February 25, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
slood in the entrance hall six weeks at a stretch in the autumn. Occa¬ 
sionally they have been used for dinner table and drawing-room decoration, 
dont useful service at harvest and other festivals, and a year or two ago 
went up to London for the season, With all their hardships they always 
wear that cheerful deep green hue that “A. T.” alludes to. When at 
home they stand in the shadiest corner of the stove, and a dose of a mixture 
of softsoap and petroleum keeps them clean. 
When rooms, entrances, and passages of a mansion are required to be 
decorated six months of the year it is useless to rely on tender subjects, 
but plants of a lasting as well as of a bold and effective character should 
be grown. I place Palms first as the best decorative plants, especially 
Kentia Belmoreana and Phoenix rupicula. Curculigo recurvata is very 
good, also Ficus elastica with single or three or four stems. Acalypha 
Macafeeana is a fine distinct plant with large bright-coloured foliage, 
which lasts a long time in a warm room, a good quality which cannot be 
said of A. musaica. Oreopanax nymphsefolia is one of the plants that 
cannot be killed. As its specific name implies, it has large glossy leaves. 
Anthurium crystallinum is A1 for brackets or where a one-sided plant is 
wanted. Cupressus funebris in its young state is a capital plant of a 
columnar habit and very pleasing shade of green. The list could be 
lengthened, but these will give an idea of what I mean. We do not use 
the conventional Dracenas, they remind one too much of the conserved 
plants you can buy at so much per yard.— Dalesman. 
LIME FOR VINE BORDERS—ANALYSIS OF SOIL. 
I WAS sorry to see Mr. Bardney’s name attached to such an article as 
that on page 104. Discussion may improve all concerned, personalities 
never. If my motive for writing had been what Mr. Bardney insinuates, 
which I deny, it matters little so that the information is correct; and if he 
can supply any hints likely to prove useful in the study of qualitative 
analysis, many, no doubt, would be grateful, whether given to air his 
knowledge or for the public good. My impression on reading his first 
article was that many people, amateurs especially, would be led into a 
reckless use of lime not to be counselled. 
Because a kitchen garden poisoned with manure is improved by a 
heavy dressing of caustic lime, doe3 not prove it to be advisable to apply 
lime in that state to Vine borders, and in such a quantity a9 to whiten the 
soil. I believe such a quantity of lime in a new border would cau=e the 
rapid decay of all vegetable matter, and a large amount of the fertilising 
matter set free would be washed away. If I were called upon to con¬ 
struct a Vine border with turf cut from a sandstone formation, instead 
of giving lime in the form of powdered carbonate of calcium, or what 
would soon assume that form—slaked lime, and so destroy the turf, I 
would use phosphate of calcium in the form of bones, whole, or nearly so, 
which would preserve the turf as long as possible, and yield a supply of 
lime for many years. Nitrogen and potash could be given as a liquid. 
I may mention that fresh bones are the best, as they will yield much 
nitrogenous food. 
If slaked lime is applied it would be better as a top-dressing, but not 
in the way Mr. Bardney advises. If lime is mixed with partially decayed 
or readily soluble substances containing ammonia, the ammonia would be 
liberated and escape into the air, as anyone may prove by dissolving a 
handful of sulphate of ammonia or guano in a little water, and then mix 
a handful of lime with it. It would be better to give the lime first, and 
wash it in before applying the compost. Mr. Bardney says, “ Vine 
borders dressed annually with manure contain much humus ; ” again I 
differ from him. After having a year’s washing, and all the readily 
soluble constituents taken from it, most of the remains are raked off, so 
that there is little humus left, and the value of lime in a Vine border 
should be chiefly that of a manure, and not as a solvent of inert matter. 
Respecting the kitchen garden, of course the cost of phosphate of calcium 
in any form would prevent its use except in spec ; al case 
Ordinary lime is easily procurable and cheap, but it is liable to be 
overdone, and so set at liberty more food than is necessary, which will be 
washed into the subsoil and drains and be lost. I should consider eighty 
to a hunlred bushels a gool dressing, but it should not be buried deeply. 
The ground should have been dug first and the lime pricked in, as lime 
has a natural tendency to sink, and care should always be taken when 
applying manure to dig it in before putting on the lime, that no ammonia 
be lost. As an after dressing about fifteen bushels every alternate year 
would be enough, and likely to produce good results, and would save 
much manure, lime, and labour. 
Where chalk is procurable 1 should prefer it to caustic lime, as its 
action, though similar, is milder and lasts much longer. 
Since writing the above I have se j n “ Thinker’s ” statement. Does he 
apply his lime, not like Mr. B irdney, or is it exposed to the air a week 
before digging it in ?—A. L. G. 
SOWING WRINKLED PEAS EARLY. 
At page 109 your correspondent “ LaGiyrus” tells your readers I am 
in error in Pea culture. Not ten yards from where I am writing I have 
a border of early Peas now just breaking the ground. They are all round 
seeds except one, and this is Early Bird (Burbury’s). The whole have 
come up well except that, of which there are not ten peas up in each row, 
and the variety is the only one with wrinkled seed. I have yet to 
learn that half a pint of several new or recent varieties produce an equal 
crop to more than a quart of some fairly good varieties. Having 
grown the majority of the new Peas that have been sent out during the 
last twenty years, I can now confidently assert that no Pea of recent 
introduction, either for colour, produce, or flavour, can equal the three 
following—Standard, G. F. Wilson, or Omega, all of which have been 
before the public for at least ten years.— Kitchener. 
MILDEW. 
I WAS pleased to read on page 88 that “ H. 0. W." had proved the 
value of lime and sulphur as a preventive of mildew ; I have been 
successful with it, but the strength I use it differs from his. 
We have a Marechal Niel Rose trained to the roof of a greenhouse 
which was very subject to the disease, but after a few applications at the 
strength given below, the only traces of mildew were the black patches 
in the leaves where they had been attacked before. I have not had time 
to practise much with it in the open air, but under glass in the vineries, 
orchard house, and amongst Roses I have used it with the most beneficial 
results. The quantity I make is 2 lbs. of flowers of sulphur, 2 lbs. of 
unslaked lime, adding ten quarts of rain water, boiling it twenty minutes, 
well stirring it all the time; let it stand till cold, then bottle and cork 
down, using at the rate of one wineglassful to three gallons of water. It 
is necessary to attend well to the stirring process while boiling, otherwise 
the sulphur will not mix with the lime and water, and as “ H. C. W.” 
observes, should be used in the evening. If the first application does.not 
destroy, it should be repeated occasionally, until it has the desired 
effect. 
When used in the houses the mixture always discolours the paint and 
woodwork where it touches, and unlesB syringed off with clear water 
whilst fresh, will require scrubbing off afterwards.—G. W. CUMMINS. 
A GARDENING TOUR. 
Many horticulturists were attracted by business or pleasure to the 
great Exhibition at Antwerp last year, and a number of these visitors like 
myself took advantage of the opportunity thus afforded, and extended 
their journey to the principal towns of horticultural importance in 
Belgium. There was a time when such a trip would have been regarded 
as a considerable undertaking ; but there are now so many routes by which 
the Continent can be reached, the service of steamers is so good, the 
passage so quick, and the fare so moderate, that a journey thither is 
looked upon as an ordinary occurrence, and is a part of many persons’ 
common business routine. Still, to the young Britisher who first crosses 
the ocean there is much novelty and interest even in a visit to such near 
neighbours as the Belgians, which is rendered still more enjoyable by the 
friendly welcome all concerned in gardening are certain to receive. Nor 
can an observing man spend a week or so there without gaining some 
useful additions to his knowledge, for though we can see few private 
gardens kept in the style we are accustomed to in our own little island, 
yet commercial gardening is carried out on a most extensive and economical 
scale. Rapidity of propagation and quick growth are the prevailing 
rules at these very numerous establishments, and it may be safely said 
that many a useful lesson has been learnt in them by home nurserymen. 
Indeed a period spent in such continental “ factories ” is considered as an 
indispensable portion of the education of our rising young nurserymen. 
In other respects some advantages resu't from a visit to our neighbours, 
for a stranger cannot be in the country long without being impressed 
with the business aptitude, the industry, and the commercial solidity of 
the people; there is also an enthusiasm in most undertakings which is 
quite refreshing after the phlegmatic way in which we conduct affairs. 
This is well seen in the numerous societies, meetings, and exhibitions, the 
latter being substantially supported by both Government and townsfolk, 
and invested with an importance that they never seem to have in this 
country. Horticulture is regarded as one of the leading industries, and 
iu consequence holds a high position amongst the trades and professions. 
That it pays for the encouragement it receives is evident from the 
enormous business in plants transacted not only with Great Britain, but 
with America, France, and Germany. The country seems to be a great 
nursery for the Continent generally, and it would be difficult to estimate 
the amount of exports t > the principal countries. Azaleas and Palms, 
however, certainly run into millions, and one firm alone grows at least a 
million Palms, while acres of Azaleas can be seen planted out. These 
are only items in the trade, but give an idea of what horticulture is in 
Belgium. It has however been repeatedly described, and the older 
readers of this Journal are familiar with numerous instructive and enter¬ 
taining articles from an able writer. I can therefore only advise them to 
pass the following rambling notes, which are written for the new readers 
or non-travellers who have n .t had an opportunity of inspecting conti¬ 
nental gardens and nurseries. My programme may serve as a guide to 
those who are meditating a similar tour during the coming spring or 
summer, and for the r benefit my jottings will not be exclusively 
technical. 
ANTWERP. 
Steaming slowly up the “ lazy Scheldt,” as Goldsmith termed it, we 
sighted the cathedral tower of Antwerp late in the evening of a brilliant 
summer’s day. We had a delightful passage from Harwich in one of the 
Great Eastern Riilway Company’s commodious vessels, and it was almost 
with a feeling of regret that the very uninteresting river was entered. It 
was the first dav passige of the season, and, except where economy of 
time is an object, I should greatly prefer this mode of crossing the German 
Ocean, for in fine weather nothing could be more enjoyable Some friends 
who feared the mil de mer selected the shorter sea routes, but they are not 
always the least troublesome in that respect, and if Antwerp is the desti¬ 
nation it necessitates a long train j urney after landing. The Great 
