358 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jli y 3, 1838. 
ARTIFICIAL IMANURES. 
Considerable credit is due to Mr. Dunkin for the general defence 
of his initial article on pase 128, and I am also glad to note the tendency 
of our respective views to coincide on the main points, although at the 
same time I consider that a slight retrospect would help to clear away 
some of the “dust” that is eviilently arising. 
In the first instance, where I beg to differ from my opponent is when 
he advises the application of stimulants in which ammonia-yielding 
substances preponderate. If we wish for a strong and vigorous growth 
this, of course, is a natural result of such a proceeding. But, 1 ask, 
AVhat is such a growth worth ? Does the constitution of a plant improve 
because its bulk is increasing ? I venture to say that such dors not 
always follow ; and I consider it doubtful practice to use strong 
ammoniacal manmes a’one for any plant, advising rather a judicious 
blending with some of the solidifying agents, such as potash, lime, and 
phosphates. That something undesirable follows the use of one kind of 
artificial manure Jlr. Dunkin seems fully aware, and as every effect 
must have a cause I would recommend him to study the cause that 
compels him to change from one manure to another, so that a cogent 
reason can he ascribed for so doing. 
This, then, is the point of contention, whether itisthe better practice 
to apply several kinds of manures and stimulants consecutively, or 
endeavour to provide a food that will meet the requirements of the plant 
-immediately. This your correspondent evidently thinks is a state of 
perfection never to be att ined. But here again I beg to differ from him ; 
for if w'e ob.serve the vast improvement that has taken place in the 
composition of the various artifici.sl manures that are continually being 
brought forward, we cannot but infer that eventually something like 
perfection will be reached. Not that one manure will ever be invented 
that will do for all and every member of the vegetable kingdom, anv 
more than a pill -will ever be compounded that wdll cure all the ills flesh 
is heir to, though such may l.e affirmed by the vendors. 
What I believe is, that as the science of gardening progresses we 
shall see the cultivator of the future obtaining the manurial ingredients 
separately, and as he will possess more than a rudimentary knowledge 
of chemistry hewill compound his own manures for-special purposes 
much in the same way that the drug ist compounds a stand.ard remedy 
for a particular disease. I was glad to see Mr. Dunkin is in favour of 
the study of chemistry as a part of the education of every gardener, 
as by his previous article he gives one the impression that it is altogether 
too deep a subject for practical use, and even now he wishes to point 
out that “ it is not wise to place too much reliance in only a rudimentary 
knowledge of it.” Again I differ from him, being of opinion that if 
only the merest smattering of chemical knowledge were impressed on 
every lad during his a))prenticeship more successes and less failures 
would be chronicled. For example, would not a very slight knowledge 
prevent such blunders as mixing caustic lime with farmyard manure? or 
would minute calculations have to be made to asceitain if a soil was 
deficient of lime? as a single application of dilute sulphuric acid to a 
sample -would soon decide, and in the same way many other simple 
tests could be enumerated that would be of inestimable utility to even 
the rudimentary chemist. I trust that Mr. Dunkin will eventually see 
his way clear to favour these views and not think it “ altogether too 
troublesome and e.xpensive a method to have different manures for each 
plant.” 1 do not utterly condemn the practice of changing from one 
manure to another, as according to the present limited knowledge it is 
the only general available wav to supply the plant with its needs ; but 
I oppose being contented with such clumsy and blind methods, but 
rather let us aim at a more scientific mode of suppljdng such a food as a 
study of a plant tells us is requisite. 
This brings to my mind a testimonial I saw in one of the gardening 
]iapers from a noted American cultivator of the Camellia, where he says 
that he has been using for some time a certain artificial manure for 
plants that have been in the same pots for ten years, and they are, ho 
adds, as healthy and as vigorous as recentlv potted plants. I ask Jlr. 
Dunkin if he would advise his pet theory to be put into practice in this 
instance? Do not results clearly show that the manure used -^vas abso¬ 
lutely a perfect food for the Camellia, and such being the case no change 
was necessary ? This is not the only instance of a perfect food being 
produced successfully for a particular plant, there being at the present 
time several compounds in the market that the vendors affirm contain 
.all the necessary ingr dients to support the Grape Vine, and some of 
which have stood the test of years, and I certamly favour the excellent 
idea of manufacturing special manures for special plants. I am of 
opinion that if education increases as rapidly during the next fifty years 
as it has done this last half century, the coming generation of gardeners 
will look back with pity on even the present, and wonder how it was 
possible for such results to have been achieved under such blind and 
haphazard treatment. Much in the same way that we wonder how it 
was piossible to practise successfully in some of the ancient gl.ass (?) 
houses where the dictum “keep close to the glass” was fraught with 
meaning. 
Turning again to Mr. Dunkin’s recent article 1 fail to see where the 
case of misrepresenting his statements occurs, as if the giving of “ nitrate 
of soda to a plant that is in a stunted and unhealthy state to get it into 
active growth again, and then when the object in view is attained to 
alter the food,” is not substantially the same as giving it “ a strong 
stimulant to start it and afterwards give it various compounds.” I must 
be content with the epithet he so kindly bestows on me ; still, I con¬ 
sider he is on the right track now that he advises the change to be such 
as experience proves to be right, so that I cannot but withdraw the dm- 
putation th.at it was fancy alone which guided his actions. . _ 
Keferring to the application of lime to soil that has become oyer- 
charaed with too much organic substances, 1 did not infer that the lime- 
would spoil the soil to any extent, as may bo seen on reference to- 
page 27-1. What I intended to convey was that the danger of a too heavy- 
dress'ng of lime would result in more of the ammonia contained in the 
organic remains being set at liberty than the plants could appropriate,, 
consequently it would be lost, where.as, if trenching was resorted to at 
the same time that the lime was applied, the fresh soil would imbibe the 
g.ases liberated by the lime and so conserve it in an available form for 
future use. To practically demonstrate this theory, take a small portioni 
of fresh soot, this we will suppose is the soil under operation ; add to it 
about a tenth part of its bulk of fresh lime and thoroughly moisten the 
whole mass : in a few minutes it the soot is good pungent fumes of 
ammonia will arise. Now cover the heap with some moderately dry 
earth, and no fumes will be perceptible unless the gases given off are in 
excess of the capacity of the soil to inbibe them. When sufficient time-. 
has elapsed for all the ammonia to be driven out of the soot, carefully 
remove the soil and repeat the process, but using the soil in the place- 
of soot, when it will be fully demonstrated that by the action of lime 
the ammonia can be transferred from one mass of soil to another with- 
the utmost facilit}'. This aaain is a reason why I contend even rudi¬ 
mentary chemistry is useful, as no one would, after performing the ex¬ 
periment, think of mixing lime with organic substances intended for 
manure. 
Mr. Dunkin’s idea that the application of lime imparts to the soilthe- 
power of retaining the moisture necessary for the growth of plants isv 
new to me, being under the impression th.at an important factor in that 
direction is humus (formed from the decay of animal and vegetable- 
remains), an excess of which renders the soil close and sour and unfit 
for healthy root-action, consequently it follows that where this material 
is abund.ant there is generally no hack of moisture. 
As to the solution of the problem, why nitrate of sola applied to a 
pasture produced the most rapid and also appeared to give more- 
permanent results th.an either bonemeal, native guano,_muri.ate of 
pot.ish, or superphosphate, I will give my ideas on the subject, and try- 
to elucidate the mystery, if any, and show how easily false conclusions, 
can be arrived at unless close observation is pursued. In the first 
instance observe it was a pasture, not a meadow, consequently stock 
were gr.azing on it. After the application of the various m.anures' 
nitrate of sola, being by nature the most rapid stimulant, caused a- 
quick succulent growth of herbage which the stock were not long in 
discovering ; and to show their appreciation of good living they took up* 
their abode on that portion of the field ; conseq uently, as the nitrate 
was absorbed by the grass, and the grass consumed by the stock, it was 
returned ag.ain w-ith heavy interest to the soil in the form of a properly 
constituted food for the grass, and, in point of fact, this quarter had the 
most thoroughly scientific manuring of the wdiolc field. This, I think, 
I may venture to take as supporting my views, that all highly stimulating- 
manures should never be used alone, but if permanent results are looked 
for they should be used in conjunction with either natural manure or- 
blended with some of the substance providing mineral agents. 
After intruding so far on your valu.able space I will conclude by- 
thanking my opponent for the generally courteous way in which he has 
replied to my criticism.—M. Coombe, The Gardens, Ashton Courty 
Clifton, Bristol. _ ' 
RICHARDIAS IN SMALL POTS. 
For the decoration of the conservatory or the house, either .singly in 
vases or in bold groups in the case of balls or evening parties, Richardias- 
are alw.ays acceptable ; but in no way are they more useful than when 
well grown in G-inch pots. Tlants vidth one, and in some instances two* 
stems, standing 2 feet to 2 feet G inches high, carrying from one to four 
fully developed pure ivhite spathes, are much more valuable for the- 
purpose named than any larger plants with eight or ten stems, requiring 
12-inch I'ots. The smailer plants do not require so much space when 
growing, and are preferable in many wa’s to the larger specimens. A 
group of say one dozen jjlants arranged closely together form a most 
agreeable background for Hybrid I’erpetual Roses of various colours- 
where such groups are appreciated. If the Roses are well grown the- 
effect is very telling. The bright colours of the Roses come out to per¬ 
fection against the background of green and white. 
The treatment Richardias require- is very simple, and consists in 
dividing the plants into single crowns towards the end of May, when all 
danger of frost is past. They should then be planted out singly. Ours- 
are pl.aced in a west border, where the soil is of a heavy tenacious 
character. During the summer the plants should not be too liberally- 
supplied with water, or too much growth and roots will be made to go 
into small pots. All small growths should be removed from the base of 
each plant, not more than two shoots or crowns being allowed to- 
develope. The last week in September or early in October the plants 
must be lifted and potted, using a fairly rich soil, loam predominating 
in the compost ; to this add a small portion of decayed leaves and some 
finely ground bones. Pot firmly, allowing ample space for applications- 
of water on the surface of the soil. Drain the pots carefully, as abund¬ 
ance of water will be needed later on. 
After jiotting place the plants in a cold frame if possible. Failing 
this, stand them under a north wall for a time until the roots are 
running into the new soil, when they should be removed to a cool house, 
placing them as near the glass as circumstances will admit to prevent 
