292 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 3,188* 
attained good size it is especially attractive. Mr. F. Eoss favours us 
with the following particulars :— 
“ The specimen from which your figure is taken was from a standard 
plant some 6 or more feet high, having about 3 feet of stem, with a 
dense bushy head about 4 feet through, every shoot of which flowered 
similar to the one figured. Although planted out in this instance, yet 
it makes a capital pot plant; indeed, in years gone by it was frequently 
used for exhibition specimens. Its culture is easy, and similar, whether 
grown in a pot or planted out. After flowering we cut the plant hard 
back, which induces the formation of several leads, selecting as many of 
the strongest as will be needed to give the plants a well-furnisbed 
appearance ; afterwards repot, and otherwise encourage growth, keeping 
the plant in a light position in a moderately warm and moist stove. A 
good rich and strong loamy compost best meets its requirements. We 
keep it free from insects, and as sure as September comes round it yields 
an abundant crop of its brilliant flowers. Some growers recommend 
enforced rest after flowering, but I have never seen any advantage from 
this treatment. It is easily increased by cuttings in the usual way.” 
TREATMENT OF SOILS AND MANURES. 
Ix reply to Mr. Tonks’ remarks on page 239, if he thinks I am 
offended he very much mistakes my feelings, and I will not follow 
his example by seeming to be exasperated. 
Mr. Tonks is not satisfied with what I have written, but adds 
something I have not stated. I do not deny authorities so far as 
they are used for information and enlightenment, but where are we 
to stop when scarcely two authorities agree in themselves on many 
points ? Would Mr. Tonks advise us to stop where our tutors left 
us ? I regard instructions a3 being given for us to develop, and 
so to improve ourselves. How many excellent gardeners have 
instructed pupils who in time have found reason to adopt different 
methods, and thereby brought about better results ? Are they 
ignorant still ? 
I am sorry Mr. Tonks spent the greater part of his time in 
ignorance, as fifty years out of sixty is a long time to live in such a 
state. My age is only half that of Mr. Tonks, and I feel flattered 
to learn that my mind was capable of perceiving what is right in 
one-third of the time that it took his to accomplish. 
Carbonic acid is carbonic acid, and not carbonic dioxide, and I 
must repeat that the formula is H 2 COs, and the carbonic acid of the 
air that Mr. Tonks speaks of is not carbonic acid, but carbonic 
dioxide, CO 2 . I will quote Johnston and Cameron for his informa¬ 
tion, page 36—“ The compound commonly called carbonic acid is 
carbonic dioxide C0 2 ; real carbonic acid would have the composi¬ 
tion given above, which is H 2 C0 3 .” Again, on page 37, “ Acids 
are bodies containing hydrogen.” As C0 2 has no hydrogen I think 
Mr. Tonks must confess that he is wrong. In what form carbonic 
acid exists has nothing to do with the question. The quotation 
from Watts in the “Dictionary of Chemistry” substantiates my 
argument that C0 2 is an anhydride. 
I am not such an ignoramus as to suppose that carbonic dioxide 
of the air occupies the whole space, the quantity is very small. 
Carbonic dioxide is taken in, and at other times given off, by the 
plants. If a field or piece of land is dressed with fresh lime, and 
this is left exposed to the action of the air, it absorbs carbon dioxide 
and forms carbonates ; also carbonic dioxide is really taken up and 
carried down by the rain, and mixes with other ingredients, forming 
compounds. These compounds are taken in, the calcium, soda, 
&c., used by the plant, yet the carbon of which half of the dried 
plant is composed is thrown off or down, and not used. I have 
stated that C0 2 is absorbed by lime ; this is only a plain way of 
putting it. The real fact of the combination is that hydrogen 
being present the compound of H 2 C0 3 takes place first, and then 
combines with the lime and forms carbonates. I think it only 
right that I should make my contentions as plain as possible, 
whereas if C0 2 is passed through lime there would be no chemical 
reaciion, but only an apparent electrical shock, but in the case of a 
chemical reaction carbonic acid is taken in water thrown off, and 
carbonate of'calcium and caustic hydrate is the composition left, 
which most gardeners and farmers call lime. I know, and knew 
before, that animals cannot live in carbonic dioxide, also that the 
test given I used in my school days. I was aware that carbonic 
dioxide was found high and low, even as high as Mont Blanc. This 
I attribute to the different currents of air. If the gas was lighter 
than the air it would all ascend. 
The forms I spoke of as the various salts or the oxides of metal 
elements—viz., soda, potash, &c., in combination with carbon, is 
the carbon divided from or decomposed before being taken in by 
the plants, or is the compound taken in by the plant decomposed, 
and the potash and soda used and the carbon thrown off. I have 
sufficiently disposed of Mr. Tonks’ remarks about phosphorus in 
my last article written before his reply was printed. The uncer¬ 
tain manure has nothing to do with me. If prepared as I stated 
there will be no uncertainty, but, like artificial manure, if left ex¬ 
posed to all atmospheric influences both would be useless. Most 
people know by the sensible reduction of quantity it is harmful to 
leave artificial manure unprotected. Farm manure is different, it 
loses its vegetable-producing qualities, but does not diminish in bulk 
perceptibly. When Mr. Tonks speaks of the advantage of 1 cwt. 
of artificial manure over farm manure, he means a manure properly 
taken care of and one that is neglected. I am writing about the 
neglected as b«mg carefully looked after and protected. Farm¬ 
yard manure in the fresh state has 28'24 per cent, of organic matter, 
three months exposed 16 - 53 per cent. What would be the result 
with longer exposure? My experience is that manure is more 
abundant in the country than near London, and the meaning of 
Latin adages can be found in dictionaries. 
In reply to “ W. S.,” on page 264, I am sorry he should have 
been put to so much trouble, owing to a slight mistake. The 
sentence on page 173 should have read, “ The larger part of soil 
being inorganic proves that the mineral elements are far in excess 
of that required by plants. Is it possible to exhaust the soil of 
mineral constituents by heavy cropping without returning any of 
those minerals to the soil ? ” The next sentence confirms this. 
They can be reduced by bad cultivation, but not exhausted. 
Respecting my “assumed scientific manner,” I will ask “W. S.” 
whether it is presumption to have passed through all the stages of 
agricultural chemistry under qualified men. and to bring my 
“ assumed ” knowledge of the subject to bear upon the practical 
cultivation of vegetables, &c., and thereby produce on ground that 
was practically sterile or barren such crops as others had failed to- 
procure, and after having been told I should fail, and this with only 
the resources at hand ? Does the presumption come in when I try 
to put others in the same way of getting the best results with what 
they have at command ? Will “ W. S.” state where the “ unscien¬ 
tific ” treatment comes in, and give the readers of this Journal the 
benefit of his knowledge in garden chemistry ? I must thank 
“ W. S.” for supporting me in my endeavour to make the best use 
of all manures at hand.—G. A. Bishop. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN THE SOUTH. 
The time is now fast approaching when Chrysanthemums become 
more interesting, and as many persons may be glad to know something 
about the plants in the south I have jotted down a few notes hurriedly 
made during a short tour amonst old friends quite lately, but not with 
“ the object of viewing the nakedness of the land,” as was attributed to¬ 
me some time since by a correspondent. That the season in the south of 
England will be an early one no one will dispute, as the buds, crown- 
and otherwise, came at early dates, in some instances too much so to 
please experienced cultivators, but no doubt they have taken the pre¬ 
caution of not putting all their eggs in one basket, as experience teaches- 
growers that it is more advantageous to grow extra plants of well known 
and tried varieties than it is to grow fanciful varieties of which they 
know little. Cultivators have the opportunity of selecting early and 
late buds of the same sort, so as to extend the season of any particular 
variety. From what I saw I should think the coming season is likely to- 
be a good one amongst Chrysanthemums, especially with plants grown 
for the production of large blooms for exhibition. 
WARREN HOUSE GARDENS. 
My first call was at Warren House Gardens, the seat of Lady 
Wolverton, where visitors are certain of a kindly welcome by Mr. 
Woodgate, the popular Hon. Secretary of the Kingston Chrysanthemum 
Society, and an enthusiastic cultivator. He not only grows to win 
prizes, but he does not forget the home display, as he has many early 
varieties to prolong the season ; neither does he confine the number of 
blooms on the plants in all cases to the orthodox three, but for the sake 
of a few extra to cut from he allows the plants to carry more branches. 
The plants are grown during the summer in the kitchen garden, having 
an open position on the sides of the paths, which are well sheltered from 
south-westerly winds. Earwigs have been in great abundance this 
season, and taking the earwigs from the traps each morning they are put 
into bottles with stoppered corks for convenience. The “ take ” that 
morning was quite 600. Mr. Woodgate, for curiosity and to prove the 
fallacy of those who say that earwigs are not injurious to the plants, 
allowed them to have a “ roving commission ” over one plant—Duchess 
