May 31, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAHE GARDENER. 
445 
While on the subject of liquid manure I would like to add a word or 
two on the case mentioned by “ B.” on page 384 in regard to the 
Chrysanthemums which he inferred had been fed with liquid manure 
until they were so surfeited with it as to be actually starving in the 
midst of plenty. I should from the fact of their quick recovery on the 
application of artificial manure be rather dubious in accepting the cause 
as set forth by “ B,” though as regards the theory it may on first sight 
look feasible enough, and the solution read very well to anyone holding 
peculiar views ; but as the evidence is inconclusive it cannot be taken 
as a very striking example of applied science, the palpable weak point 
being in regard to the strength of the liquid manure, and the flushing 
of the soil with clear water loses weight as an operation, absolutely 
necessary on account of all being done alike. If only one-third had 
been thus treated another third had artificial manure applied without 
the flushing, and the remainder had their usual dose of liquid manure 
supplemented with artificial the results would have been conclusive as 
to the cause of starvation; as it is they are not. What makes me 
inclined to doubt the “ starvation in the midst of plenty ” theory is a 
case that occurred under my charge in much the same way. Chrysan¬ 
themums being also the subject. These, according to our usual practice, 
were potted in fresh chopped turfy loam without any of the usually 
considered indispensable admixtures, and from the commencement they 
were watered with liquid manure; a vigorous growth ensued, and as 
they were in a fully exposed position to get all the benefit from the 
sun the growth was of a fine solid nature. This continued up to about 
the middle of August, when they showed signs of starving. This I 
attributed to the disproportion of the spread of foliage to the limited 
root run ; consequently 1 reasoned that as the soil at the command of 
the plant was ramified in all directions with its roots, any nutriment 
brought into the pot by the liquid manure was quickly assimilated, and 
no accumulation of a store was possible. I therefore supplemented the 
liquid manure with frequent surface dressings of artificial, and the 
renewed vigour that followed was astonishing, and the crop of flowers 
that followed gave satisfaction to all concerneil. 
The subject of water in conjunction with manuring is treated in a 
masterly style by “ B.,” and I cordially endorse what he says in respect 
to its application, and if its powerful agency in the cultivation of plants 
was better understood, and duly impressed on young beginners, their 
progress towards competency in gardening would be greatly acce¬ 
lerated. Given a plant, the best variety, potted into the most suitable 
of compost, and placed in the finest of modern built structures, but let 
a non-discerning individual armed with a waterpot come near it, and all 
the foregoing counts for absolutely nothing. 
Turning, a^in, to Mr. Dunkin’s article on page 408, in reference to 
the question, “ Does nitrate of soda leave the soil in an exhausted 
state ?” Can he not see that the quotation he gives directly supports what 
I advised at the commencement, that it should not be used alone, but 
combined with some other more substantial plant foods 1 and in the 
quotation referred to reasons are given why such a course is beneficial, 
though the figures, as they appear, arc open to criticism, but as they are 
presumably given with merely the object of illustrating a great point in 
the science of artificial manuring I will not touch thereon. Nitrate of 
soda is there shown as an active agent that stimulates the plant and 
enables it to take up nourishing materials lying around, and thus arises 
the notion that nitrate impoverishes the soil, which it undoubtedly does, 
or rather causes the plant to do so, therefore the true science of manur¬ 
ing is absolutely indispensable to successfully transfer mineral sub¬ 
stances into field produce ; but, as I mentioned previously, if the phos¬ 
phoric acid and potash should unfortunately not be present—say, for 
instance, repeated applications of nitrate had caused the absorption of 
all the elements—would not the nitrate soon come into disrepute with 
the unscientific user, as it has done in many instances when used alone 1 
but if applied as “ B.” recommends sulpLate of ammonia and super¬ 
phosphate to be, we should soon cease to hear so much of these 
objections. 
If instead of indulging in unfounded charges of inconsistency and 
misrepresentation in reference to the arguments I have brought to bear 
against the change of food system, and also on the neal of an elementary 
knowledge of chemistry as essential to every cultivator, Mr. Dunkin 
had applied himself to scientific research somewhat earlier in thp debate, 
he would not have placed himself in the anomalous position he now 
holds. For instance, if he had looked into the case of applying the 
different manorial agents to a pasture he would have found plenty of 
scope for criticism if he had not Ixjforehand depreciated a slight know¬ 
ledge of chemistry, relying rather on the experience he holds so dear. 
There we see experimental trials made with various substances to see 
what effect they would have on vegetation, both the experience your 
correspondent holds in so much esteem, and also the rudimentary 
knowledge of chemistry, on which he considers I place a too high value 
on, was eonspicuous by their absence, and possibly if careful reflection 
and reasoning had not been followed the conclusion arrived at would 
have been grossly erroneous. Had chemical knowledge been brought to 
bear on the experiments the nitrate of soda, superphosphate, and 
muriate of potash would hav(? been combined together for obvious 
reasons. Provided Mr. Dunkin had a supply of artificial manure of 
this description on hand, would he consider a recourse to the “change” 
fad beneficial ? Iventure to think not, as by his own showing he would 
have a perfect plant food, which idea he previously opposed as impos¬ 
sible, containing the essentials necessary for a plant’s su-port—viz., 
soluble nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, and if he had the ingre¬ 
dients separately he could combine and administer them to the plant in 
such quantities and proportions as, after considering the nature of the 
plant and its state of growth, his judgment tells him is necessary.— 
M. COOMBE, Ashtoji Court, Bristol. 
Events of the Week. —Messrs. Protheroe & Morris announce a sale 
of Orchids at their rooms in Chcapside, on Friday next, June 1st ; and 
on Tuesday, June 5th, the first portion of the choice collection of 
Orchids formed by Dr. Duke at The Glen, Lewisham, of which several 
accounts have appeared in the Journal, will be disposed of at the same 
rooms. On Wednesday, June 6th, the Covent Garden Fete in connection 
with the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, will be held in the Flower Market, 
from 9 to 12 p.m. On the same d.ay the Bath and West of England 
Society’s Show at Newport (Monmouth) will be opened and continue 
until June 11th. At this Show a cup, or money, value £10, will be 
given for the best group of Orchids, and two classes are provided for 
Roses, for amateurs and nurserymen respectively, the prize in each case 
being a cup or £5, for eighteen varieties (single blooms) of Tea and 
Noisette Roses. 
- The Weather. —Our Perthshire correspondent writes “ The 
week ending May 28th has been throughout one of brilliant sunshine 
with the exception of Sunday. In the afternoons and evenings cold 
easterly winds have prevailed.” Towards the close of last week bitterly 
cold winds prevailed in the south, and tender plants put out too soon 
suffered accordingly. 
- We learn that Sir Robert Loder, Bart., died somewhat 
suddenly on Sunday evening at his marine residence. Beach House, 
Worthing, from a stroke of paralysis. He had been in indifferent 
health for some months. The deceased baronet was the only surviving 
son of the late Mr. Giles Loder, of Wilsford House, Salisbury, and is 
succeeded in his baronetcy by his eldest son, the present High Sheriff 
of Northamptonshire, Mr. Edmund Giles Loder, who is a member of 
the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
- Orchids in Paris. —^We are informed that President Carnot’s 
prize, offered for a collection of Orchids at the Paris Exhibition, was 
awarded to Messrs. F. Sander k Co., St. Albans, for a group including- 
several that were sho-wn in the Temple Gardens recently. 
- Mr. H. Cannell, in sending a magnificent bloom of Cereus 
SPECIOSISSIMDS for our inspection, observes : The largest plant of 
Cereus speciosissimus in England was at the seat of Richard Gurneyr 
Esq., Thickthbrn Hall, Hetherset, Norfolk, forty years ago. It was 
planted out in the centre of a lean-to 40 feet house against the wall, 
and after covering the wall it was allowed to extend round to the front 
door on the opposite side, and it became so attractive that it was allowed 
to occupy the whole house, and it was the talk of the nation. It had as 
many as 300 flowers open in a day. Can anyone say what became of 
the plant?” There are two varieties of this handsome Cactus, one 
having much larger flowers and more purple in them than the other- 
The one sent by Mr. Cannell is the better. We have lately seen some 
blooms of seedling Cacti raised by Mr. C. M. Major of Croydon. They 
belong to the section of Phyllocactus, the plants having flat stems. The 
flowers are large and brilliant in colour, one, a deep crimson scarlet, 
especially so, and are more or less deeply tinted with purple, suggestive 
of the beautiful Cereus referred to. 
- Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, recently sent us a box of P.eonies 
AND other flowers, of w’nich the following are noteworthy :— 
Pfeonies, Souvenir de Madame Knorr, large semi-double, pale crimson, 
darker at the base, very light at upper part, delicate and pretty ; Louise 
Mouchelet, double, full, rosy crimson, handsome ; Lambertiana, pale 
blush, nearly white, double ; Souvenir de Chinonceaux, purple, semi¬ 
double, bold ; and Cerenie, deep purple, semi-double, distinct, and rich ; 
and double varieties of Pieonia officinalis ; La Negresse, very dark rich 
crimson ; Alba, double white; and Chamois, blush streaked rose and 
crimson. The double white Narcissus poeticus and the white Pink, Mrs. 
