October 5, 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 825 
rather larger than a sixpenny piece, while the foliage is deep green. 
It is most easily increased by division. 
P. nitida alia is a very scarce and pretty variety, with deep 
green shining foliage and pure white flowers, nearly as large as a 
shilling. The plant is tufted in growth, and not nearly so free as 
the last—in fact it is really a slow grower, but very distinct and 
showy. I had it from Froebel & Co., and am quite pleased with it, 
after having been frequently disappointed with Potentillas. 
Edraianthus dalmaticus. —This is a charming Bellwort, grow¬ 
ing in close rosettes, with slender leaves and axillary racemes 
of light blue flowers freely produced. It is very easily grown; 
some chippings of limestone should be mixed with the soil in 
which it is planted, and I have found it do well in a sunny position. 
It has a tendency to throw up a terminal flower-stem, and this 
frequently ends its existence if allowed to develope. I always 
pinch it out, and thus lengthen the life of the plant. It is easily 
raised from seed, but the roots cannot be divided, and, as far as I 
know, cuttings will not strike. 
E. serpiyllifolius—a.noth.eT species—is a lovely little gem, pro¬ 
ducing solitary deep bluish-purple bell-shaped flowers. It is also 
a much smaller plant, with very narrow leaves. It may be divided 
if planted in very sandy soil, and I have also rooted cuttings taken 
from it on more than one occasion. It also enjoys a sunny position 
in rich loam, leaf soil, and sand.— Alpinia. 
THE CHEMISTRY OF MANURES. 
In a correspondence extending over several weeks there is 
danger of losing sight of the precise questions originally raised 
unless attention is now and then recalled to them. Permit me, 
therefore, to remind you that in my first letter on earth-closet 
manure (pages 120-121, Journal of Horticulture) I expressed my 
belief that “ Dr. Voelcker’s opinion of the trifling value of earth- 
closet manure was substantially correct.” As “ J. B. K.” (at 
page 218) acknowledges his acquiescence in “the real value of 
the manurial value of the addition to a ton of soil ” being 2s. 
instead of the price of £1 usually charged for it, we appear to 
think alike so far ; but I went on to ask whether “ a better system 
of manuring than by earth-closet manure ” (supplemented by a 
little wood ashes, occasionally a few half-inch bones, and also a little 
of Standen’s manure) “ may not be employed for Vine borders ?” 
and “ J. B. K.” apparently does not concur in this. He thinks 
that my inquiry, or suggestion, was unnecessary, and, I may add, 
misleading. He also says that the first of the questions (which, 
however, he is good enough to reply to) asked in my letter 
(p. 244) “ hardly expresses any practical question arising out of 
the discussion.” I accept this dictum “without prejudice,” as 
the lawyers say, and return to the real question of difference 
between us, or what I conceive to be such. 
In “ J. B. K.’s ” last very interesting letter on the chemistry of 
manures he gives a tabular statement showing the rate of appli¬ 
cation per acre of the three important fertilisers—nitrogen, phos¬ 
phoric acid, and potash—which follows from Mr. Taylor’s recom¬ 
mendation. I accept this statement as correct, for it evidently 
has not been put forward without careful calculation. Again, in 
his first letter (p. 218) he informs you that the principal manurial 
ingredients in the Longleat recipe are equivalent to an application 
to the soil of 14 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, 4£ cwt. of bone meal, 
and 10 cwt. of muriate of potash per acre. Lastly Ville, whose 
authority ought to carry great weight on a point of Vine culture 
(though he makes an error, as I believe, in bis omission of mag¬ 
nesia from his formula), supplies us with the quantities which he 
recommends as the best for this object—viz., 528 lbs. of calcic 
superphosphate, 440 lbs. of potassic nitrate, and 352 tbs. of calcic 
sulphate per acre. 
Comparing the amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash 
which would be used in the above three cases per acre, I find them 
to be as follows :— 
l. 
The Longleat application, 
calculated by “ J. B. K.” 
to supply to the soil 
(see p. 298) 
Nitrogen . 256 lbs. 
Phosphoric acid .. 120 „ 
Potash . 60 „ 
2 . 
Longleat application, 
supposed by “ J. B. K.” 
to equal 
(see p. 218) 
say 310 lbs.' 
„ 130 „ ■ ? 
„ 660 „ 
3. 
Yille’s formula 
for a manure 
for Vines. 
67 lbs. 
79 „ 
193 „ 
It will be observed that the supposed Longleat application (2) 
does not differ very excessively from Yille’s formula (3) in the 
relative proportions of phosphoric acid and potash ; but what shall 
we say of the proportion of potash in the soil (1) calculated by 
“ J. B. K.” to result from the manure used and recommended by 
Mr. Taylor ? Can it be said to supply in requisite proportion the 
universally acknowledged dominant manurial constituent for Vine 
cultivation ? I may, perhaps, be told that “the small quantity of 
wood ashes ” which Mr. Taylor uses supplies the potash ; and if 
so I have nothing more to say, excepting to apologise to that good 
gardener for again introducing his name into the discussion, and 
to express the hope that he will at least try a manure at Longleat 
very much richer in potash than that which he has hitherto used. 
If hereafter he is enabled to inform your readers that he has gained 
nothing by the change I shall regret having suggested what has 
turned out of no advantage ; but my amour propre will be 
untouched, as my suggestions were derived from recorded and 
authoritative observations, and not from my own experiments; 
and Mr. Taylor will have the satisfaction of proving to others that 
it can no longer be said of his “ high estimate of the value of earth- 
closet manure ” that it “does not rest on any solid foundation.”— 
Inquirer. 
HARDY PLANTS—A DELIGHTFUL GARDEN. 
Many who have no convenience to grow the ordinary tender 
bedding plants to render gardens attractive during the summer 
months, may keep them gay and delightful for a long time with 
hardy plants. Although the latter never produce such a blaze of 
colour as the former, yet they possess an interest, beauty, and 
fragrance that ordinary summer bedding plants do not. Hardy 
plants are also preferable for cutting, and flowers for the decoration 
of the dinner table and rooms are always in request. They possess 
another great advantage over Pelargoniums and Calceolarias by 
not being rendered unsightly for any length of time by a few 
heavy showers, but soon brighten up, and are as beautiful as ever. 
To render gardens gay and delightful for a long time selection 
is of great importance, and it is preferable to employ a few good 
plants in quantity than to aim at having a collection. A collection 
is interesting to the botanist, but to cram as many different kinds 
as possible into a given space for the mere sake of having them, 
is a great mistake where beauty and effect are the objects to be 
attained. Only a few kinds of hardy plants are necessary to keep 
a garden gay ; these should be grown in quantity, and when once 
obtained may be kept and propagated without either cold frames 
or glass houses. This is important to many ; at the same time 
it must be admitted that many hardy plants can be increased 
more quickly with the aid of frames and handlights than without 
them. 
I have seen in many parts of the country gardens entirely 
devoted to hardy plants, but the most satisfactory that has come 
under my notice has been pronounced by all who have inspected 
it as the most “ delightful ” little garden they have seen during the 
season. The whole garden devoted to flowers is not more than 
30 yards in length, and is protected with a bank of shrubs at the 
north end, the west side being also moderately well sheltered. 
Two beds run the whole length, and are 7 to 8 feet wide, with a 
walk up the centre and on the opposite side of the beds. Run¬ 
ning parallel with the outside walks are borders about the same 
width as the beds, or probably a little wider. At the end of these 
beds there is another bed 30 yards in length and 1 yard wide. 
These plain beds and borders are more appropriate for the style 
of gardening employed than any geometrical design. Fancy¬ 
shaped beds are objectionable for producing an effective display 
with hardy plants. 
Each bed contains three rows of Roses, a choice selection only 
finding a place of both dark and light varieties. La France is 
evidently a general favourite, as the outer rows of one bed are 
entirely planted with this variety. The majority of the Roses are 
upon their own roots, and have produced some remarkably fine 
flowers. Two rows of seedling Carnations are planted on each 
side of the centre row of Roses in each bed, the Carnations 
being strong, robust, and flowering abundantly, promising to con¬ 
tinue until cut off by frost. Alternately with the Roses in the 
centre row is one plant of Gladiolus brenchleyensis, which are 
now highly effective. Each of these plants rise out of a small 
patch of Mignonette. The beds are edged with Ten-week Stocks 
and dwarf Asters, which are planted alternately, the latter being in 
full beauty ; the Stocks having passed their best now have just 
been removed. Between these and the Carnations are dotted in the 
open spaces between the Roses in the outer rows Asters of taller 
growth, Phlox Drummondi, and a few double Zinnias. These beds 
are a thorough mixture, but not crowded, yet gay and diversified, 
affording an abundance of flowers for cutting. The beds are gay 
in spring with clumps of Alpine Auriculas, Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Narcissus, and other early-flowering plants. The bulbs are planted 
deeply, so that the beds can be forked over without injuring them, 
and they can also be avoided with the trowel when planting the 
summer occupants. The end bed is entirely devoted to seed¬ 
ling Carnations, and a finer lot of bloom I have never seen. 
The side borders are also gay in spring with bulbs, Pansies, 
Aubrietias, and other early flowers, and their places afterwards 
planted with Intermediate and Ten-Week Stocks (the former 
