80 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
in the spring following.” The result, we venture to 
predict, would have been very different if the manure 
had been inserted in a trench dug a foot deep in a circle 
at four or five feet distant from the trunk of each tree. 
There are no fibrous roots close to the stem of a tree, 
but they branch forth, and their points, or mouths, 
extend in a circle around not far beyond tlie distance 
i to which the outer branches reach ; and it is there that 
j 
j manure for fruit-trees should be placed. 
Crops which feed by roots spreading near the surface, 
and such are all the Cabbage-worts, Beans, Peas, Straw¬ 
berries, &c., require the manure to be placed within six 
i inches of the surface ; for roots always travel to the soil 
where the most fertile matter is to be found. For the 
I same reason, as we have often observed, for Carrots, 
Parsnips, and Beet-root, the ground should be trenched, 
and the manure turned in with the bottom spit, because 
this induces the top-root to strike down to it straight, 
and unforked. 
As a general rule, it may be accepted as certain that 
the worst of all modes of applying a manure is in the 
drills with the seed. It is, usually, either so powerfully 
stimulating as to destroy the awakening vegetation of 
the seed, or remains in so confined a position as to be 
unavailable to the roots when they begin to extend. 
In conclusion, we wish very emphatically to observe, 
that to arrive at a correct knowledge of the value of a 
manure by means of experiment, far more forethought 
1 and care are requisite than are usually bestowed upon 
them. 1. A space should be left without any manure 
being applied, otherwise there will be no satisfactory 
basis of comparison. 
2. The larger the space subjected to experiment for 
each manure, the more entitled to confidence will be the 
result. The reason for this is, obviously, that no two 
seeds will produce plants of precisely equal prolificacy, 
Imperfect ripening of the parent seed, variance in the 
depth at which the seed is buried, and many other cir¬ 
cumstances, will be more liable to have a controlling 
effect over the weight of the produce from a small plot 
of crop than from a larger. A dozen super-prolific, or 
defective plants, on a square rod of ground, will have an 
influence on the result when calculated per acre, that 
would be scarcely appreciated, if the experiment were 
made on an eighth of an acre. 
3. If manures in solution are employed for soaking 
the seed, a similar quantity of seed of the same sample 
should be soaked for a similar length of time in simple 
water. If liquid manures are given experimentally to 
I P lants during their growth, other plants of like number 
and growth, and in every respect treated similarly, 
should at precisely the same time have simple water 
! applied to them. 
4. There should be a certainty that the manure em- 
I ployed be pure. No wonder that experiments are dis- 
! crepant, when Mr. E. Solly has detected adulterations 
in fertilisers to the amount of 97 per cent. ! Even when 
the dung of animals is employed, it varies most essen- 
j tially, and according to the food on which they are kept, 
j The richer their nourishment the more abounding are 
[May 8. 
their excrements in the salts of ammonia and other 
fertilising matters. 
We regret to find, from a letter we have received this 
day from Mr. Brocas, that we misunderstood him when 
in conversation, and that he purposes to supply the 
British Mosses, and not the British Ferns, as stated 
by us at page 45. He offers 300 specimens for thirty 
shillings, supplying 50 at a time in a five shilling part. 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
One of the most remarkable new features in the Royal 
Botanic Gardens, Regent’s Park, is the Plantation of 
Roses. Messrs. Rivers, Paul, and Lane have contributed 
collections to be bloomed there after the manner of the 
American plants, each having the management of their 
own; and, if it be found desirable, they are to be all 
shaded during the height of their bloom. Mr. Jenkins, 
in his time of occupation, could never grow Roses well, 
and the place was much more open than it is now ; so 
that if these gentlemen can make any thing of a show, 
it will agreeably surprise us, although we know that 
drainage and amelioration of soil will do wonders. Our 
own opinion is, that it will be showing Roses under great 
disadvantage; that the blooms will be very diminutive, 
and many of them out of character. The design, how¬ 
ever, is pretty, and we shall rejoice to see the disadvan 
tages of locality conquered. 
Another striking feature here is the Winter Garden. A 
very considerable space is covered with glass, and planted 
with specimens, and a promenade on gravel-walks, dry and 
warm, when the snow is on the ground out of doors, is no 
inconsiderable luxury to those fond of plants and dowers. 
Those who visit this beautiful spot—for such it is, in spite 
of a good deal of bad taste—will at once pronounce for the 
permanence of the Crystal Palace. It will be impossible to 
let that structure come down again; such a winter garden 
never entered into the mind of man, and its capacity is 
boundless. It could be converted into a perpetual summer 
garden, though the frost and snow proclaimed it winter out¬ 
side ; and be it remembered that the humblest contributor 
to the state could enjoy it. People of all clases will call for 
a winter promenade. The poorest of the people should be 
admitted on one sole condition—cleanliness. Let everybody 
go to the Royal Botanic Gardens to appreciate the value of 
a garden under glass. The Rockwork in these gardens is 
pretty, but too toy-like; altogether on too small a scale. 
The American ground is a good feature, and the convenience 
for showing is greatly increased ever since last season. The 
ornamental water here gave a freshness to the scene; and 
so near London, there is nothing in the garden way half so 
attractive. 
At a recent meeting of Florists, the subject of Dressing 
Flowers was rather warmly discussed; and it was gene¬ 
rally admitted, even by its defenders, that it had been 
carried to so great an extent, that gentlemen, who only 
see the flower from the raiser’s hand, scarcely recognised 
the flower when he had bought it, and grown it. No¬ 
body inclined to dispute that tbe Dianthus tribe required 
it; but the idea of dressing the Dahlia was reprobated 
by the majority, on the ground that it was a flower that 
growed symmetrically, and that if the petals did not 
open naturally, no man had a right to disguise it by 
forcing them open; and it was contended, that those 
