434 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 9, 1889, 
are now enclosed and surrounded with desiccating and 
drying influences, to counteract which requires much 
more attention than with trees planted out, inasmuch 
as, owing to the smaller mass of soil employed, there is 
more difficulty in maintaining a uniform degree of 
moisture. We have hitherto spoken of water as being 
taken up by the roots, which is approximately true; 
hut it does not enter the plant as if it were poured 
in at the ends of so many open tubes, it is only by a 
system of percolation or capillary attraction that it gains 
access. Indeed, if the roots of land plants are sur¬ 
rounded by any great thickness of water they ultimately 
perish—that is what happens when a plant becomes 
what we call water-logged. And it is this condition of 
things which perplexes beginners. They may he told 
that this plant is too wet, and that the next one is too 
dry. The beginner, to try and get over this difficulty, 
gives only a little at a time, and often, which usually 
results in either of two conditions—the plant becomes 
unhealthy by reason of the roots being in a medium at 
saturation point, or (and this is the more common) the 
roots at the bottom of the pots die for want of water. 
This little-at-a-time is wrong, for more reasons 
than one. In the case of too much water, the soil does 
not get aerated. The consequence is, not only is fresh 
air prevented from entering and performing its 
functions, hut the want of it induces the formation of 
deleterious organic acids, in the presence of which 
plants do not thrive. With too little the plant has 
not enough to perform the ordinary functions of life 
and permit of growth. Therefore, obviously the best 
course to pursue is never to let the plant get over-dry, 
or the reverse. A little practice will soon teach the 
proper degree of dryness. The good old-fashioned plan 
of rapping the pot and judging by the sound is the 
simplest and one of the safest means of ascertaining 
the condition of the roots. Having satisfied oneself 
that water is required, then give sufficient to permeate 
the whole mass until it runs out at the bottom of the 
pot. But make sure that the whole mass is equally 
moist throughout. This procedure, while supplying 
the necessary amount of moisture, also aerates and 
sweetens the soil, inasmuch as the pores of the soil 
are first filled with water, which, as it runs off, draws 
in fresh air to fill the vacancy thus created. This is 
of immense advantage to the plant, as the water now 
left will he in such a finely-divided, filmy state, that 
the roots are able to lay hold of it rapidly. In this 
moist condition of the soil, all the beneficial changes 
which are brought about by contact with fresh air, 
such as oxidising, disintegrating, and rendering sol¬ 
uble part of the food reserves contained in the soil, 
are in a most active state. Therefore we cannot come 
to any other conclusion than that in watering plants 
in pots the proper course is not to give water until it 
is required, but when it is done to do it thoroughly, 
and give no more until the plant shows signs of 
becoming dry again. 
In growing plants in pots, it is of importance to keep 
the surrounding air as moist as is consistent with 
ventilation, where the medium in which they are 
growing is dry. Much may be done to ameliorate this 
by standing them on a moist surface, or plunging 
where practicable ; but where the pots required are 
large, then wood is better than pottery-ware. It may 
seem odd to say that in by far the greater majority of 
plants which have come under my notice, that have 
been injured by wrong conditions of watering, are 
those that have not had enough. If the drainage is 
good, it is surprising what a large amount will be 
required by a batch of plants in vigorous health. I 
have also seen batches of plants, which had got into 
had condition, brought back to health and vigour, when 
nothing else was done than pa} 7 ing more attention to 
maintaining a constant and more uniform supply of 
water—the plants not even being moved. It will there¬ 
fore he seen that to be an adept in watering plants is no 
mean qualification for a gardener. Unfortunately, 
there is no golden rule which can be applied equally to 
the multitudinous and exceedingly varied plants with 
which the gardener has to deal ; but, speaking 
generally, plants of a soft texture require more water 
than those which have hard wiry leaves and are of a 
woody character. Hot infrequently something may be 
learned of the plant’s requirements by external cha¬ 
racters. For example, those with thick fleshy leaves or 
stems—such as Aloes, Cactuses, Euphorbias, and Mesem- 
bryanthemums—owing to the great quantity of reserve 
moisture in themselves, do not readily suffer from 
drought. On the contrary, periods of drought are 
beneficial to them, although when in active growth 
they are thirsty. Similar to these are bulbs of all 
kinds, to which a superabundance of water, when 
active growth has ceased, would do more harm than 
good, and in many instances the drier they are the 
better. Plants that have hairy leaves, or those that 
have special depositions of matter—such as Gesneracese 
in the first, and Bromeliads in the last—have generally 
a thin coating of white furfuraceous matter on the 
leaves, and are impatient of excess of water. Then 
there is a class of plants, peculiar to Australia and Hew 
Zealand, whose leaves are replaced by flattened 
branchlets. Many of these are difficult to manage, as 
they are impatient of either excess at the root or in the 
air. In all cases, the great point is to water before the 
plants show signs of distress. Thus it is much better 
to anticipate events than to he late. Plants under 
glass are liable to suffer sooner than wonld the same 
planted outside, where it is rare to find the soil abso¬ 
lutely dry to any great depth ; besides, in many cases, 
they would draw moisture from a lower depth. But 
this, with plants in pots, would he an impossibility. 
In extraordinary emergencies it is necessary to snr- 
round the pot with a moist atmosphere, as well as to 
give water at the root. 
-- 
THE ASSESSMENT OF NUR¬ 
SERIES TO THE POOR'S RATE. 
‘We take the following important statements on this 
subject from the report of the committee of the Hursery 
and Seed Trade Association, to he presented at the 
annual meeting on Monday next: — 
“ The question as to the assessment of nurseries to 
the poor’s rate has again received the attention of the 
committee. The opinion of an eminent counsel has 
been taken on the subject, and the following were the 
questions submitted to him, and his answers thereto. 
Q. Should the assessment be made on the amount of 
the rent reserved by the lease, as representing the 
■‘annual value”? 
A. Ho ; the annual rent is only evidence in the case 
as to the proper “ annual value,” which is that named 
in the 6 and 7 William IV., cap. 96 ; sec. 1., and no 
other. 
Q. Does the lessor’s right (under the Agricultural 
Holdings’ Acts, 1875 and 1883) of purchase, in priority 
to others, of greenhouses erected by the lessee affect the 
question as to the annual value ? 
A. Ho. 
Q. Should the “annual value” be taken as appli¬ 
cable to the lessee only ; if so, by what means should 
the “ annual value ” be ascertained ? 
A. The proper test is, what would be the rent which 
the hypothetical tenant mentioned in the Act of 
William IV., would give for the premises such as they 
are, and used as they are. The deductions to be made 
are also named in the Act. 
Q. Are greenhouses to be considered as implements 
of trade, or as trade fixtures ? 
A. In my opinion they are clearly trade fixtures {See 
Penton v. Eobart, Woodfalls’ landlord, and tenant, chap. 
16 ; sec. S ; and refer also to 14 and 15, Vic. cap. 25 ; 
sec. 3). 
Q. What is the proper amount at which the assess¬ 
ment should be made ? 
A. The question of amount is a pure question of fact, 
and must be fixed in accordance with the Act of 
William IV. It is quite clear that chattels and trade 
fixtures cannot he rated as such (See Band 4 Vic., c., 
89, and Chidley v. West Ram Local Board), but it is 
quite another question whether they should not be 
taken into account as enhancing the value of premises 
or tenements. In my opinion the greenhouses must be 
taken into account tor the purpose of arriving at the 
rateable value of these nursery gardens, and taken into 
account as enhancing the value of the hereditaments in 
question. And the question will be (subject to the 
statutory declarations to be made), what might the 
premises with these greenhouses upon them be reason¬ 
ably expected to let at from year to year, free of all 
usual tenants’ rates and taxes. This point is completely 
concluded by authority (See Tyne Boiler Works v. 
Tynemouth Union; Laing v. Bishopwearmouth Local 
Board; Regina v. Lee ; Regina v. Quest; Regina v. 
Haslara and Regina v. Wells). The fact that the 
land is partially consumed in the process of gardening, 
and selling makes no difference (See Regina v. 
Westbrook). And the fact that such consumption has 
to he replaced, is important only as bearing on the 
question of deductions. As the (the rent of the 
nursery in question) is paid for the grounds, without 
the greenhouses it is obviously not the rateable value. 
With regard, however, to the local rates, the matter 
stands on a different basis. By the Public Health Act, 
1875, “the occupier of any lands used as market 
gardens or nursery grounds, shall be assessed in respect 
of the same in the proportion of one-fourth part only 
of the net annual value thereof.” 
It has been decided by the Court of Appeal, that 
land with greenhouses upon it used for the purpose of 
growing fruit, vegetables, &c., for the market, consti¬ 
tutes a market garden or nursery ground within the 
meaning of the Act. notwithstanding this decision, 
however, it is still the practice of several local autho¬ 
rities to assess nurserymen on the full net annual 
value. Your committee recommend the members who 
are thus assessed to communicate with the secretarv, in 
order that steps may be taken to reduce the assessments. 
To illustrate the matter, assuming the assessment 
to the poor to he £50, and the local rate 6 d. in the £, 
the nursery grounds should be assessed at one-fourth of 
the assessment to the poor (£50), i.e., £12 10s. Or/., 
and the rate levied at 6 d. in the £ on that amount.” 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
It was with much pleasure that I read the notes on the 
prominent Chrysanthemums of 1S8S, by your corre¬ 
spondent “P.,” which appeared in The Gaedexesg 
Woeld of February 23rd. I can endorse much that 
“ P." said respecting some of the varieties mentioned ; 
hut, generally speaking, I do not consider that he has 
attached sufficient importance to some of the valuable 
incurved varieties—Miss M. A. Haggas, to wit. This is 
a valuable incurved variety, obtained as a sport from 
Mrs. Heale, from which it differs in the flowers being 
of a clear yellow colour. It was certificated by the 
H. C. S. last season, and was regarded with much 
favour by the large body of experts present as one of 
the greatest acquisitions of the season to its class. 
H. Shoesmith, I understand, originated as a sport from 
Mr. Bunn, and certainly it was last season awarded a 
First Class Certificate by the Floral Committee of the 
H. C. S. as Bronze Mr. Bunn. It has flowers similar 
in size and form to Mr. Bunn, but the colour is a rich 
orange-shaded fawn. [It is a sport from Golden 
Beverley.— Ed.] 
The new varieties exhibited at the Hull Chrysan¬ 
themum Show included a fine bronze sport from Mr. 
Bunn, shown by Mr. Smith, Pauli, near Hull. This 
was provisionally named Bronze Mr. Bunn, and 
awarded a First Class Certificate. It is similar in colour 
to H. Shoesmith, but of a more golden hue. Perle 
Precieuse (Delaux, 1887), is a perfect incurved variety 
with high centre ; colour bright purple, shaded rose, with 
very broad petals ; this, in my opinion, is a very valu¬ 
able variety, and a fine addition to its class. Alfred 
Lyne: unless this variety differs very much from its 
parent, Hovelty, it will never make an exhibition 
variety. In passing, I think a word might be said in 
reference to the slow progress made in raising new 
incurved varieties from seed; the subject is often talked 
about, but no one seems to he enterprising enough to 
make the attempt. There is yet ample room for a 
greater diversity of colour on the lines of more brilliancy 
and more decided shades of crimson, pink, and deep 
rich purple, with the size and form of the Queen family. 
There are some valuable varieties in the other sections 
which call for special mention, inasmuch as that they 
came well to the front last season, viz., Yiel d’Or, old 
gold colour, a grand flower, after the style of Golden 
Dragon, but a little narrower in the petal, a much fuller 
flower. Magicienne (Japanese), an immense show 
flower of a perfectly novel colour, fawn, shaded bronze 
and yellow ; it well merits the Certificate obtained for 
it by Mr. E. Owen last season. Charles Sharman(syn. 
Pres. Spalding) must be mentioned as a great improve¬ 
ment upon the variety Sultan and others of the same 
type ; the flowers are large and of a purplish-rose colour. 
Madame Baeo is another variety likely to be more 
generally grown for the exhibition table this coming 
season ; its colour is a very pleasant light pink, of fine 
build and size. Mons. Bernard not only retains its 
foliage well, but also its flowers ; one great merit the 
blooms possess, namely, good keeping qualities, for I 
have good reason to know that one plant was exhibited 
at five different exhibitions last season, after which it 
did not seem much the worse. I venture to say that 
this will hold its own, both as a cut flower for exhi¬ 
bition and as a plant for grouping with any other 
variety in cultivation. Mons. Bergman (Delaux) is a 
bright golden yellow, after the style of Mr. Garnar, 
but richer and much deeper in colour. Madame Louise 
Leroy, one of this season’s novelties, is an excellent 
addition to the white varieties, the flowers being large, 
full, very neat, and remarkable for their purity. This 
I consider one of the best continental novelties of last 
season. 
Stanstead "White combines all the good qualities 
necessary to make it a favourite, and I shall be sur¬ 
prised if it does not occupy a much higher position as 
an exhibition variety next season. In a contemporary, 
a few weeks ago, Mr. Molyneux remarked that 
Stanstead White was spoken of very highly by some 
persons, but that he could never see much in it to 
admire. I had the pleasure of seeing it exhibited at 
