March 4, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
in a few words the main points which I have attempted to explain or 
illustrate : — 
1. That if the elements needed for the food of the gardener's or horti¬ 
culturist’s crops cannot be obtained in sufficient quantity from stable 
manure or other animal waste, they can be procured in the trade in un¬ 
limited quantity, and in every degree of availability depending on different 
grades of solubility, and in the greatest variety of mixtures, so as to suit 
any whim or fancy of crop or crop-grower. 
2. That profitable crop-growing can be carried on, for many years at 
least, with these commercial fertilisers alone. 
3. That the mo3t evident distinction between stable manure and com¬ 
mercial fertilisers, and the distinction upon which we should therefore 
naturally base an explanation of the greater reliability of the former, is its 
large proportion of vegetable matter, or humus-forming material, of which 
commercial fertilisers contain practically none. 
4. That soils contain, in a difficultly soluble condition, and therefore not 
easily fed upon by the crops, large supplies of all the needed elements of 
plant food. 
5. That humus, through its decay in the soil, furnishes carbonic acid, 
among other solvent agents; and this carbonic acid appears to play an 
important part in the nourishment of crops by by bringing the native 
insoluble stock of plant food within their easy reach. 
6. That even if we add water-soluble plant food to the soil it becomes 
largely insoluble before the crop can feed upon it, or needs it; therefore 
soluble plant food added to the soil in commercial fertilisers needs also the 
help of the humus, finally, for its solution. 
7. That plant food in most animal and vegetable residues used as 
manures costs much less than in commercial manures. 
8. That, in spite of the disadvantages which, under some conditions, 
attend the use of commercial fertilisers, they are nevertheless a very 
important and necessary help in crop-growing. 
9. That in using these fertilisers the wisest course appears to be to make 
one’s own mixtures of the raw materials, as well for securing a better 
manure as for economy in first cost. 
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES. 
At the weekly meeting of the Astwooi Amateur Gardeners’ Society, 
on Monday last, Mr. J. Hiam resumed the discussion on this subject. The 
last reference in the Journal to canker was to the effect that it was doubt¬ 
less owing to bad drainage and cold clay subsoil. This theory was com¬ 
pletely rebutted by individual cases mentioned one after another by Mr. 
Hiam, and from a specimen tree brought to the meeting. It was pointed 
out, for instance, that some of the worst specimens of cankered trees in the 
neighbourhood stood in marl banks 20 or 30 feet above the road, on cut¬ 
tings through embankments ; one, for instance, could be seen on the top 
of Mussy Hill, where no bad drainage could have occurred since the 
flood ; or on the borders of marl pits with many of the large roots actually 
out of the ground from the earth shivering down with the frost, while 
perfectly healthy trees were growing within a few yards. Also that per¬ 
fectly healthy trees in his orchard, 4 feet 6 inches in circumference at the 
butt, had not had their roots disturbed since they were planted forty 
years ago, whose roots were doubtless in the “ cold clay,” or they would 
have been blown away, while other young and otherwise healthy trees 
whose roots were in good old loam were killed even before they began to 
bear. He pointed out further on in the same article referred to that 
eoftsoap was used to kill American blight, and of course it killed the other 
insects which have so repeatedly been referred to, which do not appear to 
have a name. They were again shown as specimens. The feeling of the 
meeting appeared to be unanimous that there was no doubt whatever that 
insects caused the wounds, and that insecticides were the prevention and 
the cure.—J. H. 
LONDON’S LESSER OPEN SPACES—THEIR TREES AND 
PLANTS.—No. 7. 
Passing through St. James’s Park, as I wa3 “stepping westward,” 
I noticed a little group engaged in the survey of an old Elm which had 
just been grubbed up. It appeared, however, that the persons were not 
lamenting its removal, but speculating as to its age and the quantity of 
wood it contained. I have repeatedly observed that, iu regard to the age 
of trees, those who are ignorant of arboriculture are apt to make conjec¬ 
tures of the wildest sort. As wild are the exclamations some folks indulge 
in when from time to time decayed trunks are removed from the West 
End parks. Of course one regrets that they must go, but there are many 
about the parks that have already been too long reprieved, for they have 
hollowed blanches actually dangerous during a gale. Doubtless all these 
might be lopped off, but where is the beauty of a mere trunk, and, should 
the tree be an Elm, that is liable to be suddenly uprooted ? Our London 
Elms suffer much from the weakening attacks of the boring caterpillar of 
the goat moth, which might be even more troublesome were it not for the 
London sparrows. These dart down upon both male and female moths as 
they fly amongst the trees, and as each female contains about 800 eggs, 
every one that is killed settles a goodly number of embryo caterpillars. 
So enclosed was it with walls and the rear premises of dwellings that 
few persons passing by had any knowledge of the extent of ground in 
Chelsea Park, or of the magnificent trees there ; some few are spared, 
but the many have succumbed to the builder. Ten years ago one could 
there survey an avenue of Elms not, I think, to be rivalled anywhere 
about the neighbourhood of London, and many handsome Poplars. Of the 
rows of Mulberries planted in Chelsea for the purpose of silk production 
no trace remains. At one time Mulberries were numerous in London 
gardens, even near the heart of the City. But it does not seem to be a 
tree planted now, though it will live on tolerably well amid smoke and 
fog, as witness sundry aged specimens I have seen removed within the 
last twenty years, and yet a few exist, which may possibly be above 250 
years old. Long was there cherished the Mulberry of the ancient Manor 
Garden at Chelsea, under which sat Queen Boss, so the tradition goes, to 
learn her tasks. Its place is lost, but we know the spot where her Elm once 
stood on the outskirts of the Park, which sheltered her under a sudden 
shower of summer. 
Chelsea is not badly off for open spaces now, in or near it, though the 
Chelsea men let their Common go and the Park is laid waste, and 
Cremorne Gardens built over, also the ground attaohed to the old Pavilion, 
ground memorable because it had some of the picturesque work of 
Capability Brown. 
Just on the edge of Chelsea—in fact, once reckoned as part thereof 
before the names of Pimlico or Belgravia appeared—was the farm of 
Aybury or Ebury, formerly with extensive market gardens, which 
diminished at last to the central space of Ebury Square ; this, after 
struggling awhile as a nursery, was made into a recreation ground, much 
needed by the dwellers thereabout, but in truth it is not very attractive, 
perhaDS for want of funds. The smallness of the space forbids the idea 
of much tree-planting, therefore it is desirable to make the enclosure 
bright with flowers as far as possible, or at least with cheerful-looking 
shrubs. Owing to the protection from rough winds that plants have in 
some suburban districts, it is easy to keep a few autumn species blooming 
until we are hailed by those that are spring pioneers. In such places as 
Ebury Square, Everlastings, particularly Helichrysums, would flourish 
and last on a good while, so would some Pansies and the familiar Convol¬ 
vulus. The dwarf dark-leaved Beet would also be an attractive plant, 
standing moderate frosts. Lobelias of various kinds are getting to be 
freely introduced in these smaller spaces, and certainly with advantage. 
Another hint I gleaned from this square, which I throw out for the 
gardeners of similar spots, and that is when your grass does not incline to 
grow well the simpler the outlines of the flower beds surrounded by it the 
better. Prefer squares or circles to designs of varied lines or angles, 
which only make the poorness of the grass more obvious. 
Those who may wish to see London evergreens to advantage may be 
advised some time in the dull season to visit the Royal Hospital Gardens, 
Chelsea. Not that this place offers any number of choice or unusual sorts. 
Wellingtonias, Deodars, and others no strangers to us, are conspicuous by 
their absence only, but the older favourites muster well, and the walks in 
that part of the gardens near the Bridge Road are agreeably sheltered by 
mounds and banks of evergreens, perhaps here and there too closely set; 
and it may be because some of these thrive where the less sombre species 
seem to flag, that there is an array of the dark Yews, Cypresses, Thujas, 
Firs, Junipers, Bays, and varieties of the Box. There are fine examples 
of the Japan and Cherry Laurel, of the Barberry and Sumach, inter¬ 
mingled with Hollies, many of which doubtless surpass their companions 
in age if not in size. As elsewhere, so much partiality has been shown 
to the Privet that it is used not only for hedgerows, but also placed in 
clumps; it seldom puts out any flowers when growing in London, even if 
not subjected to the frequent clipping sometimes inflicted upon it. The 
Laurustinus is another shrub that is generally prevented from blossoming 
by the town atmosphere. In what is called the Governor’s Court the 
central space contains a group of large shrub3, almost trees some of them, 
that may have been planted at an early date of Her Majesty’s reign, 
surrounding an antique summerhouse, and these evergreens show the 
advantage of the screen from the north-east wind which a pile of buildings 
gives on contrasting them with others on the bleak boundary of the 
gardens. Along the south terraces towards the Thames the beds contain 
a good show of flowers during the summer, but they look bare to a 
February visitor. Some of the old pensioners greatly interest themselves 
in the little plots of garden they are allowed to cultivate, and they manage 
to gain a trifle by selling to visitors pots of Musk, Pelargoniums, &c. 
Quite recently the last of the Ranelaghs, a man better known to 
London volunteers than to gardeners, was laid to rest in Brompton 
Cemetery. Few strollers about the Hospital gardens call to mind his 
ancestor who died in 1733 possessor of a Chelsea estate, a nobleman, too, 
who had distinguished himself as a patron of horticulture, with a turn for 
experimenting. When the Government acquired the property a part of 
Viscount Ranelagh’s grounds was added to the east side of the above 
gardens ; part became streets and roads. The name of Wilderness Row was 
for awhile a reminiscence of a plot which, according to the Georgian 
fashion, was planted to exhibit a natural wildness. Nearly all the trees 
hereabout show signs of being younger than his lordship’s time, the possible 
exceptions are some White Poplars and Elms. Toe soil here is well adapted 
for species of the Poplar family, also of course for Willows ; and near 
the Thames bank were formerly many Willows, one walk specially a 
favourite, beside which ran a streamlet, fed by springs within these 
gardens, but this has dried up, and its shading Willows are gone. There 
yet remains, however, that somewhat peculiar double line of old Elms, 
the branches of which wore tied back when the trees were young, so that 
they now present odd angles as they bend down from the trunks. Ash 
trees, so common in Pimlico Gardens, are scarce about Chelsea. 
Fronting the Royal Hospital is a square space open to the public called 
Burton’s Court. There are rows of Limes; the avenue down the middle ha3 
the finest and oldest trees. They were planted at a time when there was a 
scheme afloat for forming a grand avenue of thesi and other trees to 
extend from Chelsea to the Palace of Kensington. A number of the 
Limes in this spice have the curious disfigurement I have elsewhere seen 
—viz., a seam or cleft reaching from the base of the tree almost to its top 
