350 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 22, 1891. 
The blooms were large, well formed, with broad slightly drooping florets, 
of great substance, and pure white. The solid white of this variety is 
very noticeable in contrast with others. 
Mrs. E. Beckett. —This and the following variety were grown and 
shown by Mr. E. Beckett, Aldenham Park Gardens, Elstree, but we 
understand that they were raised by Mr. Norman Davis from seed he 
saved himself at Camberwell. The one named above is a Japanese with 
long twisting drooping white florets, forming a rather effective and 
distinct bloom (first-class certificate). 
Edwin Beckett. —This also is a Japanese of an extremely deep rich 
golden yellow colour, with narrow tapering florets built up into a deep 
substantial nearly globular bloom. It appears likely to form a good 
exhibition variety (first-class certificate), 
White Etoile de Lyon.—M r. H. Cannell sends a bloom under the 
above designation. The outer florets were much injured in transit, 
crushed, and almost black, but the central uninjured part of the bloom 
more nearly approaches white than any we have seen, and may be 
regarded as the precursor of a pure white variety of the “ great ” 
favourite. 
Chrysanthemum Mme. Jeanne Gayon. —Mr. Norman Davis sends 
us a head of this Chrysanthemum bearing twenty single or semi-double 
blooms, white, with a tinge of purple, and remarks :—“The Chrysan¬ 
themum sent is one of Delaux’s named Mme. Jeanne Gayon. It is 
described as being as large as Avalanche and colour resembling James 
Salter, surpassing the most remarkable of the autumn varieties, &c., 
price 12 francs. As the flowers have not been disbudded it would be 
unfair to say what proportions it would obtain, but I fancy in this 
instance Nature would be preferred to Art.” 
Cultural Notes on Chrysanthemums. 
Probably some of our celebrated growers will reply to the queries 
of “ Y. B. A. Z.” and my note can be consigned to the waste paper 
basket. Yet, as I have had something to do with the growing of 
Chrysanthemums, and have attended most of the principal exhibitions 
during the past few years, and have also visited some of the principal 
gardens where Chrysanthemums are made a speciality, I venture to give 
my experience. 
It is not unusual to answer one question by asking another. Does 
Fair Maid of Guernsey produce flowers equal to what it used to do 1 A 
good bloom has not been produced here, although it has been well tried 
for successive seasons. If the crown buds are taken, and it generally 
shows early, numerous other buds are found clustered inside the one 
selected, making them useless for show purposes. If it will come good 
it must be had on later growths, yet not terminal. Belle Paule buds are 
small when they appear, and all growths should be rubbed off as soon as 
they can be removed with safety. This variety is the worst I know for 
starting to swell freely. 
As I proceed the questions become more difficult, yet as everything 
has a cause expressions of opinion enable someone to find the “ missing 
link.” Had “ Y. B. A. Z.” named the varieties that show “ a few florets 
then refuse to expand ” it might have assisted in solving the problem. 
In the Japanese Mrs. Beale and Grandiflorum (a thing of the past) 
frequently do this. In the incurved section do any of the Teck family 
show that disposition 1 Doubtless the buds from the first breaks are 
most promising, but are the early anticipations always realised ? I am 
of opinion that early bud selections of many of the varieties is a mistake ; 
each individual variety must be known, and how far manipulation can 
be indulged in, for this is the secret of success in timing buds. Varieties 
that refuse to unfold their florets when they have made their first break 
and proceeded a foot on their second journey may have the points nipped 
out and the growths allowed to extend. Over-ripening of the wood or 
hardening of the buds is the cause of their not swelling freely, and if 
plants are treated as I have suggested buds will appear" nine days or a 
fortnight later than these, will swell freely, and develop into large deep 
blooms with broader petals than will those buds taken a fortnight earlier, 
and which often require the warmest end of the house to induce them to 
unfold in time for showing. 
When I saw the note by Mr. Taylor on Grape stands I thought how 
applicable it was to Chrysanthemums. All societies do not stipulate as 
to size ; Leicester did not last year, and I believe I have seen large 
boards at other places. It is certainly desirable that all exhibitors 
should be placed on the same footing. Sometimes it simplifies judging. 
Occasionally competing stands of blooms are contrasted instead of each 
bloom being pointed, and as the one on the small stands cover the 
boards best a mistake in the awards may occur. 
Lastly, Mr. Woodcock, speaking of varieties, advised topping. Mrs. 
J. Clark—was not Mrs. E. W. Clark meant? I find the former crown bud 
comes at the right time, while the latter bears out the decision I came 
to last year, that it is one of a few that must be assisted in its early 
stages.— Samuel Backhouse, Onslow Gardens, Shrewsbury. 
MANURING. 
(Continued from page 327.) 
Organic matter to a certain extent must be present in all so'ls for 
the manufacture of nitrogeneous substances needed by the crops. If 
pasture land the soil adds to its stores of nitrogen, and the gardener’s 
love of turf is due to its containing nitrogeneous elements in full 
quantity for present use and enough for subsequent manufacture ; but 
turf will not keep on yielding nitrogenous substances for ever, and it i3 
not straining any point when we say that nitrogen cannot be made out 
of the best loam so as to serve any crop indefinitely. Pasture land will 
only add to its stores of nitrogen whilst it contains a sufficiency of 
potash and phosphoric acid. The everlasting use of stable manure on 
Vine borders fills the soil with an excess of acids, and the crops of 
Grapes shank at a tremendous rate. Vine borders, like pastures, only 
assimilate nitrogen when they contain a proper quantity of ash elements 
—potash, lime, and phosphoric acid. Poverty stricken Vines “jump” 
when treated with blood manure. Those that are sappy, long jointed in 
wood, and have an inherent tendency to lack colour and shank in their 
crops, are revolutionised by dressings of superphosphates. Lawns that 
will scarcely grow anything but moss will yield abundant verdure in 
Clover. Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) will grow on soil which 
through acidity will hardly support a blade of grass. These facts are 
the result of causes in the soil or plants. Which? Both! Perhaps, 
but that is no answer, for the object of chemistry is to explain the 
natural laws by which plants are governed, so that the gardener and 
farmer may apply them in their cultures. 
To this phase, of our subject we now address ourselves, and we shall 
only premise that the classes of plants with which the cultivator has to 
deal are :—1, Those which live on the nitrogen of the soil and the 
nitrogen of manures alone ; and, 2, those which can turn to account 
not only the nitrogen of soils and manures, but also those of atmospheric 
air. These are the problems science has set itself to teach, and which 
practice has exemplified to be of uncommon importance. Professor 
Hellriegel’s researches have proved with absolute certainty that the 
nitrogen of atmospheric air is made use of by certain plants, and 
assimilated by them, as already described in respect of Clover. Pro¬ 
fessor Wagner, also, by scientific investigations, has succeeded in solving 
some important questions relative the use of nitrogeneous manures, 
which clearly define the principles on which they may be applied in 
manuring garden and field crops. These experiments prove that cereals, 
Potatoes and Tomatoes, Turnips, and all kinds of Cabbages or Brassicas 
(including Cress, Mustard, Radish, Seakale, Horseradish, as well as 
Broccoli and Cauliflowers), Lettuce, also Chicory, Salsafyaud Scorzonera, 
Buckwheat and Rhubarb, are incapable of taking nitrogen from atmo- 
pheric air, but consume the nitrogen of the soil and manure, extracting 
the garden’s or farm’s store of nitrogen. Vines and all fruit trees are 
also nitrogen consumers. All these plants require nitrogenous manures 
to enable them to produce the greatest and best possible crop at the least 
expense. 
Against these nitrogen-consuming plants the gardener and farmer 
has to set the nitrogen-increasing plants. These comprise Peas, Beans, 
A'etches, Clover, and all other leguminaceous plants, which take nitrogen 
from atmospheric air. All plants of that class do not ordinarily require 
nitrogenous manures, consequently do not diminish the soil’s store of 
nitrogen, nor take from the gardener’s or farmer’s capital of manure, 
but augment the one and save the other. They, as explained under 
Clover, assimilate nitrogen from the atmosphere, and carry it in the form 
of roots and stubble into the soil. Some of course finds its way, in the 
shape of hay or fodder, into the stable or stall ; but notwithstanding 
that one crop of these plants, say Clover, is taken off the ground, the 
soil is left richer in nitrogen by the roots and stubble than had a crop of 
cereals been taken with manure. This because the Clover is capable 
of extracting nitrogen from atmospheric air, and thus supplying this 
valuable substance to the soil gratis. Some parts of the hay crop, with 
an addition of other manurial elements, finds its way to the soil again, 
yet this seldom occurs to benefit the same soil in an ordinary system of 
rotation. Indeed, the agricultural interest demands something more 
speedy and substantial, therefore the farmer pens sheep on the second 
crop of Clover, consuming it with or without cake, the mutton is trans¬ 
ported, whilst the soil has returned to it its equivalent in nitrogenous 
yielding substances, and it is in splendid condition for yielding the follow¬ 
ing year an abundant crop of Wheat. This saves labour, and the green 
crop eaten on is infinitely superior as manure to double the quantity of 
fodder eaten off the land, and requiring carting off and on to the land 
again. One half or more of all stable or farmyard manure is lost as 
regards its nitrogenous elements in the making. Thus the farmer 
reduces his manuring with nitrogen to a minimum by manuring the 
land for cereals with the nitrogen of the air, dispensing to a great 
extent with the nitrogen of manure dealers, and is able to invest in 
superphosphates, whereby weight is given to the grain of the Wheat 
crops. 
Nitrogen extracted from the atmosphere enables the cultivator to 
expend more money on manures that nourish crops which will give the 
most profitable returns without having nitrogen supplied to them by the 
soil, and no plant of this class—namely, cereals, roots, and Potatoes, 
will produce a full yield if in want of nitrogenous nourishment. It is 
patent, however, that the agriculturist must secure much atmospheric 
nitrogen by growing much leguminous fodder, and keep many cattle, con¬ 
suming as much as possible of the crops on the land, reserving no more of 
these crops for eating off the ground than is absolutely necessary for the 
winter feeding of stock, for it is easier and far more profitable to transport 
cattle than bulky crops off and manure on to the land. Growing fodder 
and feeding off the land is the way not to do it, yet some farmyard 
manure is an absolute necessity for the growth of Mangolds, Turnips, 
and Potatoes, but the more of the two former are consumed on the 
ground the more economical is the system of manuring, because much 
more nitrogenous manure is put into the soil at much less cost. Growing 
fodder and feeding cattle with it off the ground is one of the most 
