May 18,1SS9. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
391 
T HE approaching Floral Fete in the wholesale flower market, 
Covent Garden, affords a fitting opportunity for bringing 
the claims of the above institution for support more prominently 
forward. Already the charity has been of great benefit to persons 
struggling with the adversity of the world, and other applicants are 
awaiting assistance in far greater numbers than can be provided for, 
urgent as are the cases, and anxious as is the Committee to afford 
■the needed relief. 
With the object of strengthening the Fund for the alleviation 
of distress that exists in an acute form, and at the same time 
affording a floral treat of an exceptional character to those who can 
enjoy it, and thereby afford “help to the helpless,” the Duke of 
Bedford kindly permits the great market in question to be opened 
to the public on Wednesday evening next, and the expert growers 
of plants for the adornment of the homes of tlie various sections 
of the community have undertaken to furnish the stands in 
the best style in which they are capable. This means, beyond 
any doubt, that the exhibits will represent domestic floriculture 
in a way that cannot be equalled either in this or any other 
•country. 
We gather from a prospectus before us that the “ unique floral 
spectacle will occupy an area of nearly three-quarters of an acre, and 
a frontage of flowers, tier above tier, extending over a length of 
700 yards, with 1000 square yards of promenade between the 
beautiful avenues for visitors.” 
The Exhibition will be opened by the Baroness Burdett Coutts 
a.t eight o’clock, at which time visitors will be admitted, and for 
three hours afterwards. The band of Her Majesty’s Horse Guards 
•conducted by Mr. Charles Godfrey, will be in attendance, and a 
•combined floral and musical treat may be confidently expected of 
•an unusually interesting nature. 
With the object of preventing overcrowding the sale of tickets 
is limited to 2000, and those who purchase them will doubtless be 
gratified with the investment, and each payment will at the same 
time afford a week’s sustenance to some child left without means 
of support through the death of one or both parents. A generous 
response is hoped for by persons who are in sympathy with the 
object, and who can purchase tickets for attending the Fete or 
presentation. 
It may be mentioned that the wholesale flower market is 
•entirely distinct from the central avenue, and in the ordinary 
routine is only open to the public for a few hours after 4 a.m., 
when plants are being purchased, and, to again cite from the pro¬ 
spectus :—“ It is only by special privilege, kindly accorded in the 
cause of charity, and by willing efforts of the numerous cultivators 
in completing their arrangements some hours earlier than usual, 
that the public can inspect and enjoy the extraordinary assortment 
of plants, as they are temptingly disposed in readiness for pur¬ 
chasers who often clamour for their acquisition before the dawn 
of day.” 
Decorative plants of all the varieties in present demand will be 
arranged on nearly three hundred stands ; and the cut flowers in 
bunches, boxes, and baskets will probably surpass any other display 
to be seen elsewhere during the season. 
We have only to add that tickets, 5s. each, can be obtained from 
No. 464.—Yol. XYIII., Third Series, 
Mr. A. F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
Chiswick, and Mr. J. Assbee, Market Office, Covent Garden. 
They are now ready, and will be distributed in the order of 
application. 
SUPERPHOSPHATE AND MURIATE OF POTASH 
FOR FRUIT TREES. 
Awaiting abler craftsmen taking up the subject broached 
editorially (page 310) on my suggesting the advisability of employing 
superphosphate and muriate of potash for fruit trees instead of 
nitrogenous manure, I have refrained from pursuing the matter, 
but offer a few remarks to induce inquiry and experiment. 
Phospliatic manure (outside artificial) as used in gardens has 
been slow in action by reason of the material being presented in 
the least available form to the attacks of acids in the soil. The idea 
was probably to render the supply of phosphatic matter as durable 
as possible, as not many years back it was not uncommon to apply 
bone3 to Yine borders in carcases, and to bury a sheep, cow, or horse, 
was considered imperative if something grand in Grapes was looked 
for. Then an advance was made to crushed or half-inch bones, 
and ultimately to bonemeal or dust. Latterly we have taken to 
steaming—the object being to get as much phosphatic matter 
available as food in as little time as practicable. Similar remarks 
apply to mineral phosphates— i.e., coprolites ; they were found to be 
most speedy and efficacious when ground. In fact, the value of bones 
as manure was found to depend on the degree of their divisibility. 
By placing crude material to be manufactured in the soil into 
plant food we may get as much phosphatic matter available as the 
plants require ; but there is a probability that there may be too 
little, or that it may be in excess, and the crop is not benefited to 
the extent it would be were more of the material available, whilst 
by an excess there must be waste through its being soluble, there¬ 
fore liable to diminution consequent on the percolation of water 
through the soil. We must not assume that because there is a 
superfluity of nutriment for any crop in one year it will be reserved 
in the soil for the benefit of the succeeding year’s crop. It is not 
evidence that there is no waste, because the effects are more marked 
in the succeeding than in the year of application, for the stored-up 
matter must be considered as resulting from the application of 
phosphatic manure in the previous season, a result which does not 
attend the application of nitrogenous manures, not even when lime 
is applied, as the benefit of the lime is not seen until the year 
succeeding that of its application. The benefit, therefore, as regards 
fruit trees is proportionate to the phosphatic matter assimilated and 
stored in the wood and buds ; hence the importance of considering 
the supply essential for its current requirements only. A given 
crop will require so much phosphatic manure, and perhaps potash 
salts for its profitable cultivation. An excessive quantity of super¬ 
phosphate and potash will give a less bulk than a lesser, because 
proper quantity—-viz., 5 cwt. superphosphate may give a less yield 
of Turnips, Barley, or Oats than 3 cwt., and we have to consider 
what becomes of the wasted 2 cwt. Will it remain to the advantage 
of the succeeding crop ? The fact is, there is no advantage what¬ 
ever, for soluble manures are of benefit to the existing crop during 
its growth or never. That is the distinction to be drawn between 
applying crude bones to be dissolved in the soil and applying them 
already soluble. Of bone dust we require 12 to 16 bushels per 
acre ; of superphosphate 3 cwt. to 5 cwt. The first will not only 
benefit the current crop but the succeeding ones, but there is little 
benefit from the latter other than to the crop to which it is applied, 
and as that crop is greater by thouse of superphosphate than from bone 
dust there is a manifest advantage from the use of dissolved bones. 
With limited experience I should not consider it advisable to 
speak definitely as to the quantity of superphosphate to use for 
fruit trees, but it seems that the efficacy of phosphatic manures is 
enhanced by an addition of potash salts, the most potent being 
No. 2120.—Yol. LXXX, Old Series. 
