January 31, 1896. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
87 
V 
SUPERB 
GEL 
VEITCH’S EARLY ROSE. 
A beautiful rose-coloured selection of robust, comp'ct 
growth, forming very solid hearts, which are crisp and of a 
fine flavour. Per Packet, Is. 6d. 
VEITCH’S SUPERB WHITE. 
The most perfect type of White Celery for table use, being 
a pure white counterpart of the well-known Major Clarke’s 
Solid Red. Per Packet, Is. 6d. 
VEITCH’S DWARF RED. 
A distinct variety of dwarf growth and fine colour, very 
solid and crisp. Per Packet, Is. 6d. 
For fall description of the above, and many- 
other CHOICE NOVELTIES & SPECIALITIES, 
see SEED CATALOGUE, forwarded gratis and 
post free on application. 
JAMES VEITCH & SONS, 
ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, 
CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. 
A. PJ'E'W’ 
CUCUMBER 
For 1895. 
UTTO 
PROGRES 
The result of a cross bet-ween Sutton’s Improved 
Telegraph and Sutton’s Matchless. The seeiling com¬ 
bines the prolific character of the former with the 
rich dark erreen colour of the latter. It possesses 
the highest qualities of an exhibition fruit, and is 
unsurpassed in flavour. 
“Cucumber, Progbess— It may be said of the superb 
fruit of this new Cucumber that unanimously obtained a 
First-class Certificate at the Drill Hall last week, they were 
as near perfection as well could be. Those who know what 
Lockie’s Perfection is when well grown will find in Progress 
identical fruits, but fully six inches longer.—D.,’’ Journal of 
Horticulture, May 17th, 1894. 
Price of Seed, 216 and 3/6 per Packetj Post Free. 
utton’sSe 
GENUINE ONLY FROM SUTTON & SONS,READING. 
Seeds for Early Sowing. 
CARTERS’ LIGHTNING PEA. 
Ten days in front of other varieties. 
In sealed packets, price 1/3 pint, 2/- quart. 
CARTERS’ FORCING CARROT. 
The only long variety that retains its colour when 
quickly grown. 
In sealed packets, price 1/6, post free. 
CARTERS’ EARLIEST OF ALL CUCUMBER. 
In sealed packets, price 2/6, post free. 
CARTERS’ HARBINGER FORCING LETTUCE. 
A great acquisition for early Salads. 
In sealed packets, price 1/6 and 2/6, post free. 
CARTERS’ DUKE OF YORK TOMATO. 
The best variety yet introduced. 
In sealed packets, price 2/6 and 3/6, post free. 
CARTERS’ BLENHEIM ORANGE MELON. 
The finest Scarlet Flesh Melon. 
In sealed packets, price 1/6, 2/6, and 3/6, post free. 
CARTERS’ FORCING RADISHES. 
Earliest Long Frame .. 
Extra Early Scarlet Turnip.. 
Extra Early White Turnip .. 
Per pint. Per oz. 
2/6 .. 6d. 
3/6 .. 8d. 
3/6 .. 8d, 
CARTERS’ FIRST CROP KIDNEY POTATO. 
The perfect type of a Forcing Potato for the Gentle¬ 
man’s Garden. 
Price, per peck of 14 lbs., 6/-. 
CARTERS’ LONGSWORD FRENCH BEAN. 
Exceedingly early and prolific. 
In sealed packets, price 2/- per pint. 
>0. 762.— VOL. XXX., Third Series. 
pBIC 
LISTS 
Post Free. 
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1895. 
LIMB. 
-K>.- 
T his being a good time of the year for the 
application of lime, it cannot be out of 
place to study a little about its value, first as a 
plant food, and secondly its functions and uses 
when applied to soils. 
If any kind of vegetable matter be burnt, and 
the ash which is left analysed, it will be found 
that a large proportion of this ash consists of 
lime. It has been proved by experiments that 
lime is essential for the development and growth 
of plants. The following plants aro taken as 
examples, and show the quantity of lime present 
in their ash—In the Grape Vine, 36 per cent.; 
fruit of Tomatoes, 12 per cent.; roots and stem 
of Dianthus, 45 per cent.; Chrysanthemum, 
26 per cent.; Turnips, 50 per cent.; Potatoes, 
20 per cent. This would show that in time a 
considerable amount of lime will he removed 
by growing crops. Another important loss of 
lime to soils is by drainage ; Professor Way 
found on analysing difEerent samples of drainage 
water, that they contained from 2 to 14 grains 
of lime per gallon. On an average about 
20 inches of rain falls annually upon an acre of 
land ; about one-third of this passes away by 
filtration, which must necessarily carry with it 
from 21 to 147 lbs. of lime per annum. It 
must be clear from the above that lime is an 
essential constituent of soils, and that it is 
constantly being removed, hence the necessity of 
fresh supplies. 
When we speak of applying lime to the soil, 
it is not clearly understood whether it is the 
caustic, or mild form that we are going to use; 
we must know something of its chemical nature 
to understand of what the different compounds 
of calcium consist, and the changes which take 
place within the soil. Caustic lime (CaO) is 
composed of two elements—calcium (Ca), a 
metal, and oxygen (O), a gas ; it is prepared 
by burning carbonate of lime (CaOCOo) in kilns, 
when carbonic acid gas (CO 2 ) is given off, and 
caustic lime (CaO) is left behind. If caustic 
lime be put into a heap, and water poured 
upon it, a considerable amount of heat will be 
generated, owing to the union of the water 
(HsiO) with the lime, a hydrate (CaOHaO) being 
produced. But if the lime be allowed to slake 
No. 2118.—V«L. XClL, Old Series. 
