20 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 12, 1885. 
bestow other form of praise for big flowers of any kind 
that have the merit of being big, and nothing else 
pleasing are hardly worthy of much consideration. 
There is a great deal that is interesting, and very much 
that is beautiful about the Sunflower family, but large 
blooms are always the least meritorious. Plants which 
have had the leading bloom buds removed, and thus 
encouraged to produce many smaller ones from the side 
shoots, are indeed very meritorious objects. The per¬ 
ennial multiflorus, both in single and double forms, are 
highly decorative and valuable autumn border flowers. 
Those allied Sunflowers, found in Harpalium rigidum, 
Rudbeckias, and similar things, are also worthy of wide 
cultivation and are invaluable in gardens. These 
varieties, however, it is feared, will not attract much 
attention from our Reading friends. 
“The Golden Elder,” Sambucus nigra aurea, 
is a conspicuous plant just now in shrubbery borders, 
with its golden yellow leaves ; it is a very distinct and 
beautiful shrub, and one which retains its colour longer 
than any other variegated form. It is most suitably 
adapted for planting among shrubs, or for effective 
grouping ; the summer now passing away has just 
suited it, and it has retained its golden colour well. It 
is of quick free growth, like most of its race and may 
be kept to any size by periodical pruning. 
Catalpa syringe folia aurea. —Writing of the 
Golden Elder, reminds us how seldom this handsome 
plant is met with. That it is not yet sufficiently well- 
known, there can be no doubt, otherwise it would be 
more frequently employed, for as a decorative deciduous 
tree it would be difficult to conceive anything more 
handsome ; the golden yellow of its large cordate leaves 
during summer and autumn, rendering it somewhat 
conspicuous among the masses of greenery too often 
seen unrelieved in gardens at this time. 
The value of Sulphate of Ammonia as a Manure, 
is the subject of a paper in the Journal of Gas Lighting 
by Mr. F. J. Lloyd, Lecturer on Agriculture at Kings’ 
College. Mr. Lloyd states that both nitrate of soda 
and sulphate of ammonia have both a manurial value, 
and both owe this value to the same fact—viz., that 
they contain nitrogen. In the one the nitrogen exists 
combined with hydrogen as ammonia; in the other, 
combined with oxygen as nitric acid. It is a well- 
known fact that 100 parts of commercial sulphate of 
ammonia, of 94 refraction, such as is now usually sold 
for manurial purposes, contains about 20 parts or more 
of nitrogen ; while the detrimental impurities, the 
various cyanides, which used twelve or more years ago 
to be somewhat prevalent in sulphates of ammonia, are 
now seldom to be met with. On the other hand, com¬ 
mercial nitrate of soda, of 95 refraction, contains little 
less than 16 parts of nitrogen. Hence, unless it can be 
shown that the nitrogen in sulphate of ammonia is less 
valuable to the farmer than the nitrogen in nitrate of 
soda, it is evident that, so long as a ton of nitrate of soda 
can be bought for £10 (which is approximately its 
present price), sulphate of ammonia is worth £12 10s. a 
ton. How is the nitrogen of ammonia as valuable to 
the farmer as the nitrogen of nitrate ? In order to 
answer this question, which lies at the root of the 
whole subject, it is necessaiy to briefly state some facts 
regarding the function of the roots of the plant, and 
the properties of the soil. The majority of plants take 
most, if not all, their nitrogen from the soil as nitric 
acid. There can he no doubt, therefore, that nitrate of 
soda will act upon vegetation more rapidly than sul¬ 
phate of ammonia. But it is equally certain that every 
properly cultivated soil possesses to a high degree the 
power of nitrification— that is, it converts all nitro¬ 
genous substances gradually into nitric acid. Ammonia 
is one of the substances most easily so converted. 
Hence it is certain that, when sulphate of ammonia is 
used as a manure, the soil will gradually convert the 
ammonia into nitric acid, and supply to the plant nitro¬ 
gen really in the very same form as is supplied by nitrate 
of soda. So far it is evident, then, that nitrate of soda 
is only more beneficial than sulphate of ammonia, 
inasmuch as it acts upon vegetation more rapidly. 
Aberdeen Autumn Show. —This show took place 
on Thursday last, Sept. 10th, and proved to be the 
best ever held in Aberdeen. The Queen’s Prize for the 
best collection of fruit, was won by Mr. Fairgrieve, 
gardener to the Dowager Duchess of Athol, with a 
remarkably finejcollection ; Mr. Forrest, gardener to 
the Earl of Aberdeen, was second, and Mr. Clark, 
gardener to E. AYeymes, Esq., AYeymes Castle, third. 
THE GRAPE SHOW. 
The exhibition of Grapes, held at South Kensington, 
on Tuesday and Wednesday last, was somewhat of a 
disappointment, both as regards its extent and useful¬ 
ness, for, as a show of grapes, it was no better than 
many that have been seen before, and though each of 
the twenty-six sorts specially named in the schedule, 
and some four or five others shown in a class for “any 
other variety,” were represented by good average sam¬ 
ples, they taught us nothing that was not known by 
practical men, while owing to the absence of any infor¬ 
mation, of an official character, to the crowds of visitors 
who passed through the Conservatory from the Inven¬ 
tions Exhibition, they were simply grapes and nothing 
more. 
For such late sorts as Alicante, Lady Downe’s Seed¬ 
ling, Barbarossa, &c., the date was a little too early, 
consequently, it was not surprising that such showy 
sorts were not forthcoming in large numbers. In the 
Alicante class there were seven samples, and the first 
prize went to Mr. Howe, gardener to H. Tate, Esq., 
Park Hill, Streatham Common, for two finely finished 
bunches, weighing 10 \ lbs. For the next prize, Air. 
Lowrjq gardener, Belmont, Mill Hill, and Air. Pratt, 
Longleat, were adjudged equal, and J. F. Campbell, 
Esq., Uttoxeter, was third. That handsome show 
variety, Alnwick Seedling, was represented by fine 
samples, and all were so good, that prizes were awarded 
to them. Air. PI. J. Clayton, Grimston Park Gardens, 
Tadeaster, was placed first. Air. AVallis, Keele Hall 
Gardens, and Air. Roberts, Gunnersbury, equal second ; 
and Air. J. Hudson, Gunnersbury House, and Air. 
Goodacre, Elvaston, equal third. Perfect-shaped 
bunches, good berries, and high finish were the charac¬ 
teristic features of them all. 
The popular Black Hamburgh, strange to say, was 
also represented by only five samples. The largest 
bunches came from Air. Pratt, hut too late to be judged 
with the others, though subsequently placed equal first 
with good well-finished examples from Mr. Roberts, 
while the second and third best lots, in every way 
creditable ones, came respectively from Air. Vert, gar¬ 
dener, Audley End, Saffron Walden, and Air. J. Read, 
Alonk Alount, Alill Hill. Only two samples of Black 
Prince were staged, the best coming from Air. J. Bair 1, 
gardener to C. A. Daw, Esq., Homefield, Ealing, but 
neither were particularly good. Of Buckland Sweet¬ 
water there were also five lots, and here Air. Roberts 
again came to the front with bunches of good size and 
large well-ripened berries. The second best came from 
Air. Stephen Castle, AVest Lynn, and the third from 
Air. G. R. Allis, Old AYarden Park, Biggleswade. The 
handsome-looking Duke of Buccleuch had only three 
exhibitors, and the fine bunches with large evenly- 
swelled berries, shown by Air. Allen, of Gunton, easily 
secured the highest honours. Air. J. Read secured the 
only prize awarded for Dutch Hamburghs, and Air. 
Hill, gardener to Lord Rothschild, Tring Park, was 
similarly placed in the class for the round white-berried 
Dr. Hogg, with a well-finished sample. The useful 
Foster’s Seedling had seven representatives, and Air. 
Allen’s (equal first prize) bunches were especially fine, 
being large and of good shape, and the berries large and 
perfectly ripened and coloured. Air. Aides, AA’ycombe 
Abbey, who always shows this variety well, was placed 
equal first for smaller bunches, with remarkably fine 
berries and splendidly finished. Air. Horsefield, gar¬ 
dener to Lord Heyteshury, was a good second, and Air. 
T. Taylor, gardener to J. Alclntosli, Esq., Dunevan, 
Oatlands Park, came in third. Pearson’s Golden 
Queen, except when its golden colour is perfectly 
brought out, is never an attractive-looking Grape, and, 
perhaps, for that reason is not much grown. There 
were only two samples on view to-day, but they were 
good in all points but colour, and the leading prizes 
went to Air. H. Folkes, gardener, Gaddesden Place, 
Hemel Hempstead, and Air. AA r allis. Gros Colmar, 
always so attractive by reason of its immense berries, 
deep black colour, and fine bloom, was a very poor 
class ; only four lots, and those which took the first 
prize, much rubbed. These came from Air. Dawes, gar¬ 
dener to the Hon. Airs. Aleynell Ingram, Temple 
Newsome, near Leeds, who, with the same bunches he 
had at the Crystal Palace the previous week, was 
also first with Barbarossa. AA’ith medium-sized but 
perfectly-finished bunches of Gros Alaroc, Air. 
Roberts was again first, Air. Aides and Air. AVallis 
poming in second and third iij the same class. 
The six samples of Lady Downe’s were all good, 
though a little more colour would have been advan¬ 
tageous all round. The first prize bunches from Air. 
Hollingworth, AA'oodseat, Uttoxeter, were specially fine, 
having much larger shoulders than is usually seen in 
this variety. Air. AVallis and Air. Allis were the other 
winners. Ho exception could be taken to the five lots 
of Aladresfield Court, all of which were good. Air. 
Hudson, who always finishes this grape well, was first, 
Air. Goodacre, second, and Air. J. Yeft, third. Of four 
dishes of Mrs. Pearson, Air. Allen, Gunton, and Air. 
Horsefield, were respectively first and second, both 
showing good samples, Air. Horsefield’s especially being 
of a rich golden colour. Airs. Pince’s Black Muscat, 
though shown by seven exhibitors, was only by Air. 
Pratt staged in first-class condition ; and the two lots 
of Alill Hill Hamburgh, were both below par. Aluscat 
Champion was shown only by Air. Roberts, but Aluscat 
Hamburgh was fairly well shown by Air. Goodacre, Air. 
Horsefield, and Air. Allen. The Aluscat of Alexandria 
class was the best of all, there being nine competitors, 
from among whom, Air. Lowry, Air. Pratt, and Air. 
Roberts came to the front with good well-ripened ex¬ 
amples. Air. J. Read was first for Royal Aluscadine ; 
Air. Hollingworth for Trebbiano ; Air. Baird for AYest's 
St. Peter’s ; and Air. Roberts for AYliite Tokay. In 
the any other variety class, Air. J. AYells was first with 
Cooper’s Black, a variety very closely resembling Gros 
Colmar, and Air. Horsefield second, with Chatsworth 
Seedling, one of the varieties raised at Chilwell. 
, . 
GLADIOLUS COLVILLI ALBA. 
This charming early-flowering variety, known also 
as The Bride, is most valuable for general decorative 
purposes, and now is the time to be getting in a supply. 
It differs materially in this respect from the hybrids of 
gandavensis, and others, which at the present time are 
among the showiest of flowers in the open ground. 
The majority of bulb orders will be fast finding their 
way to the various nurserymen, and a few of these 
should be included. By way of precaution to those 
unacquainted with it, I would remark that they 
must not expect corms of equal size to those of gauda- 
vensis or brenchleyensis, if so, they will be very much 
disappointed ; a good sized conn of this Gladiolus is 
about equal to that of the large yellow Crocus, with 
which most people are familiar. 
Unlike the many species and forms of this genus, 
this one invariably produces from four to six growths, 
each of these bearing from eight to twelve pure white 
flowers, so that its usefulness may readily be imagined. 
Its greatest value is realised when grown as a pot plant, 
and for this purpose it should be potted as soon as 
received in good sandy loam, or loam and peat in equal 
parts, placing four in a 48-sized pot, covering them 
with about 2 ins. of sod. They may then be placed 
under similar conditions to the remainder of bulbous 
plants in pots, and as the pots are filled with roots they 
may be introduced into slight warmth. Thus treated 
the earliest will flower about Easter, when white flowers, 
such as this, are valuable. For the open border they 
may be planted from the middle of September to the 
middle of October, and a light, though rich sandy loam 
well drained, is preferred. It is quite hardy, and in¬ 
crease with wonderful rapidity.— J. 
-*«£<-- 
GARDENS ROUND EOOLES. 
lx has long been thought that fruits could not be 
grown profitably on this side of Alaneliester, and those 
who have seen the vast quantities of choice fruits which 
are sentrinto town from other places, and thence dis¬ 
persed throughout the country, and no attempt made 
to grow them for sale near at hand, must have thought 
that there really was some foundation for the common 
belief. But never was there a greater error, for we 
question if there are many places even in more favoured 
localities where finer Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, and 
Pines are to be found than at Buile Hill, Pendleton, 
the residence of Air. Alderman Bennett. The mansion 
is of imposing appearance, standing on the brow of a 
hill. It was formerly a place of note as the residence 
of Sir John Potter, ALP., the first Mayor of Alaneliester, 
and was purchased by Air. Bennett from T. B. Potter, 
Esq., AI.P. for Rochdale. It is worthy of note that 
here are still to be seen several Azaleas of large size, 
