152 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 17, 1882. 
Totash is amply provided as well, and if not, the annual applica- 
tion or urine “ maks siccar.” 
I study economy, and “take that which lieth nearest” if 
reasonably certain that the best results can be thereby attained. 
For this reason I think Mr. Taylor errs, not in using closet 
manure^but in using such an extremely costly manure as 
fetanden s. So far as that is concerned, I certainly think a better 
system of manuring Vines could be adopted. It is perfectly 
certain that £10 properly spent will go as far, if indeed not much 
further, than £100 spent on any of the fancy manures which are 
put up m small packets. When gardeners generally get to know 
what plants really want, and the sources of plant‘food, we may 
expect a big national saving under this head. 
As for the closet manure and its real value, very much depends 
upon the amount of earth with which it is diluted. Earth from 
those modern contrivances, when large quantities of screened 
ashes are used, may be very well from a sanatory point of view, 
but they render the excreta dear for the carriage if the distance 
is great. V hen properly dried surface soil from loamy or clay 
land is used, and only sparingly so, not only is a perfect state of 
sanitation reached, but the resultingmanure is of real value. When, 
as is the case here, it comes from public works, where earth is 
veiy sparingly used, where the sanatory arrangements are indeed 
so bad that no earth at all is used often, the manure is of the 
most valuable character, and is worth certainly three times as 
much as ordinary stableyard manure for many crops. Here a 
piece of land was recently enclosed that was so thin and poor, and 
with a subsoil so hard as to be nearly impenetrable, that Oats 
would scarcely grow. Although not more than 6 inches deep, 
yet dressed at the rate of 25 tons an acre with such manure 
as we have described, it has produced enormous crops of Cauli¬ 
flowers, See. Many of the Cauliflowers have been over a foot in 
diameter, and of fine appearance and quality. Brussels Sprouts 
and Savoys have indeed grown much too strongly. It is only fair 
to say that the season has been very favourable, as the soil has 
never been anything but moist. In addition all our short grass 
was used as a mulch, for we dreaded the results that would in 
such a sod have followed drought. Next year Potatoes will be 
planted with no further manuring, and experience leads us to 
expect a, first-rate crop. As to what value should be placed on 
manure from earth closets, then, it is difficult to say. 
As for the best way of manuring Vines I think, for reasons 
given before, no better plan exists than utilising sewage and 
urine m some such way as we do here ; the one contains all the 
potash, the other the phosphates, and between them everything 
else plants of any description require. When such can be had no 
more economical or satisfactory plan can be pursued : all else 
that is needed is occasionally a little lime and plenty of water. 
When neither can be had I should employ bones, or, perhaps, 
better because more economical and likely to be equally effica¬ 
cious, mineral phosphate, or other cheap phosphate to supply 
phosphoric acid. Where wood ashes were to be had I would not 
hesitate to rely on them for furnishing potash, magnesia, and 
hme Failing that I would employ kainit, or a cheap source of 
potash, and apply quicklime sparingly. As for nitrogen, so lono- 
as we have sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda that need 
bother none of us. Possibly combination manure might prove 
more suitable and m the end more cheap. For instance, guano 
contains plenty of everything except potash perhaps. Then such 
manures as “ Fimus ” might go far to solve the problem. The 
tact is there are a hundred ways whereby Vines might be cheaply 
supplied, but few, very few, of us are in a position to do more 
han glance at the subject. I wish the horticultural world could 
induce the Government to grant a few thousand pounds to esta¬ 
blish a garden where these problems could be solved by someone 
having at once a knowledge of gardening and science to enable 
him to conduct such experiments to a successful issue. Some 
people might consider this a waste of money, but it would in the 
end undoubtedly lead to an enormous saving. At the worst it 
would only cost the price of a few puffs of gunpowder, and one 
or two shells more or less. It is tantalising to see how such pro¬ 
blems could be solved and yet be unable to move towards their 
solution.—S ingle-handed. 
A WEEK IN LONDON. 
In some departments of art London may be rivalled, but in horti¬ 
culture it stands pre-eminent among gardeners. The parks, nurseries, 
private gardens, market gardens, as well as the great markets, form a 
collective body of gardening attractions not to be found elsewhere. 
Under such circumstances it is not surprising that country gardeners 
should look towards this great metropolis for improvements in their 
art, and no one who is observant can spend a few days there without 
gaming knowledge which must be of the utmost advantage to him. 
In summer flower garden decoration the parks afford a wide field of 
observation both in design and the plants employed, and as much 
skill is devoted to arrangement and effect by the intelligent superin¬ 
tendents new ideas are put into practical shape annually. To describe 
all that is worth seeing would require far more time and space than 
can be given here, but no gardener who visits London should leave 
again without inspecting the parks. Battersea, Hyde, Victoria, 
and Regent’s are the best, and apart from their flower garden interest 
capital ideas of effective planting may be gained in all of them; 
indeed, it would be most difficult to find a more interesting or beau¬ 
tiful park in any part of the country than the one at Battersea. 
The freshness distinguishing it is surprising, as the air is pure 
and the trees quite free from the discoloration which generally dis¬ 
figures many about towns. Blue and white is a favourite combina¬ 
tion of colours at Battersea. White vaiiegated Pelargoniums and 
blue Lobelias are very pretty, and Acer Negundo and blue Delphin¬ 
iums are more noble and equally beautiful. Some trellises about 
6 feet in height covered with the fine free-flowering Clematis Jack- 
manni have a fine effect, as the plants are not spoiled by being tied- 
in too closely. The fine specimens of Ferns and Palms which are 
arranged in the sheltered dells of the subtropical garden have a 
charming effect. Pandanus Veitchii is regarded by most of us as a 
tender stove plant, but during the latter half of July we saw it in 
some of the beds in this Park in good condition. Coleuses are 
much more sparingly used in the London parks now than they were 
a few years ago ; in fact, they seem to be on their last trial, as they 
appear dull against the Alternantheras, which furnish the bright 
colours in most of the foliage beds. In Regent’s Park we thought 
the Golden Feather Pyrethrum was too abundant, but this may have 
been more from compulsion than choice, as all plants appear to 
suffer more there than in any of the other parks. 
Booking at the Victoria Station for Clapham Junction, changing 
there, and proceeding to Hampton Court, gives a prospect of a poorly 
farmed district; but the termination of the journey is most satisfac¬ 
tory, as of all the parks about London Hampton Court is the most 
enjoyable. The Palace itself is a unique structure, and the flower 
garden has of late years gained considerable fame. The carpet beds 
are perfect in arrangement and condition, and reflect the highest 
credit on Mr. Graham. The beds filled with flowering plants there 
are.also grand examples of their kind. John Gibbons Pelargonium, 
which was the pet seedling of my lamented friend Mr. J. R. Pearson, 
is the best of all the scarlet varieties grown. In number and size of 
trusses and deepness of colour it must command the attention of all. 
Combinations of scarlet and white were most effective there. One bed 
planted with dwarf specimens of Acer Negundo variegata and a 
splendid scarlet seedling Verbena was charming. The Acer branches 
were pegged down, and the white leaves and the scarlet flowers com¬ 
bined most happily. A fine collection of all the best herbaceous 
plants is an attractive and new feature. In the garden where the 
large Vine is situated improvements are visible since Mr. Stirling became 
Superintendent. The Vine itself has now something more genial than 
a hard road over the principal roots, and as we knew Mr. Stirling as 
a good Grape-grower when at Park Wern with Sir H. H. Vivian this 
historic Vine is not likely to suffer in his hands. This year it is 
bearing about 1200 bunches, which are verv evenly distributed over 
the house, and will weigh about 1 lb. each/ The idea that this Vine 
owes its extent and existence to its roots feeding in the River Thames 
is not confirmed by a personal inspection of the ground or situation. 
A long row of Orange trees which line one side of the walk leading 
to the vinery appear as if they would be benefited by frequent appli¬ 
cations of liquid manure. 
From Hampton Court to Kew is not a great distance, and this is 
the only way those interested in plants and flowers should return to 
London. Since we last saw Kew some twelve years ago the outdoor 
trees and shrubs have made good progress, many of them have 
now gained the proportions of fine specimens, and theii health is all 
that could be desired. The new rockwork is a valuable addition to 
the many attractions. The flower beds m front of the large Palm 
house and those along each side of the long broad walk which form 
the flower garden part of Kew, are tastefully filled. Under glass the 
plants were in excellent health, and altogether Kew is in most satis¬ 
factory condition. As a public place of"resort Mr. Smith, the able 
and courteous Curator, assured me it is becoming annually more 
popular. 
Chiswick, “ dear old Chiswick,” as it has been lovingly termed by 
Mr. W. Taylor and others who have gained much knowledge there, 
is only some two miles Londonwards from Kew, and if I were asked 
which garden is most worth seeing about London I should have no 
hesitation in answering Chiswick. The collections of plants, fruits 
and vegetables are extensive, and, what is of equal or more import¬ 
ance, everything is well cultivated. The Tuberous Begonias were 
fine. I have seen collections of these at our horticultural and agri¬ 
cultural shows, but the Chiswick plants overshadow them all in size, 
bloom, and general finish. The single and double Pelargoniums 
were surprisingly fine, the plants being most profusely bloomed. 
The Grapes in several of the vineries are in excellent condition. 
Considering the season Pears and Apples are a good crop, and small 
fruits are abundant. In the vegetable quarter the Pea crop inter¬ 
ested me much, as there wrnre numerous varieties on trial; but after 
inspecting them my opinion was that if all the newest and best Peas 
in the country were there nothing much superior to what is now in 
