42 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July IB, 1882. 
great loss, and it followed that economical farming depended very 
much indeed on the economising of the nitrates. Now, taking the 
various systems of cultivation, hare fallow involved the greatest risk 
of loss of nitrates, corn crops involved the next greatest, roots came 
next as causing a less loss, and lastly, pasture involved the least 
possible loss of nitrates. Why was this ? They had seen that in 
bare fallow the loss was caused by the facility which the absence of 
crop gave for having the nitrates washed away. As to corn crops, 
their growing period was practically limited to three months—April, 
May, and June, but the process of nitrification in the soil would go 
on in July, August, and September with vigour, and the nitrates 
then produced were freely lost in winter when there was abundant 
drainage, and no crop to feed upon them. If Wheat was grown 
after Wheat there might be a considerable loss of nitrogen from the 
soil, from the fact that loss by drainage went on during a great part 
of the season when the production of nitrates was most active, and 
when there was no growing crop to retain them. When they came 
to the root crop they had growth going on in June, July, August, 
September, October, and up to November, during the very period of 
the year when they most wanted to save the nitrates. 
Mr. (now Sir J. B.) Lawes deserved the credit of first pointing out 
that the roots in a rotation were a conservative crop—they saved the 
nitrates in the soil; when they were fed off on the land tbe roots re¬ 
turned to the soil the nitrogen they had saved. In pasture they had 
the best possible conditions for saving the nitrates, for there they 
had vegetation on the land all the year round—they had the largest 
amount of evaporation and the smallest amount of drainage. Was it, 
then, possible to do anything to diminish the loss of nitrates ? He 
believed that a part of the present agricultural depression was owing 
to the extremely wet winters of the past few years, which had re¬ 
sulted in lowering the condition of the soil by washing out extra¬ 
ordinary amounts of nitrates. Could anything be done to alter this ? 
He was not a practical farmer, and he wished them to take anything 
he said on that part of the matter as subject to a much better opinion 
than his own. But he would point out a few things that might 
possibly be a help. For instance, in the case of a bare fallow, the 
good work on the fallow was done in the summer time; that was 
when they got the advantage of the fallow, and the evil came in the 
winter. A gentleman had told him that he had found it a good plan 
to get the fallows clean in July, to then sow Mustard or Rape, and 
then before sowing the Wheat in the autumn, to plough the Mustard 
or Rape (which had grown vigorously) into the land, and then to sow 
the Wheat. Now that gentleman knew nothing at all about nitrates, 
but he had done just what he ought to have done if he desired to save 
them. The Mustard or Rape took up the nitrates, and turned them 
into insoluble organic matter, and when it was ploughed into the land 
it slowly resumed the forms of nitrates for the nourishment of the 
Wheat plant. But for that simple plan a great part of the nitrates 
produced in summer might have been lost by the drainage of the 
winter months. Again, he thought there was no doubt—though he 
was aware that there was a great practical difficulty about this point 
—that it was not advisible to plough light land in the autumn. By 
ploughing land in the autumn they did their best to give vigour to 
the production of nitrates. They were also destroying the weeds, 
and in the winter the weeds were the farmer’s friends, for they pre¬ 
vented drainage to some extent; they also helped by taking up the 
nitrates, and thus if the farmer left the destruction of the weeds till 
spring, they were more or less equivalent to a green manuring. He 
would therefore recommend that no more ploughing be done in the 
autumn on light land than was absolutely necessary. 
Having pointed out the value of long-rooted crops, such as Rape, 
Mangold, Clover, and Sainfoin, which helped to bring up again nitrates 
that had washed down to a considerable depth, and thus make them 
available for plant food, he passed on to say a few words on nitri¬ 
fication in relation to manures. Experiments had shown, from 
observations made on the drainage water from a field in which 
ammonium salts had been applied to the Wheat crop, that the 
ammonium salts in a very short time became nitrified, and in one 
case a distinct increase of nitric acid was traced in the drainage 
water within forty hours of their application. In fact, as far as could 
be judged, the whole of the ammonia applied might be completely 
nitrified in a month. Another set of experiments showed that the 
application of nitrate of soda resulted in a still more striking increase 
in the nitric acid draining from the land. Seeing that the nitrates 
found their way so quickly into the drainage water and were lost, it 
was of the highest importance to the farmer that he should not apply 
the costly manures which produce the nitrates before the crop was 
able to make use of them, and if they could only make sure of the 
seasons they would be able to arrange their dressings accordingly. 
If they could anticipate a dry season they would like to apply the 
manures in the autumn, while if the winter was wet of course a 
spring application of the manures would be preferable. In conclusion, 
the lecturer said a few words on the loss of nitrates occasioned by 
diffusion—viz., the passing of salts through wet soil without actual 
drainage taking place. [Applause.] 
The Principal, in thanking Mr. Warrington on behalf of Professor 
Kinch, the staff, and the students, observed that the lecture had 
conferred a benefit not only on the College but on the agriculturists 
of the neighbourhood. He also impressed on Mr. Warrington that if 
he would go a little further than he had now gone, and give them a 
text book upon subjects such as that upon which he had lectured, he 
would be doing them a very great benefit. [Applause.]—( Gloucester¬ 
shire Standard.) 
STOTT’S MONARCH RHUBARB. 
This variety is not much known, but it is an excellent one, 
and in some respects distinct from and superior to any other. 
Eighteen months ago I had half a dozen small roots of it from 
Messrs. Dicksons &c Co., Edinburgh, and these have now gained 
large proportions. Lately we have had stalks of it 10 inches in 
circumference and about 24 inches in length. The colour is a 
bright green, and the flavour good. Some of the leaves are 
4^ feet across, and it has been suggested to me more than once 
that it would make a most effective foliage plant in pleasure 
grounds, and this it doubtlessly would, as there are few plants 
which produce such handsome leaves.—J. Muir, Margam. 
ji 
i 
t 
ifj 
IS WORK fortheWEEK. : 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Make a first sownng of White Naples and Tripoli Onions. If large 
bulbs are required the ground should be well manured, employing 
thoroughly decomposed manure ; and a dressing of soot is useful in 
preventing the maggot. The first sowing of early kinds of Cabbage 
may now be made. Among other good varieties are Ellam’s Early 
Dwarf, Denning’s Early, and Hill’s Incomparable; those preferring 
smaller kinds will find Atkins’ Matchless and Little Pixie excellent. 
In warm localities the sowing should be deferred for a fortnight, as 
when sown too early there is danger of the plants running in spring 
instead of hearting. 
The main crop of Endive should be sown without delay. Round¬ 
leaved Batavian and Picpus Green Curled are good sorts. Make a 
good sowing of Turnips ; but small sowings of Spinach and Radishes 
at short intervals will for the present suffice. Lettuce in quantity to 
afford a late supply should now be sown, and from this sowing a suffi¬ 
cient number of plants should be transplanted in a position where 
protection can be given in severe weather, or they may be lifted and 
placed in pits or frames. Make a sowing of Chervil in a sheltered 
position for affording a supply the best part of the winter. 
Parsley which has been transplanted withstands the frost better 
than if allowed to remain in the drills where sown ; and where this is 
in great demand during winter a sufficient quantity of plants should 
be at once transplanted in pits, which can have lights placed over 
them and be otherwise protected in severe weather. 
Rosette Coleworts will by this time be fit for pricking out from 
the seed bed preparatory to the final planting, and when the requisite 
number are withdrawn thin the remainder to 2 or 3 inches apart, and 
they will soon be ready for planting 12 inches apart as ground becomes 
vacant. 
The present is a most suitable time for planting the main crops of 
Broccoli. Where kitchen gardens have been long established and 
high cultivation practised the soil becomes very rich, in which case it 
is best to plant Broccoli without digging the ground ; this induces 
sturdy growth, rendering the plants more suitable for withstanding 
severe weather. 
As ground becomes cleared of early Peas and Potatoes the space 
should be re-occupied without delay with Savoys, Borecole, and other 
description of winter greens. Plant out a good breadth of Cauli¬ 
flowers from the late May sowfing for autumn use and for lifting under 
some protection. Attend well to the requirements of Celery in water¬ 
ing, and plant out late crops in well-prepared trenches, also Leeks 
w r here these are required blanched. When fit take up and bunch 
Garlic, also Shallots. Tomatoes on walls or trained to stakes should 
be well attended to in stopping all lateral growths, and w’hen a suffi¬ 
ciency of shoots is set stop the leading shoots so as to direct all the 
energies of the plant to the maturation of the fruit. Peg out the 
growth of ridge Cucumbers, keeping them moderately thin and stopped 
