journal, page 459, and 
was much struck with the sizes given there]; Baronne de Frailly, 13 inches 
in diameter, and Empress of India, 8 inches across, are extra large. Mr. 
Fullerton would be doing good service for the readers of the Journal if he 
would give us tbe details of his culture, whereby he produces such blooms 
as those named ; if they were proportionate in depth and other matters 
they were truly marvels. I would go a long way to see such blooms so 
large and good in other respects. It is a pity such blooms cannot he ex¬ 
hibited at some of our leading shows, where they would meet with a large 
share of admirers.—E. M. S. 
Chrysanthemum Bendigo. —At the recent exhibitions of Chrysan¬ 
themums which I had the privilege to inspect I looked anxiously for the 
one in question, but in only one case could I see the variety so named. 
Tnis fact and other matters which have come to my knowledge convince 
me that the variety exists in name only. In Mr. Gibson’s stand at the King¬ 
ston Show was exhibited a bloom under the name of Bendigo, which was 
a well-developed bloom of Mabel Ward. If any new variety of Chrysan¬ 
themums be sent out as a good one it can easily be found in some stand 
at the m.any exhibitions held during the season ; if it be as good as 
represented to be it is sure to be there. This I consider a true test of 
any variety. I think it high time that proper means were taken to 
thoroughly test new varieties before the public are deceived. It is not 
the price paid for the variety in question that is the all-important 
point. It is the loss of time and the disappointment which must follow. 
—E. Molyneux. 
LIQUID MANURE—HOW AND WHIEN TO USE IT. 
In reference to the application of liquid manure to plants or crops, I 
may be permitted to say that I should never think of giving liquid 
manure to plants in pots, nor to any crop in the garden or field, when the 
soil is dry. My practice, and doubtless that of the majority of horti¬ 
culturists and agriculturists also, is to give liquid manure to plants and 
crops, which its application is intended to benefit, when the soil is 
moderately moist, but never when it is dry. I should think there are 
very few indeed of your readers who would for a moment think of giving 
liquid manure to a plant simply to prevent its leaves flagging, and because 
it is dry at the roots. 
Perhaps it may be as well to con.sider for a few moments why it is 
that we give liquid manure to our plants in pots and fruit-tree borders, 
also the mode and time of giving it, with a view to realising the best 
possible results—^results which its judicious application may be counted 
upon producing. On the point that liquid manure is given with the 
object of benefiting the plants, &c., to which it is applied, gardeners 
(including “Non-Believer”) are unanimous, as they also are, with one or 
two dissentients, regarding the way and time of application. As regards 
giving liquid manure to plants in pots, it should never be applied before 
the roots have pushed freely through the soil, when it may be given in a 
very weak state, alternately with clear water, with advantage to the 
plants ; increasing its strength, however, as the pots become filled with 
roots. 
This is the time, if the plants are swelling crops of fruit or developing 
■heads of flower, to give liberal and frequent supplies of liquid manure, 
under rather than over-strong, to the individual plants, and the same 
remark applies to Vine and Peach borders under like circumstances. 
Here, as soon as the Vine and Peach borders are attended to in the way 
of putting on a surface dressing of a few inches thick of soil after all the 
other preliminary arrangements for forcing have been completed, we lay 
on 3 inches thick of horse-droppings all over the borders, and prior to 
starting the houses a good soaking of tepid water is given, which is re¬ 
peated at intervals, more or less frequent, according to circumstmce^. 
By the t'me the Peaches and Grapes have stoned there is not mu-'h sub¬ 
stance left in the surface-dressing of horse-droppings, the repeated water¬ 
ings having, as was intended, washed its virtues down to the roots. It is 
at this time that we give copious supplies of liquid manure to the roots 
as it comes from the tank in the manure pond, with the exception of a 
few cans of hot water, which are added to each tub to take the chill off; 
and in every case the borders have been thoroughly supplied with clear 
water a day or two previous to the thicker fluid being given. I find by 
referring to my diary that during the interval from the 9th of June to 
the 19th of July the borders of our late vineries were watered five times 
with clear water from the delivery hose attached to one of Owen’s double- 
barrel force pumps, and that on the day following each application of 
clear water to the borders liquid manure to the extent of six garden tub¬ 
fuls was given to each border. From the 19th of July to the end of 
October only clear water has been given when necessary. 
There is a great difference in the strength of liquid manure, which is 
made by repeatedly watering large heaps of long stable manure (the 
soakings of which run into a tank), and that taken from cesspools 
adjoining the stables, the latter being a powerful fertiliser, and therefore 
requires being well diluted before being used ; but the former can, without 
the least apprehension of its injuring the roots of Vines or Peach trees, 
be given to the borders, and the oftener the better during the swelPng of 
the fruit, without being diluted. Where liquid manure cannot be 
obtained, a surface-dressing of Peruvian guano, or Beeson’s manure, which 
is the best artificial fertiliser I have tried, mixed with soil, and covered 
with short dung, should be had recourse to.—H. W. Ward, Longford 
Castle, 
“ A Thinker,” at page 458, draws conclusions from the extracts 
taken from my article at page 401, which I think are not admissible, as 
they relate exclusively to plants in pots, and have no reference whatever 
to fruit trees or plants in borders. Is not tbe difference considerable 
between a tree ora plant in a pot and one planted out? The former 
when in active growth will need attention in watering at least once a 
day, whilst the other may need it once a week, or fortnight, or even more 
distantly, and when at rest the pot tree or plant will need water much 
more frequently than those planted out in order to keep the soil moist. 
I need not point out what the consequence would be of giving the pot 
plant liquid manure every time water is required, but it is another matter 
entirely in respect of trees planted out, for the pot plant would need at 
least four times as frequent applications as that planted out. 
Then, as to applying liquid manure to trees or plants outdoors when 
dormant, I fail to see any benefit liquid manure can effect beyond 
enriching the soil, and in that way it is of great benefit provided the soil 
is not already saturated with moisture, for in this condition it is quite 
clear a large proportion of the manurial elements must pass off by perco¬ 
lation through the soil beyond the roots. That it may and does intermix 
with the soil is obvious, yet some of the liquid manure must pass off and 
be lost, consequently I submit that to apply liquid manure to the soil 
when it is wet is only to make it still wetter and cause much plant- 
sustaining matter to be thrown away. Notwithstanding the apparent 
(and in the case above alluded to decided) disadvantage of using liquid 
manure for trees or plants in a dormant state, it must be admitted that it 
may be used advantageously in the case of poor soils with a view to 
enrich them, but I do not think its full benefit is derived, as when it is 
applied at the time there are numbers of hungry roots, and the plant 
has the material to convert it into its life-sustaining elements. In the 
case of fruit trees and Strawberrie.s, these having root-action more or 
less in winter, especially preceding the fall of the leaf aud the application 
of fresh liquid manure will be taken in and the subsequent growth be 
invigorated, for as the food is so is the growth. Still I cannot bring 
myself to subscribe to even Mr. Burbidge’s dictum that a dry plant ought 
not to have liquid manure. If the soil is too dry it may need soaking, 
but that is not dryness needing an ordinary watering, and if a plant 
needs water it is a question for the cultivator to determine which, 
whether it should be water or liquid manure ; and if wet it wants 
neither.—G. Abbey, 
The question, Should liquid manure be given when the ground is so 
dry that plants are drooping ? could easily be answered by very little 
reasoning ; for both the evil and the waste of such a practice has been 
so clearly shown by your able correspondents that very little reasoning 
power is needed to convince us that it is wrong, not only to give it 
when it is so dry, but to give it at all unless the ground is damp. I have 
always been very particular on this point. I find it a good plan to supply 
with clear water overnight, and give liquid manure the following 
morning. I often give liquid manure after heavy rains in summer ; it is 
much less trouble to do so then, as it does not require so much mixing.— 
J. L. B. 
PLANTING LILIES. 
Pepiiaps no time of the year is more generally favourable for 
planting many of the hardiest and showiest of Lilies than the present. 
Granted it is quite late enough, even too late for some members of 
the genus ; but the genus is a large one, the time of flowering varying 
considerably in the different sections, and to be exact in treatment 
is frequently not at all convenient. Happily there are but few Lilies 
that are of any service for cultivation outside but what will succeed 
fair!}" well much later than the ordinary time. I may instance the 
L. Thunbergianum and L. speciosum series, the former blooming 
from the end of May until July, and the latter in September and 
Octobe’’, Now it does not seem quite right to plant samples of both 
these groups at the same time, rather I think those which bloom 
earliest should be planted accordingly. Nevertheless, I have known 
the early-flowering species to do well planted between November 
and Felruary. Still, no Lily should be kept out of the soil a moment 
longer than is absolutely necessaiy ; and my remarks refer chiefly to 
fresh purchases, or the removal of those already established from one 
position to another, but more particularly to the former, as it is not 
at all desirable to disturb Lilies very often. Rather supply them 
with fresh soil and food annually ; and although they may ultimately 
get rather crowded, yet they will give greater satisfaction if allowed 
to remain undisturbed. 
In the following notes I will not deal with those species that need 
pampering, as these the specialist will look after ; but there are many 
Lilies which are honestly worth some little care in order to ensure 
success, such, for instance, as L. testaceum, L. chalcedonicum, 
L. longiflorum, L. speciosum and its varieties, L. parJaliuum and 
varieties, and L. Martagon. 
The primary points to be observed in the cultivation of the above- 
named Lilies and several others are—First, soil, which as a rule 
