ftngnst 22, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
is already at the service of the plant, the dormant is waiting to be 
taken up or set at liberty by the action of some of the constituents 
of the manure applied, or by the action of the oxygen of the air. 
The inactive is only made active by long cultivation, or by the 
application of strong manures. 
By my first process, above described, endeavour is made to bring 
dhese different ingredients into active plant food. The nitro- 
•genous matter in the manure takes up more oxygen and hydrogen 
and unites with the sodium and forms nitrate of soda, &c. ; it is 
"the same with sulphur, phosphorus, and others. When the soil is 
-again dry or trenched, those elements that have not united are 
■brought up to the air to be decomposed and to unite with the fresh 
'ingredients put on the land the second time, and those elements 
"that have been oxidised carried down to unite there with any 
bases of metals necessary. When I said that if some of the ground 
is left over till required so much the better, I had in my mind that 
if the fresh manure dug in was not washed out straw, a constant 
supply of carbonic acid would be given off for the plant to use at 
once, the soil would be full of oxygen and nitrogen, and finally 
the soil would be more porous for the air to penetrate. We all 
■know what progress plants make when the soil is disturbed amongst 
4hem. 
I am convinced on the point of manures that they are useless 
to a certain extent unless proper means are used to preserve the 
vegetable-producing qualities in them. No garden should be 
without a good covered shed or yard for cows or covered-in pigsty. 
It should be large enough for all the manure as it is made by the 
■animals to be heaped, over this heap cesspool water should be 
poured in sufficient quantity to moisten it through, and all garden 
and stable refuse thrown into the rest of the stye and kept damp 
•enough, so that it will decay, and in its turn be thrown on the 
'heap. 
I have steered as clear as possible from technical nomen¬ 
clature, so that my remarks may be intelligible to those not 
•versed in chemistry. That I could have written an article perhaps 
more taking to some by giving a long account of artificial manures 
-and their effects I doubt not, but that is not my object. I want 
-to prove that all the advantages do not lie on the side of such 
manures, and that as good produce can be grown without them as 
'with them. I will do my best to improve on this in a future 
communication. — G-. A. Bishop, Gardener to W. Howard, Esq., 
'The Grove, Teddington. 
SAFFRON. 
The following additional notes on the Saffron, gleaned from various 
■sources, may be of interest to the readers of the Journal:— 
It is highly probable that it was at one time cultivated pretty widely 
vn the southern English countries, as in addition to the town of Saffron 
Walden receiving its name from its connection with Saffron culture, 
Saffron Hill in London, formerly part of the Bishop of Ely’s Holborn 
[gardens, was also named on account of being celebrated for its growth ; 
and Mr. Thiselton Dyer in his “Folk Lore of Plants ” (p. 139) says, 
“ In Devonshire it may be noted that this plant is used to denote any¬ 
thing of value, and it is related of a farmer near Exeter who, when 
•praising a certain farm, remarked, “’Tis a very pretty little place ; he’d 
Tet so clear as Saffron.” The same author cites the proverb, “ You set 
•Saffron and there came up Wolfsbane,” as being used regarding actions 
which produce unexpected and unwislied-for results. It is to be re¬ 
gretted that no indication is given as to the locality in which this 
proverb is current. 
It would be interesting to know if it is still grown for trade pur¬ 
poses in England ; and Mr. H. G-. Adams in “ Wonders and Beauties of 
•the Year” says (p. 191) that it is still extensively cultivated at Saffron 
Walden; but Itev. H. N. Ellacombe, in his valuable work “The Plant 
Tore and Garden-Craft of Shakespeare,” which should be in the hands 
•of all interested in the subject of plant lore, makes no mention of this, 
stating, however, that “ the plant is largely cultivated in many parts of 
Europe, but the chief centres of cultivation are in the arrondissement 
of Pitteiviers in France and the province of Arragon in Spain, and the 
•chief consumers are the Germans. It has also been largely cultivated 
in China for a great many years, and the bulbs now imported from 
"China are found to be in many points superior to the European.” 
The Saffron was at one time largely in use as a medicine, and Mr. T. 
Thiselton Dyer says, “ Our forefathers had, we are told, a great opinion 
of its cheering powers, and when a man was merry he is said to have 
“ slept on a bag of Saffron ’ ” (“ Leisure Hour,” 1879, p. 174). The same 
author says, “ It is used by the Hindoos in nervous cases ; Decandolle 
mentions its action upon the nerves.” Joseph Miller, in his “ Botanicum 
"Officinale,” London, 1722, says, “ Saffron is a most noble Cordial, and a 
■Btrength’ner of the Heart and vital Spirits, resists Putrefaction, and is 
good in all kinds of malignant and contagious Distempers, in fevers, 
.‘Small Pox, and Measles.” It is also recommended by him for the liver, 
■asthma, consumptions, &c. Culpepper gives practically the same 
-information, and it is impossible to restrain a smile when he says, “ It is 
■a herb of the Sun, and under the Lion, and therefore you need not 
.demand a reason why it strengthens the heart so exceedingly. Let not 
above ten grains be given at one time, for the sun, which is the fountain 
of light, may dazzle the eyes and make them blind.” 
The following extracts from Philip Miller’s “ Gardeners’ Dictionary,’’ 
1735, and abstracted by him from a paper presented to the Royal 
Society by Dr. James Douglas, may be of interest. It is here stated 
that the Saffron “ grows at present most plentifully in Cambridgeshire, 
and has grown formerly in several other counties of England.” The 
mode of cultivation and preparation, as observed during the years 
1723-24-25, and -28, does not appear to differ materially from that given 
in the Journal on page 133. The grounds were “ seldom above 3 acres, 
or less than one ; and in chusing the principal thing they have Regard 
to is, that they be well expos’d, the soil not poor, nor a very stiff clay, 
but a temperate dry mould, such as commonly lies upon chalk, and is of 
a hazel colour; tho’ if everything else answers, the colour of the mould 
is pretty much neglected.” The number of roots in cultivation must 
have been very large, as, from Dr. Douglas’s calculation, 192,040 would 
be required to plant an acre. 
The price of this dry Saffron, as will be noted from page 133, appears 
to have varied considerably, and Dr. Douglas, in entering into a detailed 
calculation of the profit of Saffron growing, gives an average price of 
30s. a pound, saying “ Since in very plentiful years it is sold at twenty 
(shillings) and is sometimes worth between three and four Pounds.” He 
calculates an average triennial crop of 26 lbs. of Saffron per acre, and a 
net profit in three years of £15 133. per acre, or about £5 4s. yearly. 
No allowance is made for interest on the original outlay, nor is credit 
taken for increase of stock. 
Much further information on the Saffron will be found in Mr. Ella- 
combe’s book previously referred to.—S. Abnott, Uosedene , Kirltbean, 
Dumfries , JY . J 5 . 
A ROSE FREAK. 
A PECULIAR Rose flower was recently sent to us by Mr. J. Jeans, 
Midsomer Norton, in which the carpels had nearly all been converted 
into buds borne on short stalks, and all appearing likely to expand. 
Though many peculiar formations in Rose flowers are brought to our 
notice, some of which have been described and illustrated, the one now 
represented in fig. 22 is so unusual that it is worth placing on record. 
The most common form of abnormal growth is that in which the axis 
extends after the flower is nearly mature, and after growing a few inches 
produces a second bud at its apex. Examples of this are frequently 
observed and sent for an opinion as to the cause, but it is difficult to 
assign what may be termed cultural causes for all the eccentricities of 
growth remarked in these or other plants. Such are no doubt often 
