Stptember is, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
229 
1890 had arranged certain preliminaries, and they were in communica¬ 
tion with the authorities of the Royal Aquarium, and would shortly 
make a definite report. Communications have been received from the 
Auckland and New Zealand Horticultural Society inquiring for terms 
of affiliation with the N.C.S., thus proving the interest taken in the 
work of the Society at the Antipodes, and from Launceston, Tasmania, 
had been received an order for a dozen catalogues of Chrysanthemums 
issued by the Society. The Hon. Secretary reported that he had admitted 
the Penzance, Crediton, and Dalston and Haggerstone Chrysanthemum 
Societies to affiliation during the recess, and his action was approved 
by the Committee. Twenty-nine new members were elected, including 
two one-guinea Fellows, bringing the number of members up to 608. 
An offer received from Messrs. Restall & Co., Cheapside, Birmingham, 
for the manufacture of the medals of the Society was considered, and 
the Hon. Secretary was instructed to obtain a limited number as 
samples. The consideration of some other matters of detail brought 
the proceedings to a close. 
AGAVES AND YUCCAS. 
According to a London daily paper of the 30th ult. “ the 
gardens and hothouses at Hamilton Palace are among the most 
extensive in the kingdom, and possess some very rare specimens of 
plants and flowers. The grandfather of the present Duke, as was 
the custom in Scotland among the great magnates in those days, 
had agents in all parts of the world who from time to time sent 
rare and beautiful plants to their employer. Hamilton Palace for 
many years was the only place where the Dalhousiana Rhododen¬ 
dron blossomed in Scotland, and just now a most beautiful speci- 
men of the Yucca gloriosa variegata is in flower in the hothouse. 
It is said to blossom only once in a hundred years, and is the second 
plant that has flowered there. The plant stands 14 feet high, and 
the spike, bearing flowers of a rich creamy white, with a perfume 
like fresh coffee, is over 2 feet long.” 
The above paragraph serves to remind readers that there still 
clings to certain plants the reputation of having qualities that they 
do not as a matter of fact possess. The American Agave is one of 
them. The reputed flowering of this plant under cultivation after 
having attained the age of a hundred years is a tradition that would 
be difficult to trace to its origin, and more so to determine the 
extent it is correctly regarded in public opinion as being simply a 
floricultural fiction. It would, however, appear to be by no means 
a restricted belief shared only by an unintelligent class of people, 
notwithstanding the introduction of the plant to this country dates 
back to 1G40, and the variegated form of it an additional forty years. 
It seems the Agave is no longer to be invested with the monopoly 
hitherto attributed, perhaps more widely than may be generally 
imagined, to its most fantastic feature, this being now claimed for 
one of its own class and order, and possibly there may be fears that 
there is no knowing where the implications may end. The Yucca 
gloriosa variegata may not be as generally well known as its proto- 
type, which it may be remembered, like the Agave, hails from 
America, having a priority of about four years. In the case of the 
Agave, it was the variegated form that was first introduced, but not 
so in that of the Yucca, which, as erroneously remarked above, 
“ blossoms only once in a hundred years.” Planted in suitable 
situations out of doors Yuccas are very picturesque objects, and 
they have been known to flower three or four times in about a 
quarter of the space of time mentioned in reference to those at 
Hamilton Palace. Sometimes they produce colossal spikes with 
innumerable blooms, pleasing in appearance beyond description, and 
so impressively attractive that the remembrance of them remains 
until their flowering time recurs again.—J. E. J. 
TREATMENT OF SOILS AND MANURES. 
In reply to Mr. Tonks, under the above heading on page 173, I did 
not pretend to use precise scientific terms, but hoped to make myself 
understood by the majority. As to the chemical actions and reactions 
referred to in my article, I am prepared to substantiate them. That 
most of the ingredients in artificial manures are in a compound form 
ready to mix with water and be absorbed by the plants 1 am aware, 
but of all the manures I have used or tested I never knew any that did 
not contain free acids. I could name several that are full of free acids, 
and that is the foundation of my statement. Carbonic dioxide and 
carbonic acid are not one, but are the same thing in a different form. 
Carbonic acid, H 2 CO 3 , is a composition of hydrogen, carbon, and 
oxygen, while carbonic dioxide, CO 2 , is, as the name tells us, as di means 
two, is composed of carbon and oxygen, of oxygen two parts. Carbonic 
dioxide is a carbonic anhydrous acid. Whether Sachs and Warington 
tell us or not that all the carbon is taken in through the pores of the 
leaves, I do not admit the statements. Carbonic dioxide is one of the 
heaviest vapours we have, and can be poured from one glass into another. 
This is one of the wise provisions of Nature, so that the carbonic dioxide 
of the atmosphere falls to the ground, there to mix with potash, soda, 
lime, magnesia, and ammonia, forming potassic carbonates, sodic car¬ 
bonates, &c. It is pure assumption for Mr. Tonks to suppose that carboa 
is taken into the plant in this form and thrown off without being 
utilised. Will Mr. Tonks tell me where the other half of carbon comes 
from that he speaks of, and where the carbon comes from to form' 
carbonates, if not from the maaure, and where the carbonic acid from 
manure goes? 
If Mr. Tonks had spent as much time on my article as he would have 
us believe, he would have discerned that I had stated six organic 
elements to which phosphorus belongs, as well as four inorganic as 
taking first place as plant foods. Mr. Tonks tries to show that hundreds 
of thousands of pounds are spent in phosphorus where nothing is spent 
in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron for manure ; but as I 
understand the matter one or more of those elements are combined with 
phosphorus that is usually bought in this country. As to the division 
of the soil, I maintain that I am correct. I thought I was clear enough' 
upon the point of the smallness of the soluble inorganic “ active ” part, 
and Mr. Tonks confirms me when he states the undecomposed minerals, 
which, by the united action of cold, heat, carbonic acid, and oxygen, 
are first disintegrated and then decomposed. Is not this the same- 
process that I mentioned ? 
I did not say stable manure was very uncertain. I am so sure of its 
certainty that I should have no hesitation in growing for a wager 
against artificial manures under similar conditions. Is artificial manure 
a separate creation ? or is it, as I understand, made from the created, 
and with well-prepared home manure both crops and land improve ? If 
Mr. Tonks had spent as much time in ascertaining whether I was right 
as he did to prove me wrong, he would have come to a different con¬ 
clusion than that 1 cwt. of artificial manure is as good as 2 tons of home 
manure. Why is it that the London growers do not use more artificials 
and save wear and tear of horses and carts in bringing manure from 
London ? They know there is more body in natural manures, and that 
they do not impoverish their land. In most private gardens cow and 
horse dung can be had when a £10 cheque cannot always be obtained 
for purchasing something else. Before Mr. Tonks tries to persuade 
gardeners of the superior advantages of artificial manure he ought to 
act up to my suggestions and test those manures first that are at the 
disposal of the gardener. Though I have most of the authorities by me, 
I am not satisfied to always believe all that others tell us, but like to 
find something out for myself, and write from my own experience. 
Mr. Tonks, I think, can do more good by teaching what he considers, 
good practice in good English than by quoting Latin mottoes which 
have nothing to do with either manures or cultivation.—G-. A. Bishop. 
CROTONS. 
Where small highly coloured Crotons in 3-inch pots are appre¬ 
ciated for furnishing with Mosses, Ferns, and other small plants,, 
cuttings should be rooted at once. Plants from which good heads were 
removed some time ago have yielded quantities of side growths, well 
coloured, that are very suitable for this purpose. Only well coloured' 
cuttings should be inserted, and when rooted fully exposed to the sun. 
All plants that are highly coloured and large enough for the purpose for 
which they are wanted may be ventilated more liberally, and kept 
cooler to prevent them starting again into fresh growth. Growth made 
after this date does not always colour satisfactorily, and therefore it is 
best to prevent it if possible.—B. 
CRYSTAL PALACE FRUIT SHOW. 
September 6th and 7th. 
The annual Exhibition of fruits at Sydenham has become one of the 
most important metropolitan events of the horticultural year, and a 
thoroughly representative display is invariably provided. The time at 
which it is held is a convenient one, and usually permits growers to 
stage fair samples of their produce, while the prizes are sufficiently 
liberal to induce exhibitors to travel from a distance, thus making the 
competition keener and conveying a better general idea of garden fruit 
culture throughout England. All the classes are open, and the prizes 
range from £12 to 5s., so there is a chance for competitors to clear 
their expenses and perhaps allow a margin of profit for the labour in¬ 
curred. Collections of Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, and Melons 
made the chief features, and to these the greater number of the thirty- 
two classes were devoted, but there was also provision for Figs, Tomatoes, 
Apples, and Pears. With regard to the two last the date is too early to 
expect many exhibits, and the autumn Show to be held at the Crystal 
Palaceon October lOthand 12th will probably be the hardy fruit exhibition 
of the season in London. Yet the Apples staged were in most cases of 
admirable size and quality, and the number was larger than was antici¬ 
pated, the non-competing exhibits adding materially to the display. 
They were not, it is true, all from trees out of doors, and a good pro¬ 
portion of the finest samples were no doubt gathered in orchard houses, 
which is somewhat misleading to the general public when the fact is net 
stated on the exhibits. 
The quality of the exhibits generally was exceptionally satisfactory, 
and the number of entries was also good, the whole of the north nave 
being occupied with the tables devoted to the fruit classes. As is now- 
customary at the Palace, these are arranged with spaces between, so that 
visitors can readily inspect the display without having to pass all roun l 
in a continuous crowd, as was necessary at one time, and Mr. W. G. 
Head has within recent years greatly improved the system of arrange.- 
