422 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 17, 1887, 
use no more than they are really compelled to do, and therefore we 
may reasonably conclude that the manure they have to dispose of 
will be as valuable as that Mr. Jenkins goes to so much trouble to 
prepare. It is of course concluded that he has to deal with a large 
per-ceniage of straw, the same as most of us have to contend with. 
Manure, whether from cattle sheds or stables, that can be purchased 
by gardeners and farmers, and by the latter principally relied upon 
in the neighbourhood of towns, is much better than the manure I 
could ever prepare from our stables. Sawdust and German moss are 
largely used in stables in the neighbourhood of such towns as Liver¬ 
pool, Manchester, and others. At one time considerable trouble 
was taken here in the preparation of manure from the stables. It 
was found that plants generally did not do so well with this manure, 
nrepared, as we thought, carefully, to prevent, by fermentation, the 
formation of carbonate of ammonia, which is very volatile and readily 
makes its escape. It is not doubted that Mr. Jenkins is following a 
scientific method of forming organic acids, which take up ammonia, 
by keeping his heap of manure moist and at a low temperature. It 
is, however, no easy matter to manage a heap of fresh manure from 
the stable with a large per-centage of straw at a temperature below 
80° Fahr. Above this the escape of carbonate of ammonia is said 
to take place. More than once it has been concluded that a heap of 
manure carefully prepared to fix the ammonia was particularly rich 
in this ingredient, but it failed to produce the gratifying results 
that were achieved with purchased manure from the cattle market 
and horsekeepers. 
Practical results of this nature led us to consider whether the 
heap of manure so carefully prepared was after all so valuable as 
had been supposed. The fact must not be overlooked that the 
preparation of manure on the principles advocated entails consider¬ 
able labour, which must be added to the cost of the manure, and it 
is very questionable whether the manure is increased sufficiently in 
value to warrant this extra labour and outlay, for manure cannot 
be prepared without adding materially to its cost. At the same 
time, it is useless trying to fix ammonia when perhaps there is little 
or none to fix The value of manures and their effect made from 
such materials as are thrown out of private stables, depends to a 
large extent upon the quality and texture of the land to which it is 
applied. It is observed that Mr. Jenkins only uses it in a 
thoroughly decomposed condition, but the majority have not 
supplies sufficiently ample to allow of their doing this. Sup¬ 
posing they had, it is an open question whether it is best 
applied in this condition or in a fresher state, so that its properties 
are naturally absorbed bv the soil ready for the roots as they take 
possession of the soil. The properties must be materially reduced 
in strength if the manure is exposed to much rain, and to be con¬ 
tinually returning this to the manure means labour ar.d expenses 
Would it not be better to use manure practically short and scatter 
it on the surface of the soil as it is dug, or some short time before 
it is necessary to crop the ground ? This depends upon the time the 
ground is dug, and the nature of the soil. On our light land we 
have practised this with excellent results, and have forked it beneath 
the surface some time prior to seed-sowing or planting. It is gene¬ 
rally supposed that it is best buried just beneath the surface on light 
soils, but it is questionable whether greater loss takes place by 
spreading it on the surface than by any other method of application. 
For heavy soils such a course is not advisable, for they are turned 
up and benefited by exposure to the weather nearly as much as they 
are by an application of manure ; in fact, the action of the weather 
must not be prevented by any such course from carrying out its 
beneficial effects. 
With regard to stable manure that is principally composed of 
straw, my course has been for some years past not to attempt to 
bring the straw into a decomposed condition. As much has been 
dried and stored as required for covering the ground amongst 
fruiting Strawberries to keep the fruit clean. Some given to the 
men for their pigs, and a good portion carted away to the farm for 
bedding. The short material has proved to be doubly valuable, and 
effected a considerable saving in labour. Less of it is required on 
the land, and this means unmistakeable economy, for labour spent in 
preparation and wheeling an extra quantity on the flats will more 
than buy any extra manure required. Short material is much more 
advantageous for our land than long straw decayed by any such 
process advanced by Mr. Jenkins. For heavy land, say such as Mr. 
Iggulden must have at Marston, long half-decayed manure formed 
by a si nilir process to that described on page 214 would prove of 
great value if only to keep it open and porous, so that air and 
warmth would have a better chance of penetrating it. 
It may be brought forward that there are many who must make 
use of the material thrown out of the stables or go without. This 
may be very true, but it does not alter the fact that the most 
economical method of procedure is not adopted. In the neighbour¬ 
hood of towns where straw is wasted in the manner I have described, 
many would gladly fetch it away if dried, and return the manuro 
after its conversion into superior material to what it would ever 
make by any attempt at decomposing it. Such a method would; 
prove far more economical and advantageous to gardeners, espe¬ 
cially those who have light soil to deal with, than would arise 
from daily attention to insure it being kept at a very low tem¬ 
perature. 
I am not writing to disparage those who are trying to make the 
best of what they have, but to point out that trying to fix ammonia 
is only a waste of labour when there is little to fix-.—W.M.. 
Bardney. 
KITCHEN GARDEN WALKS. 
It too often happens that kitchen garden walks are neglected. 
It is thought that as they are not in the pleasure grounds it does 
not matter in what condition they may be so long as they can be 
walked or wheeled on ; but this is a mistake, as a substantial tidy 
walk in a vegetable garden is always valued, especially in winter. 
I do not approve of having very wide walks in a vegetable garden 
where space is limited. It is seldom anyone wishes to drive a car¬ 
riage and pair through the kitchen garden, and if the walks are 
capable of accommodating two abreast, or allowing two wheelbarrows 
to pass each other without having to break down the edging, nothing 
more need be desired as a rule. But it is not with the width of 
walks generally that fault can be found so much as their condition,, 
especially in winter, and it is better to have a 0 feet walk in good 
condition than one 10 feet or 15 feet wide in bad order. There is 
no economy in deficiently made walks, as they will take much more 
labour to keep them in repair than it would take to make them 
properly, and it is astonishing how little repair a thoroughly ^well- 
made walk requires. 
If any repairing or alteration is required now is the time to attend, 
to it. If the foundation is soft dig it out, as it is impossible to keep up- 
a walk over a marshy bottom. Go down 2 feet if necessary, and in all. 
cases of a deficient foundation go down 18 inches at least. Put 
plenty of large stones in the bottom, and make the surface of some 
material that will bind. Keep the midale 3 inches higher to every 
yard width of the walk than it is at the sides, and there will always 
be a comfortable footway no matter what the weather may be. If 
the walk is a yard wide make it 3 inches higher in the centre than 
at the sides; if G feet have it 6 inches, and so on. Edge with box¬ 
wood, tiles, stone, or wood, which should also be kept in trim.— 
A Kitchen Gardener. 
VIOLAS. 
The notes on the above are very interesting and profitable, inasmuch 
as the Viola is calculated (at no great expense) to contribute in a most 
distinct and telling manner to the adornment of our flower gardens. 
Few, if any plants, can compete with them for general usefulness 
and effect. For fully seven months of the year Violas may be had 
in bloom, and some even push their way through the snow in early 
spring, and are gay almost with the Snowdrop and Crocus. They are 
quite hardy, readily propagated, easily managed, and mostly bloom 
simultaneously, consequently ought to be, and I believe are, destined to 
be the most popular of all bedding plants. With ordinary cultivation 
in the south they will answer admirably for spring and early summer 
decoration, and with careful planting, as pointed out by Messrs. Jenkins,. 
Baxter, Dean, and others, will be equally useful all through the season, 
whilst in the midlands and the north they should form the “ backbone 
of our spring and summer bedding.” 
Of 8000 V iolas and bedding Pansies planted here for stock there was 
not a single failure, and the season has certainly not been in their 
favour, rather to the contrary. Of course, odd plants died, but every 
row has been a perfect line of colour. For bedding and massing I 
would strongly recommend good self colours—the best grown here being 
Countess of Hopetoun, white ; Bullion, yellow ; Archie Grant, purplish 
blue ; Mulberry, the name correctly indicating the colour ; Duchess of 
Sutherland, lavender ; Ardvvell Gem, primrose yellow ; Queen of Lilacs, 
soft pleasing shade of colour.. We have not a good blue of the Blue King 
Pansy colour, but this Mr. Dean promises to supply in his True Blue. 
For exhibition, if they aspire so high, the best would embrace the 
most of the foregoing, with the Fancy or parti-coloured varieties, such 
as Countess of Kintore, Pantaioon, Mrs. Baxter, Mina Baxter, Unique, 
Dawn of Day, Skylark, and York and Lancaster, this latter variety 
being very distinct in early summer, and in every way desirable. These 
parti-coloured varieties are also very useful for bedding, massing, and 
general garden decoration, but are not in such demand as the seifs. It is 
strange that Mina Baxter has not found its way into Mr. Steel’s good 
graces. Here it is most distinct ; good dwarf habit and constitution, as 
Mr. Steel admits, and flowers almost crimson, the top petals regularly 
barred white. 
In attempting to define the difference between the Viola and 
Pansies might I suggest that the blotch be the one distinguishing 
feature ? It is quite evident that if they are for exhibition as cut 
flowers the distinction must lie in the flower, or there would be no end 
of quibbling. We must not allow habit to be the criterion, as many 
