August 2,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
101 
meal. The slight deficiencies of magnesia, 013, and of iron, 0’06, is 
superabundantly provided for in the wood ashes (potash, 8 72, 
magnesia, 3 00, iron, 1-03, phosphoric acid, 0 32, lime, 28 61). But 
the Americans use wood ashes, and their Peach trees suffer so much 
from yellows that they do not believe it exists outside that 
continent. This is because so little is heard about chlorosis in other 
countries, where phosphoric acid is either present in the soil in 
larger quantities (as in England where Peach trees are given strong 
loam because on Plum stocks) or supplied in the shape of bone 
manures or mineral phosphates. The fact is the Americans supply 
the potash and leave out the phosphoric acid, which is the prime 
mover in the formation of chlorophyll. 
If we look on the other side, we find an excess of silica 019, 
probably due to the soda 0’45. sulphuric acid O’29, and chlorine 0 04. 
Both imply pale colour, and the lime 1’35 would still further blanch 
the green out of the foliage. Nevertheless, nearly half the ash of 
the branches was composed of lime, more in the diseased than in 
the healthy, and it is this hungry stuff which eats up nitrogenous 
and phosphatic manures and makes trees so pale in leaf upon it, 
unless, as Clover and the Cherry, they are able to make use of 
atmospheric nitrogen. 
Peach, Fruit and Branches, Analysis by Goessmann, 
V. >> 
.£’’0 
cq — 
cd CO 
H ^ S 
.. ® o 
cs I- 
•JW.S 
2 fe 
® O 
Ash Constituents. 
.*3 jc a> 
’3^ W 
^ to ® 
JO S 
c« *:< 
JQ 
% 2 
Pn £ .c ^ 
o ^ 
^ •‘H fQ 
no -d 
H-l O 
|Se 
percent. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
Ferric oxide, . 
0o8 
0-46 
0-52 
1-45 
Calcium oxide, CaO. 
2-64 
4-68 
5452 
G4-23 
Magnesium oxide, MgO . 
6-29 
5’49 
7-58 
10-28 
Phosphoric acid, PgO^ . 
16’02 
18 07 
11-37 
8-37 
Potassium oxide, K 0 . 
’ 2 
74'46 
71-30 
26 01 
15 67 
100-00 
lOC-00 
100-00 
100-00 
The analysis quite disposes of the assumed idea that yellows is 
caused by a deficiency of iron in the soil, though there is a greater 
per-centage of iron (0 12) in the fruit of the healthy than in that 
of the tree diseased with yellows. But the restored tree only has a 
per-centage of iron, nearly two-thirds less than the tree still 
remaining diseased. There is also a large excess of lime and 
magnesia as well as of iron in the diseased tree, as shown by the 
analysis of the branches, therefore we may dismiss applications to 
the soil of those substances as curative of yellows. This I do very 
reluctantly, for I have known cases in which an application of 
sulphate of iron, quarter of an ounce to the square yard, has been 
attended with benefit to trees affected with yellows. It is no use, 
however, having fancies in these days, for the verdicts are always 
determined by the weight of evidence. Therefore, we must grasp 
the fact that the healthy or restored tree shows 3’00 per cent, more 
phosphoric acid, and 10 34 per cent, more potash than the tree 
diseased with yellows. Potash alone is of no use in curing trees of 
yellows, for, as before said, the Americans employ it in wood ashes 
with no benefit whatever ; in fact, it does more harm than good, 
as I have proved that an excessive use of wood ashes alone to 
Peach borders will give the trees an unhealthy appearance, if not 
actually induce yellows. This may be due to the magnesian salts, 
which, also sodic, may not be applied to Peach borders in large 
quantities, if at all, with any advantage. 
Sulphates may be useful in energising the protoplasm—at least, 
it is assumed that sulphur does that, and it is possible that sulphate 
of iron acts usefully in that way. Yet it is quite clear that what 
trees afflicted with yellows want most is phosphoric acid and potash, 
and these in as pure state as can be applied. Pure dissolved bones 
will supply the phosphoric acid, and the purest form of potash is 
perhaps muriate of that element. Equal parts of these supplied 
at the rate of 2 ozs. per square yard at intervals of about three 
weeks and washed in act like magic on trees with a deficiency of 
colour in the leaves, and if the trees want more vigour it can easily 
be obtained by adding half a part of powdered saltpetre to the 
superphosphate and muriate of potash. Saltpetre, however, is too 
expensive, therefore nitrate of soda may be substituted for it, but 
with great care, or it may induce a soft growth in the tree. It is 
especially valuable on chalky or limy soil, but sulphate of ammonia 
would probably be better for the Peach where the soil does not 
contain more than 10 per cent, of lime. 
Chlorosis in Tomato Plants. 
This is not a disease due to the attacks of bacteria, fungi, or 
insects, the yellow blotches appearing in the leaves and stems in¬ 
dicating imperfect nutrition. It generally appears after the plants 
become established and have formed and are swelling their first 
trusses of fruit, the lower part of the plants, except for a few 
specks and blotches in the leaves and stems, being quite healthy, 
while the upper part assumes a pale green or yellow sickly hue, and 
though not apparently weak fails to set or swell any fruit. This is 
a very serious matter, as it seems to spread and affect all the plants 
in a house. There is, however, nothing alarming about it, for as 
before stated it is not strictly a disease, though some persons have 
connected bacteria with it upon faint grounds. Bacteria are not 
content with rendering the plant attacked pale in colour, but they 
speedily convert the tissues into a dark brown or dead mass, it 
being their special business to reduce organic into inorganic matter, 
and act on substances in a state of heat, which they either produce 
or are favoured hy the weather. Indeed, they are passive in a low 
temperature, hence the cold water cure receives a measure of 
countenance. Chlorosis seems to act independent of the weather, 
though it is more pronounced after rather than before midsummer. 
In treating the Tomato we have a very different plant to deal 
with than the Peach. The Tomato, like the Potato, is a potash, 
magnesia, and chlorine loving plant ; it also delights in nitrogen, 
but this in excess lays the plant open to attack by fungi, and there 
is nothing that puts such vigour into Tomatoes as well decayed 
manure and leaf soil. These substances, turfy loam, and liquid 
may induce attacks of eelworm, that is, introduce these pests ; but 
I hardly think they come in with liquids or water, but already 
exist in the soil or manure, for ^hey thrive and breed in decaying 
vegetable matter quite independent of living plants. Whether the 
Tomato has the power of a^s'rdcting atmospheric nitrogen we have 
no data, but of its assimilation in the root nodules by micro¬ 
organisms there is no question, and of these the eelworms take 
advantage for breeding ; in fact, they can and do produce the 
nodules on the roots, in which they form a hollow receptacle, and 
the vigour of the plant is concentrated on the injured part, so that 
the eelworms thrive at the expense of the plant. But these nodules 
are quite distinct from the nitrogenic, which are not caused by but 
taken possession of by the eelworms. It is a remarkable fact that 
plants afflicted with chlorosis seldom suffer from eelworm at the 
roots. Excess of nitrogen will not induce them, nor attacks of 
fungi, for these spring from eggs and spores, and no matter how 
sickly a plant be it will have neither of the diseases produced by 
them without the introduction of the germs. It is different with 
chlorosis—a condition of the plant resultant of ill nutrition, which 
is easy to rectify by the employment of any nitrogenous substance, 
yet it will not alone effect a cure if there be a deficiency in the soil 
of potash, magnesia, and chlorine, nor will any or all of these be 
of any use whatever without the prime agent for manufacturing 
chlorophyll, namely, phosphoric acid. 
Superphosphate of lime will supply the phosphorus, and it 
also accelerates root action ; kainit will give the potash, magnesia, 
and chlorine ; and nitrate of soda furnish the nitrogen. I do not 
consider sulphate of iron a particle of use unless the soil be deficient 
in available iron, then a small quantity may possibly assist, more 
by the sulphur than iron, plants to throw off chlorosis. Equal 
parts bone superphosphate and kainit, half a part nitrate of soda, 
and a twentieth of a part of sulphate of iron, mixed, and applied 
at the rate of 2 ozs. per square yard every ten days for a time, and 
afterwards at fortnightly or three weeks intervals, will cure the 
plants of yellows, and it is also one of the best manures for 
Tomatoes and Potatoes under any circumstances. If the Tomato 
plants are in restricted borders, very much confined at the roots, or 
in pots, top-dress with lumpy loam or well-decayed manure, and 
apply the top-dressing of manure over it without delay, watering 
in moderately, sufficient to wet the top-dressing of loam or manure 
through for the first day ; this precaution being taken there is 
no fear of introducing eelworm with the loam or manure. The 
kainit, if at all lumpy, should be smashed fine, also the nitrate of 
soda be reduced to a fine powder, before mixing with the super¬ 
phosphate.—G. Abbey. 
DRAC.^NAS VEITCHI AND AUSTRALIS FROM 
SEED. 
There are but few ornamental foliaged greenhouse plants so 
useful for decorative purposes as these green-leaved. Palm-like 
Dracasnas. They have the merit also of being easily grown, and of 
keeping in good condition for a long time when used for dwelling- 
