THE COTTAGE GABDENEB AND COUNTBY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, August 25, 1857. 329 
grandfather would have been if he were now living, and he 
was close upon eighty-two years old when he died, and who, 
during his practice, was tenaciously fond of the system, 
which he then called the old Scotch style. 
There is no tree during its pruning and training that 
receives a more criminal treatment than the Gooseberry, and 
therefore great praise is due to Messrs. Errington and Appleby 
for directing the attention of the young practitioner to the only 
mode that a judicious, well-disciplined judgment can approve. 
When they are pruned in agreement with the system to which 
I have referred, the nutriment taken up by the roots is not 
expended in the production of an unnecessary quantity 
of spurious wood. Necessarily, therefore, the occasional 
steeping of the ground with the above liquid will not only 
improve the size and flavour of the fruit, but will also assist 
nature in the formation and perfection of the buds from 
which the next year’s crop of fruit is to be expected. 
4. Guano, Blood, and Thoroughly Pulverised Char¬ 
coal, one pound each. The blood may be obtained from 
the slaughter-house, and should be placed in a tub and kept 
air-tight from four to six months previously to being used. 
This, when placed in a vessel containing from thirty to 
forty gallons of water, and stirred occasionally, renders the 
whole mass ready for use in twenty-four hours, and when 
applied to Pentas earned, Echites natans, Vinca rosea, alba, 
ocellata, Glerodendrum fallax, squamatum , fragrans, Cyrto- 
ceras rejlexum, Asclepias Curassavica, Cyrtanthera magnifica, 
Rivina humilis, and Capsicums, they give evident proofs of 
its adaptation to their constitution by the numerous large, 
well-expanded flowers and deep green-coloured and well- 
developed foliage they produce; and from what I have 
seen, and the little experience I have had of its use in the 
cultivation of the Allamanda, I am induced to place it among 
the first liquids used for the nourishment of this elegant 
tribe of plants. On the 24th of August of last year I saw 
two plants of each of the following species, namely, neriifolia, 
grandiflora, cathartica, and Schotii, to which I was informed 
this liquid was liberally given. I do not remember having 
seen any equal to them before either in size, colour, or 
quantity of both flower and foliage. Since then, however, 
on the 3 9th of July of the present year I have had the 
opportunity of beholding several of the above kinds in every 
point equal, and in one or two superior. Of what the liquid 
is composed that is occasionally applied to them I do not 
exactly know; but from the flavour of the soil in which the 
plants are potted, and which I obtained by placing a little 
in the mouth and allowing it to dissolve, I feel no hesitation 
in hazarding the opinion that the principal ingredient which 
enters into its composition is guano. This liquid may be 
applied during the growing season to every variety of plant, 
shrub, or tree cultivated in the kitchen garden, pleasure 
ground, and forest that is deciduous or that casts the whole 
of its leaves during the rest period. 
5. Pigeon and Hen Dung, each separately or both com¬ 
bined, form the basis of a safe and useful manure. Twelve 
quarts put into a hogshead of water, and agitated now and 
then for a few days, and then adding to it four quarts of the 
liquid taken from the tank attached to the stables, into 
which the urine of the horses runs, and stirred well, and 
afterwards three quarts of quicklime being cast all over 
the surface of it, and left twelve hours, will have cleared, 
and will be ready for use. This liquid is a great favourite 
with the Vine, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, Fig, and Straw- ! 
berry, when cultivated either under glass or in the open ; 
border. The Pine, also, luxuriates in it when liberally 
supplied with it. In June, 1852, when on a visit to Liver¬ 
pool, in my perambulations I called at several gentlemen’s 
seats for the purpose of seeing plants I had not seen before, 
and also that I might see different and improved systems of 
cultivation ; and at one of those places I was struck with the 
magnificent appearance of a quantity of Pines cultivated on the 
Hamiltonian system, to which the foreman told me the above 
liquid, with the exception of the lime, was liberally given to 
them early in the morning every second time they required 
water. The leaves of the plants were large, and bore the 
marks of high cukivation. The fruits were numerous, and 
in different stages of advancement, from the first appear¬ 
ance of the crown to perfect ripeness. The foot-stalks 
of the fruit were particularly strong, and well elevated the 
fruit. 
6. Half-decomposed Cow or Sheep Dung. —Either of 
these, when made into a liquid and cleared with a little 
quicklime, so as to appear about the strength of pale ale or 
beer made from light-dried malt, ought to be universally 
admired by florists and horticulturists; for it is not so 
stimulating as those’ mentioned previously, and therefore 
it is better adapted for the nourishment of those plants 
that are not so quick in growth and robust in habit. 
When I was under training for the order of the spade, 
my teacher, a member of the old school, applied it after 
the first year’s cultivation to plants in pots cultivated 
for sale of Cistus, Laurestinus, Sweet Bay, Aucuba, Kalmia , 
Andromeda, Pliillyrea, Dwarf Almond, Persian Lilac ; 
also to choice varieties of Boses, herbaceous plants, and 
the stronger-growing kinds of Alpines cultivated in pots. 
It is useful for the Cineraria and Primula; and given once a 
week to Acacia grandis, pubescens, affinis, dealbata, pendula, 
linifolia, and also Chironia decussata, it renders them 
stronger in growth and more prolific in flower. 
7. The same kind of compost as that in which the plants 
are potted for cultivation, and in which they grow freely, when 
diluted with water, and made to appear about the strength 
of No. 6, nourishes them amazingly. Liquid formed in 
this way I have applied with good effect to Camellias, Pimeleas, 
Boronias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and even Ericas. Care, 
however, ought to be taken not to use it too often; for those 
I have mentioned and the like once a week will be sufficient. 
Now, I would observe, for the benefit of those who wish to 
become acquainted with the different kinds of compost, and 
the mixing of them for the cultivation of plants, that there 
is no work that can be consulted on the subject that is equal 
to The Cottage Gardener’s Dictionary ; and to those who 
wish to have information on the analysis of soils and manures 
I would recommend the careful examination of “ Chemistry 
of Agriculture and Physiology,” by Liebig, and “ Agricultural 
Chemistry,” by Johnston ; and to those who desire to obtain 
a knowledge of the anatomy and organography of plants 
“ Smith’s Introduction to Botany,” and the “ Elements of 
Botany,” by F. Schoedler, Ph.D., translated from the 
German by Henry Medlock, F.C.S-, as first works will be 
found useful.—B. B., near Halifax. 
PLANTING TOGETHER ROSES AND 
PHLOXES. 
In the spring of 1855 I planted a large bed of hybrid per¬ 
petual Boses two feet and a half apart. Being remarkably 
fond of Phloxes, the idea occurred to me of planting some 
amongst them, to keep up a succession of flowers all the 
summer. I therefore, last April, took out a spadeful of soil 
in each vacancy, and replaced it with good rich compost, 
decayed dung, and leaf mould. I then procured some good 
strong plants from pots, turned them out on the mounds, 
and gave them a good soaking of water. They have since 
received the same treatment as the Boses, viz., three good 
soakings of diluted night soil, which seems to be the favourite 
manure for these beautiful flowers, for they have grown 
amazingly, and are now, August 10th, most splendid, con¬ 
trasting well with their companions, the beautiful Boses. 
They also flower in the interval between the first and second 
blooming of the Boses. The following are the kinds I 
planted, viz., Countess of Home, Spencerii, Leonidas, Abdel 
Meschid Khan, Newmanigna, Van Iloutte, Alcardii, Caro¬ 
lina, Brilliant, Kiewaskii, Muricata, Donkelarii, Undulata, 
Variegata (beautiful variegated foliage), and several others. 
The abo. ire not tall-growing kinds, and consequently are 
well adapted for grouping with perpetual Boses. Being 
hardy and easy of culture they will endure several years, 
but flower better when kept in a young state, which may 
be done by either being raised from cuttings, or dividing 
the old roots in the spring and planting them as directed 
before.—G. T. F., Leek. 
[Your planting the Phloxes is good, but a still better place 
for them would be among Bhododendrons.] 
