404 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 12,1891. 
season, surface-cracking being with the greatest difficulty prevented. 
Just now the ground is in an exceptionally wet and cold state for 
the time of year, and no vegetable will suffer from this excess of 
moisture and absence of sunshine more than Asparagus. To 
mulch the beds would, in our case at all events, only aggravate the 
evil, and from personal observation I am of opinion that there is 
not a single Asparagus bed within a radius of twelve miles that 
would not be better without than with a mulching of manure. 
When the surface of the beds are merely cleared of dead Asparagus 
growths and weeds, not being deeply loosened in any way, very 
much of the rain that falls passes away freely, the worms’ runs 
greatly assisting in this desirable end ; whereas if the surface is 
loosened it becomes most absorbent, and far wetter and colder 
in consequence. It is not manure so much as warmth and a 
moderate amount of moisture that Asparagus stands in need 
of, and I hold that heavy autumn or early winter dressings of 
rich manure is both wasteful and, as I have attempted to prove, 
injurious. 
There are yet other objections to be urged against these mulch¬ 
ings of manure. Asparagus needs a free open surface in the 
spring, but if there is any clay in the composition of the soil 
excluding frosts it is a sure way of sealing over the surface. 
Exposed to all weathers, including winter frosts and March winds, 
the surface becomes well pulverised, and therefore more amenable 
to the form of surface culture I am about to advocate. Once more, 
however, let me repeat, no one need be afraid of any injury frosts 
may do the roots, as I failed to note the loss of a single plant last 
winter, and yet there was no mulching or protection of any kind 
afforded. Another advantage derived from leaving the surface of 
the beds uncovered is the check this must give to slugs. On clayey 
land especially the latter invariably prove very troublesome, and a 
mulching of manure gives them just the kind of shelter and breed¬ 
ing quarters that suits them well. I do not assert that slugs are 
easily caught napping by frosts, but on the contrary, they seem 
only too capable of taking care of themselves, burying deeply or 
otherwise working into snug quarters whenever severe forsts 
are imminent. One thing is very certain—they are always 
the most plentiful in beds that have been dressed with solid 
manure. 
The question that now arises is this—-If the beds are not to be 
manured in the autumn or early winter months, when are they to 
be attended to ? Well, as I have previously stated, it is not such a 
vast amount of manure that is required, and in any case better 
results in most instances attend the application of artificial or 
special manures than by the use of solid manure. What is the use 
of applying so much solid manure when its effects are not 
unfrequently to destroy many roots and to poison the ground ? 
My advice to those who have long adopted the plan I have con¬ 
demned, unless indeed they are perfectly satisfied with the results, 
is to discontinue it for at least one season, being content to fork in 
a liberal dressing of newly slacked lime, three bushels to the 
square rod being none too much. The late Mr. Shirley Hibberd 
proved to demonstration that Asparagus is greatly benefited by a 
free use of lime or lime rubbish mixed with the soil, and most 
gardeners are well aware what an excellent corrective of sourness 
and over-richness an occasional surface dressing of lime proves. 
Salt would appear to be the only fertiliser other than solid manure 
that many growers think it necessary to use, but it is by no means 
indispensable ; and if the soil is of a clayey nature applications of 
it are very likely to do more harm than good. It makes the clay 
run badly, and to hold far more moisture than is good for Asparagus. 
Guano is a far safer and, in many cases, a much more effective 
manure, two dressings in the spring, the last being given not later 
than May at the rate of 2 lbs. to the square rod, answers well, and 
so do several of the advertised prepared manures. Lightly forked 
or stirred into the surface there will be no waste, rains washing the 
quickly soluble parts down to the active roots well spread through¬ 
out the sweet and genial soil below. These manures, and the 
dressing of lime in particular, are very destructive to the slugs, and 
prevent the loss of many valuable early shoots, as well as the 
skinning of the stems of late reserved growths. 
Asparagus crowns ought not to be located quite up to the 
surface, a depth of 3 inches or rather more of fine light soil pro¬ 
tecting and otherwise improving the young shoots. Instead, 
therefore, of giving annual dressings of solid manure the better 
plan is to substitute the artificial or other manures already alluded 
to, followed by a good surfacing of fine light soil, such, for 
instance, as sifted old potting soil, leaf soil, spent tan, fine peat, 
old Mushroom bed manure, soil from the surface of Melon 
and Cucumber beds, ashes, fine mortar rubbish, all or a portion of 
them in mixture, drawing the line, though, at anything likely to 
be full of weed seeds. A liberal dressing of such material will 
exclude a certain amount of frost, thereby saving many early 
shoots, the latter and “ grass ” generally drawing up through 
without any check, and he can be readily traced to the crowns and 
twisted off without injury to later growths. This loose material 
also proves an excellent preventive of rapid loss of moisture in hot 
dry weather. —W. Iggulden. 
NOTES ON SOME OF THE NEWER ROSES. 
(Continued from page 392.) 
Teas. 
Cleopatra (Bennett, 1889).—As maiden dwarfs this Rose was dis¬ 
appointing. It very often came with a double centre, which always 
seems a great pity, and the second growth has been very weak—mere 
spray. I expect that it will be better, like many others, on standard 
stocks not too strong. 
Ernest Metz (Guillot, 1888).—I am in hopes this will do pretty well 
as a dwarf. It was very little shown this year, but ought to come to 
the front next season, as it makes comparatively good growth, and 
a fair amount of buds for propagation can be found. 
Ethel Broionlow (A. Dickson, 1887).—I am surprised that this is 
not shown more. The form of the flower is most excellent. It can be 
grown of sufficient size, and under favourable circumstances it makes 
good growth, but in this last respect it seems uncertain. I have lately 
cut some lovely buttonholes of this sort. 
Lady Castlereagh- (A. Dickson, 1888) must surely be dismissed as a 
failure. 
Madame IToste (Guillot, 1887) holds its own well. Of capital growth, 
large size, good form, and beautiful colour when shaded, its sole reproach 
is that it is rather too thin for hot weather. 
Madame Pierre Guillot (Guillot, 1S88).—This is too full a Tea Rose to 
come to any good in such a season as the past one. It appears to have 
good capabilities, and I hope we may see it in its true character next year. 
Mrs. James Wilson (A. Dickson, 1889).—An excellent grower, of 
quite unique habit. My plants have all made strong secondary shoots 
this autumn. It is something like Marie Van Houtte in colour, but 
quite distinguishable. I have not, however, had any blooms that merited 
a higher title than “ pretty,” as it is not quite up to the mark in size, 
and barely perhaps of first-class form. 
Princess Beatrice (Bennett, 1887), which, though hardly of full size, 
is very fine early in a dry hot time, has unusual “ manners and customs” 
for a Tea Rose. It grows fast and strong early, blooms in June, and— 
voila tout ! The rest of the season it simply exists ; a considerable 
percentage of the plants make no further move whatever, and under any 
circumstances that I have seen the secondary growth is very weak. In 
a less degree Cleopatra seems to have this habit ; it is a very undesirable 
one, and strangely different from that of Tea Roses in general. 
Sappho (W. Paul & Son, 1889).—I saw some nice blooms of this Rose 
at Mr. F. Cant’s, but it was too late in the season to form a judgment of 
its qualities for exhibition. 
Of the new Roses shown at the Crystal Palace Mr. W. Paul’s 
Corinna, T., was, I thought, well worthy of notice. Some said it was 
like Princess of Wales, but it appeared to me quite distinct. It is not, 
I find, yet in commerce, and I hope Mr. Paul will show it again for 
the gold medal. Mr. G. Paul’s C. Gater (H.P.) was bright, and is, 
I hope, good ; but it looked like a weak grower. Lord Penzance’s 
exhibits of hybrid Sweet Briars were interesting, but 1 was surprised to 
see the very little improvement made. Out of (I think) a dozen 
different hybrids no distinction from the common Sweet Briar was 
observable, except just the colour. Perhaps there is a desire to keep 
these hybrids single, but in addition to there being no increase in the 
number of petals there was no apparent advance in their size or stout¬ 
ness. He exhibited, however, one hybrid—Rob Roy, a seedling from 
Village Maid, which was calculated to attract attention. Four or five 
flowers of it were shown, and all were very poor except one, and that 
was quite a good bloom of its sort. It was of the Marchioness of 
Dufferin shape—even, solid, and smooth. Had it stood alone it might 
have won commendation ; but its companions (brothers and sisters) 
detracted much from its value. 
Mr. W. Paul is issuing, from the American firm of Wood & Co., a 
Rose I have not seen—Waban, a darker sport from Catherine Mermet. 
Sports to a lighter shade are generally the best, but it is difficult to 
see how one from Catherine Mermet can be anything but a good Rose. 
Another American sport from the same variety—Ruby Gold, with a 
most attractive description—a “Catherine Mermet” with shadings 
of Marechal Niel and Old Gold, is in one or two catalogues, but from 
inquiries I have made I think it has not yet bloomed satisfactorily in 
England. It is all very well to say a Rose is of the shape of our champion 
Tea (see “ E. M.’s ” analysis), but an actual Mermet with yellow shadings 
and blendings sounds grand inde;d. Let us hope it will prove so. 
It is gratifying to find an increasing number of English names 
every year among the new Roses, and that Great Britain with Ireland 
(long may they be united, at least in their love for the Rose) can now 
well hold their own against France and the continent. 
