August 8, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
787 
all over with pale yellow or white markings. There 
is a large collection of Begonias of the Rex type, and 
very handsome is the foliage of Bessie McGrigor, 
which is gray with a green centre. B. decora is 
characterised by its velvety colour, very hairy 
surface, and yellovvish-green veins. B. Rajah is a 
strikingly distinct type of a bronzy hue with dark 
green veins. 
Flowering Plants under Glass. 
None of the Stanhopeas have a bolder appearance 
than S. tigrina, the sepals of which are heavily 
striped and blotched with purple The petals have 
heavy, transverse, crimson-purple bands, with a 
crimson-purple base. Dendrobium dalhousieanum 
flowered a short time ago, and D. bracteosum, with 
its small rosy flowers and scarlet lip, seems never out 
of season. Masdevallia harryana Bull's Blood is a 
very dark and scarce variety. 
In one of the greenhouses Hypericum sinense con¬ 
tinues to bloom over a very loDg period. H. 
mosserianum tricolor is valued both for the sake of 
its foliage and flowers. Lotus Peliorhynchus or 
Pelican's Beak, has pendent stems, glaucous, linear 
leaves and rich scarlet flowers. Hydrangea panicu- 
lata grandiflora has been flowering splendidly for 
some time past, with panicles more than a foot in 
length. The common H. hortensis also makes a 
fine display with its large bunches of blcom. 
Trachelium caeruleum is a useful greenhouse plant 
with its corymbs of small blue-purple flowers. The 
Nash Court variety of Lapageria rosea has very 
large and dark flowers spotted with white in the 
interior, and seems to flower practically all the year 
round. 
Gloxinias are grown in greater quantity this year 
than they have been for seme time past, and many 
beautiful varieties may be noted, having white, red, 
and spotted flowers, or banded or edged with white 
as the case may be. Others again are purple, dark 
velvety^purple, with a white edge, violet-purple, with 
and without white borders to the segments. 
Hardy Flowers. 
Several beds of selected varieties of Antirrhinums 
have been very gay for a long time past. There is a 
bed each of Album floribundum, white, Laing's 
Crimson, and a yellow variety,which are very choice 
of their kind. Violas are grown in some quantity 
and variety, and a few of the choicer ones only we 
noted. Rosine is purple with white upper petals. 
The miniature, white and highly fragrant Violetta is 
also well known. Wm. Niel is still the best of the 
soft rose varieties. Duchess of Sutherland is a soft 
lavender or mauve, which is very popular for 
bedding purposes. Royal Sovereign is a soft prim¬ 
rose variety. Named varieties of Pentstemons and 
Phloxes are grown here in some quantity. 
Hardy border plants proper are a special feature 
of the various collections here ; and this section has 
been supplemented by a collection of aquatics. 
Lathyrus latifolius has done very well notwithstand¬ 
ing the drought. The scarlet flowers ofPentstemon 
(Chelone) barbatus are al ways attractive. Campanula 
Pseudo-Raineri has large purple flowers on very 
dwarf stems. C. G. F. Wilson is also grown in some 
quantity and flowers very freely. The white flowers 
of Linaria repens alba at a short distance are not 
unlike those of Lily of the Valley. The special 
characteristic of Chrysanthemum filiforme is the 
narrow or thread-like form of some of the inner 
florets of the ray. A bed of Chrysanthemum maxi¬ 
mum has done very well this year. Verbascum 
olympicum is one of the stateliest of the species of 
Mullein with large yellow flowers. 
Carnations are grown in considerable quantity, 
and amongst those we noted were Germania, Mrs. 
Reynolds Hole, Old Clove, and Comtesse de Paris, 
all well known and popular kinds. The latter is a 
delicate flesh-coloured variety; and Niphetos is 
white as the name would imply. A large number of 
varieties are grown, besides those choice sorts. 
Border varieties also receive attention. 
A very distinct Hollyhock is Althaea ficifolia, on 
account of the deeply divided foliage, resembling to 
some extent that of the common Fig, as the specific 
name is intended to imply. The flowers are of 
various shades of yellow. The plants were raised 
from seeds sown in February of last year, so that 
they are now flowering for the second time. 
Violet Farms.—There are two of these in the 
United States managed entirely by women. 
BEGONIAS FROM WRAWBY BRIGG. 
Some time ago we noted some double Begonias, in¬ 
cluding a very fine double crimson named Charles 
Leeson, from this source. Mr. Chris. Leeson, 
Begonia Grower, Wrawby, Brigg, Lines, dow sends 
us some very select single varieties. The finest in 
our opinion was that named Miss. Emily Atkinson, a 
pure white variety, producing flowers 6 in. in 
diameter, and of great substance. All the rest were 
well-formed and select flowers of their kind. Choice 
and delicate was Mrs. West, with circular, blush 
flowers of great substance. An orange-scarlst 
seedling of ’95 was even of greater substance, large 
and perfectly circular. Another bloom of it, some¬ 
what older, measured within a fraction of 6 in. in 
diameter. The rest of the blooms were smaller, but 
of the same high standard of quality. Edmund 
Aubertin, a bright red sort, measured 4^ in. across. 
In the way of colour, a bright rose seedling of '95 
was charming; when fully developed the flowers 
measure 5 in. across. A magenta-rose seedling of 
’94 was also very choice in its way. Only young 
flowers were sent, but when at their best they reach 
a width of 5 in. A bright orange-coloured variety 
with a yellow base, would also make an ornamental 
subject, provided the habit of the plant is good. 
That would also apply to all of the others above- 
mentioned, except Miss Emily Atkinson, of which we 
have photographs, and hope to be able to illustrate 
in an early issue of The Gardening World. 
Accompanying the above was a pale buff-salmon 
variety, a seedling of last year, but although of good 
form, we could not admire the colour so much as 
that of the others. It was one of the most distinct 
all the same. 
-- 
WATERFORD SUMMER SHOW. 
The annual show of the Waterford Horticultural 
Society was 'held in the spacious and beautiful 
Courthouse Grounds, Waterford, Ireland, on the 
22nd ult. The grounds are admirably adapted for 
meetings of this kind, and the convenience of exhibi¬ 
tors aod visitors alike. Plants and cut flowers were 
arranged in a large Marquee, and the vegetables 
were accommodated in a tent behind it. The com¬ 
petition in the various classes was far above the 
average, both in numbers and quality, and this can¬ 
not but add materially to the reputation of the 
Waterford show. Both amateurs and professional 
gardeners surpassed their previous efforts. 
In the gardeners' division the first prize for six 
foliage plants was carried off by Lord Carew 
(gardener, Mr. John McLennan), Castleboro’, with a 
very fine let of plants, including Acalyphas 5ft.high. 
He was followed by W. G. D. Goff, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. Hugh Innes), Glenville. The Pelargoniums 
were a special feature of the show and the first 
awards for zonal varieties, single and double, were 
taken by C.E.Denny, Esq.(gardener, Mr. R.Coghlan). 
He also secured the leading prize offered by Messrs. 
J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, for a collection of 
vegetables. The huge Maidenhair Ferns exhibited 
by W. G. D. Goff, Esq , elicited warm admiration ; 
and his Orchids are acknowledged to be unique in 
that part of Ireland. Amongst the interesting plants 
he exhibited, were Cypripediums; Cattleya Rex, 
Oncidium Papilio, and the old-fashioned but beauti¬ 
ful Colax jugosus, not often seen there. These 
flowers created much interest amongst the visitors. 
The Marquis of Waterford (gardener, Mr. Thomas 
Singleton), Curraghmore, carried off the first prize 
for Pelargoniums in another class. William Goff 
Pim, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Michael Hartley), Summer 
Grove, Mountmellick, secured the leading prize for 
Pansies, with a very fine array. W. Richardson, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. John Stack), was awarded the 
leading prizes for Marechal Niel Roses, Sweet Peas, 
six H. P. Roses, and in addition gained Saunders’ 
Cup. The Cockscombs were a feature of his exhibit 
on account of their size and rich colours. J. N. 
White, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. Taylor), received the 
first award for Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, and 
Saunders’ Cup for Begonias. A very fine exhibit of 
Begonias was also set up by Messrs.R.Hartland & Son, 
Lough Nurseries, Cork. Some of his finer varieties 
were Dr. Nanson, Madame L. Barrone, St. Didier, 
and M. Dgony, which were very much admired. 
Mrs. Malcolmson, Ballinakill (gardener, Mr. Cole), 
showed creditable exhibits in several classes. Lord 
Ashbrook (gardener, Mr. J.L.McKellar), was awarded 
the first and second prizes for double Begonias, in 
spite of great competition against him. Few blooms 
could come near those of Madame de la Sinder and 
Henshaw Russell shown by him. He also took the 
leading place for Zinnias, Carnations, and Roses, 
defeating all comers with some fine blooms of 
Niphetos. About 300 Carnations and Picotees 
were shown by Mr. Wm. Watson, Clontarf Nur¬ 
series. 
In the classes for vegetables the Marquis of 
Waterford, was awarded the first prizes for Red 
Currants, Broad Beans, Cos. Lettuce, and Peas. 
Potato Windsor Castle came in for recognition 
likewise in his collection of vegetables. N. A. 
Power, Esq/(gardener, T. Fitzpatrick), Bellevue, 
had the best green Gooseberries. William Goff 
Pim, Esq., secured the first prizes for Peaches, 
Melons, Carrots, and Vegetable Marrows. Levia¬ 
than Onions and Duke of Albany Peas drew a con¬ 
siderable amount of attention on account of their 
high quality. F. Jacob, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. 
Morrissey), Newtown, took three first prizes for 
Gooseberries. E. A. White, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
James Bagge), showed the best bunch of white 
Grapes, which has never been beaten, perhaps, in this 
part of Ireland so early in the season. He took the 
same high position for black Grapes, and was highly 
commended for Strawberries. 
* 
ON THE ADMIXTURE OF MANURES. 
There are many manures which deteriorate in value 
when mixed together. This may be due either to 
the volatilization of one of the constituents or the 
conversion of a soluble into an insoluble compound. 
Loss owing to the former cause is possible in the 
case of sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, 
and deterioration owing to the latter cause is possible 
in that of superphosphate of lime. To render this 
comprehensible it is necessary to state very shortly 
the chemical principles involved. 
All these substances are salts, i.e. compounds pro¬ 
duced by the union of an acid and a base. Thus— 
Sulphate of ammonia] 
Nitrate of sola l 
Phosphate of lime j 
is the product 
of combina¬ 
tion of 
sulphuric acid and 
ammonia 
nitric acid and seda 
phosphoric acid and 
lime 
While sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda are 
neutral salts, superphosphate of lime is an acid, salt, 
and contains three times as much phosphoric acid in 
proportion to lime as the insoluble phosphate of 
lime in bones or mineral phosphates. Basic slag, 
on the contrary, is a basic phosphate and contains 
excess of lime. 
Acids and bases may be either fixed or volatile. 
Ammonia is a volatile base ; soda and lime are fixed 
bases. Nitric acid volatilizes when heated, sulphuric 
and phosphoric acids are not easily volatilized. 
Ammonia is set free therefore when the sulphate is 
mixed with lime or any other fixed base, and nitric 
acid is set free when nitrate of soda is mixed with 
sulphuric or phosphoric acids, thus— 
Sulphate of ammonia f- lime = sulphate of lime f ammonia. 
Nitrate of soda + phosphoric acid = phosphate of soda + 
nitric acid. 
Carbonate of lime (chalk) acts like lime, though 
somewhat more slowly, and so also will gas-lime 
since it contains free lime-. It will now be possible 
to understand the loss arising from mixing certain 
manures. 
Sulphate of ammonia. —If mixed with lime or 
substances containing excess of lime like basic 
slag, loss of ammonia by volatilization is sure to 
occur. Since chalk acts like lime, though more slowly, 
there is some danger of loss if sulphate of ammonia 
be allowed to lie on the surface of very chalky land, 
but as soon as the salt is washed into the land by 
rain there is no further loss, owing to the power that 
soil possesses of absorbing ammonia. Since guano 
contains salts of ammonia, the same statements will 
hold good for this manure. 
Nitrate of soda.—As the nitrogenous portion of 
this salt is an acid, there is no danger of loss by 
mixing with lime cr basic slag. Loss, however, 
may be caused by mixing nitrate of soda with super¬ 
phosphate of lime which acts upon it like a free 
acid. It is well known that reaction occurs when 
the two manures are mixed in a heap, and if the 
mass becomes hot, nitric acid is sure to be lost by 
volatilization. 
Whether loss of nitric acid would occur, if the mix¬ 
ture were at once spread upon the land, is doubtful, 
for in that case very slight rise in temperature would 
occur. There is, however, another source of danger, 
viz.the deleterious action of free nitric acid upon 
