610 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 26, 1894, 
of the moisture. AVhere birds are troublesome dress 
the seed thickly with red lead ; to make this adhere 
to the seeds just damp them with glycerine. A very 
little of this is sufficient, and having done this 
sprinkle the red lead among the seeds, and when 
well coated with it allow them to dry before sowing. 
By keeping the hoe well at work among them, 
thinning out at the earliest convenient opportunity 
to keep them clean of weeds, they will soon, when on 
good ground, smother the weeds and give but little 
further trouble. 
At the approach of severe frosty weather some 
should be taken up and either be placed under 
cover and these made secure from frost, or put in a 
heap in a sheltered position and well covered up with 
leaves or short litter. We prefer this method. 
Early Munich is a good variety for the earliest sow¬ 
ings, but for general culture we prefer the Snowball. 
Chirk Castle Black Stone stands the winter better 
than Snowball, but it has a most unpromising 
appearance. The Purple and Green rounds do 
remarkably well generally, and the latter from 
chalky soil is possibly the best flavoured Turnip to be 
had.—IP. B. G. 
THE FIXATION OF 
NITROGEN. 
Where and how is the free nitrogen actually fixed 
and made useful for the purposes of the plant’s life ? 
Professor Marshall Ward tells us that the view that 
it was the leaves of the plants which absorbed it, 
and that the living protoplasm of the leaf-cells was 
the agent which effected the operation, will not bear 
criticism. Then comes a second possibility. The 
bacteria, it was held, lived naturally on the soil, as 
many microbes do. They acted the part of under¬ 
ground cooks and caterers, and produced in the soil 
itself the nitrogenous food elements, which were 
duly absorbed by the plant’s own roots. Even the 
bacteria in the root-swellings, it was contended, 
might perform this work, which really enriched the 
soil, of course, and through it gave to the plant its 
nitrogen. This view of things remains for further 
elucidation. It may, therefore, be left for the 
present. 
The third possibility maintains that the fixation 
and utilisation of the air-nitrogen could be conceived 
to result from the action of the plant per se, regarded 
as stimulated to an excessive degree of energy by 
the bacterial swellings on its roots. Here the 
matter is viewed as if the bacteria on the roots acted 
the part of instigators of an action which, but for 
their encouragement and assistance, the leguminous 
plant would not be able to undertake. It is clear 
that the difficulties of the problem increase when 
this view is considered. Without the bacteria the 
plants cannot avail themselves of the free nitrogen. 
What, then, is the exact relation of the microbes to 
the plant’s work? Professor Marshall Ward, who 
inclines to this view of things, reminds us that there 
is an intimate connection between the root swellings 
and the roots themselves. These swellings are the 
seats of great activity. They are really chemical 
laboratories wherein business is always very brisk; 
so that it may well be that the living machinery of 
the plant is really stimulated in a direct degree by 
the efforts of the microbes on the roots, and that 
the plant is supplied from the root swellings with 
materials on which its own living cells can abun¬ 
dantly operate. My previous remark that the plant 
gets its food materials cooked for it in this way, by 
the microbes, serves to explain the gist of this third 
view. It may be able to assimilate cooked food 
when it could not fix that which is raw. 
Then comes the fourth and last suggestion. It is 
that the root swellings are merely so many accumu¬ 
lators of the nitrogen food, and that the plant simply 
absorbs what its microbe lodgers and boarders have 
prepared. This opinion regards the microbes as 
mere parasites ; and unless the bacteria are capable 
of absorbing the free nitrogen from the air itself, as 
Professor Marshall Ward observes, it is difficult to 
account for the gains in total nitrogen by the plant 
on this theory. This, then, is the end of this story 
of plant feeding. That its real outcome—whenever 
that shall be settled—is of immense importance to 
agriculture, cannot be doubted. Once again we see 
how the so-called " unpractical’’work of science, 
in its laboratory and with its microscope, has bear¬ 
ings of the most intimate kind on commercial pros¬ 
perity and human interests .—Andrew Wilson, M.D.^ 
in, the “ Illustrated London News." 
THE BEECHES, EAST 
ACTON. 
Of late years the growth and development of the 
suburbs of London have made such enormous 
advances that apart from the overcrowding which 
this implies, the all-fascinating pastime of gardening 
is also rendered more difficult of the best results. 
East Acton, however, unlike Acton proper, has not 
yet been wholly acquired by the speculating builder, 
has not yet been entirely absorbed into the world of 
bricks and mortar; hence it still retains some of its 
primitive simplicity, is more or less irregular in 
outline, possesses a " village green’’ and other 
recreative advantages, although it is only about four 
miles from one of London’s landmarks, to wit, the 
Marble Arch. But the onward march of time has 
also effaced much that was interesting even during 
the last century, for it is recorded that in the time of 
George III. the wells,which used to be near here, were 
resorted to by the most fashionable people of that 
period; and Mr. Brewer further writes, in 1815 ^ 
in the "Beauties of England,’’ that "an assembly 
room was built, and for a few years East Acton and 
Friar’s Place were thronged with valetudinarians 
and idle inmates, allured by the hope of remedy or 
tempted by the love of dissipation.’’ 
Both classes are now conspicuous by their absence, 
and the place not only knows them no more, but the 
building and the wells have also suffered through the 
lapse of time. No one comes now to drink the 
erstwhile favoured waters, but many rejoice still in 
the invigorating air and the general salubrity of the 
place. But to The Beeches, the ample residence of 
C. T. Sutton, Esq., who, like many other lovers of 
the beautiful, takes an abiding interest in everything 
that pertains to the garden. The Beeches, then, is 
not only euphoniously, but appropriately named. 
The Beeches (Fagus sylvatica cuprea) are just now 
the glory of the garden, they are splendidly coloured 
and present generally a very fine appearance. We 
ascertained their measurements to average:—round 
the bole at 6 ft. from the ground, 7 ft. 6 in. ; height 
about 60 ft. ; and spread of branches, 55 ft. They 
therefore cover conjointly a considerable area. They 
stand on either side the lawn, may be said to be 
twin sisters, well defined, graceful, shapely, and 
blessed with that wonderful glow of colour which 
bespeaks perfect health. They nod to each other 
all day long, are on the best of terms, and enjoy 
equally alike the sunshine and the shower. Under 
their beautiful umbrageous branches one can sit and 
muse about the mystic past, the allegorical future, 
or, like Richard Jefferies, in the present, "catch 
glimpses of fleecy clouds sailing in the ether, and 
feel intense joy in the simple fact of living.’’ 
In the garden, however, at this time of year, one 
glory follows another in such profusion that the 
mind becomes quite satisfied with the charms of 
Nature. The turf now calls for admiration ; and 
someone has said somewhere that one cultivates a 
lawn with the utmost satisfaction, for there is nothing 
more beautiful than grass or turf in our latitude. 
The tropics may have their delight, but they have 
no turf. As to the relative value of large and small 
gardens, I believe that the interest awakened in a 
garden is, almost invariably, in inverse proportion to 
its size. But this is digression—philosophy running 
away from simple facts. This particular garden, 
then, is well stocked with those miscellaneous things 
which go to make up a wholesome whole. The bush 
fruits show unmistakable signs of fertility, while 
the Apples, Pears, etc., are loaded with incipient 
fruits, A Greengage, however, has collapsed in a 
most mysterious way, and Mr. Simpson the well- 
informed gardener, who usually has an explanation 
for all defects, does not even presume an opinion 
here. The tree has a clean straight stem, a shapely 
head, is about ten years old, and bore some fruit 
last season. It still retains some life, although, not 
enough vitality to enable it to put forth leaves. Is 
this a case of arrested development, or a premonitary 
sign of decay ? 
The Roses are doing well, especially Wm. Allen 
Richardson, A. K. Williams, Bouquet d'Or, etc.; 
and the bedding stuff is only awaiting congenial 
weather to be transferred to its summer quarters. 
Water is a sine qua non, particularly in dry weather, 
and as water is freely laid on here, it follows that 
" It comes as a boon and a blessing to those 
Who work in the garden with can and with hose." 
Apeepinto the houses disclosed manygood things,but 
a pause was required in the Stove,where Mr. Simpson 
has been experimenting with artificial manures on such 
a delicate though beautiful subject as the Caladium. 
Mr. Simpson has a penchant for experiments, and as 
he is always trying to find out the why and where¬ 
fore of natural causes, he has concocted an artificial 
manure himself, which, it is needless to add, he 
prefers to any other. Besides sewage manure he 
has used other forms of plant food, which it would 
be invidious to mention ; but, judging by results, his 
own spicialite seems to hold the field. The principal 
constituents of this manure are stated by Dr. A. B. 
Griffiths to be :—Nitrogen, 12 . 21 , soluble phosphates, 
7 . 35 , insoluble phosphates, 14 . 63 , and potash, 6 . 11 . 
Moreover, not content with producing a plant 
food which analysis shows to be largely nutritious, 
he has also invented an Insecticide, which is said to 
be highly destructive to animal life. 
Insects, however, are not entirely absent even 
here, for an effectual remedy against all forms of 
plant pests has yet to be discovered. 
Gloxinias, Crotons, Eucharis, Dipladenia amabilis, 
and Clerodendron Balfourii,etc.,looked specially kind 
and although not large plants were all sufficient for 
the purposes required. The vinery and the vines 
were next inspected, and the latter exhibited all the 
marks of progress peculiar to these much sought 
after subjects. The varieties favoured here are 
Madresfield Court, Black Alicante, Gros Colmar, 
Trebbiana, etc., and, of course, the ubiquitous 
Black Hamburgh. Leaving; the humid conditions of 
this house we soon enter the conservatory, a large 
and lofty structure with a lantern roof, from which 
are suspended huge baskets of drooping or trailing 
plants, consisting principally of Fuchsias, such as 
Covent Garden AVhite and Mrs. Rundell, and Ivy- 
leaf Pelargoniums, like Konig Albert and Souv. de 
Chas. Turner. Campanulas, blue and white. Ferns, 
and other basket plants also find admission here, 
and look exceedingly effective in their several 
seasons. 
Groups of plants stand about in harmonious 
order, while others occupy the stages and more 
directly appeal to the critical eye. Amongst the 
former were hybrid Rhododendrons, Oleanders, 
Brugmansias, Cytisus, Begonia metallica. Ficus 
elastica, etc., and amongst the latter Richardias, 
Fuchsias, Ferns, herbaceous Calceolarias, Hydran¬ 
geas, etc. The Hydrangeas were particularly fine, 
with heads of bloom a foot through. They occupied 
4 ^ in. pots only, were struck last June, and had 
received three applications of the specialite. 
As there is something to admire in every garden, 
so there is something to be learnt from every gar¬ 
dener ; therefore, I think, if this be conceded, it 
will be further granted that, as every garden is a 
microcosm, or little world in itself, so every head 
gardener is a kind of autocrat, or little ruler, inas¬ 
much as he has to make provision for all his subjects 
conformably to his own requirements.— C. B. G. 
-- 
TREE MIGNONETTE. 
To have either pyramidal plants or standards of 
Mignonette for autumn and winter blooming the 
seed should be sown now in 3 -in. pots, putting three 
or four seeds in each pot, and placing the pots in a 
warm frame or on a shelf close to the glass. 
Mignonette will grow in almost any soil, but as so- 
called trees of it are destined for a longer life than 
that grown in the ordinary way, it should have the 
best available material provided for it. Good 
fibrous loam with a fourth part of well-decayed 
manure and enough charcoal broken small or old 
mortar rubbish, with thorough drainage and clean 
pots, are most essential. 
When strong enough to see which plant of the 
three or four is likely to do the best, pull out the 
others and let the selected one be secured to a stick 
to keep its stem straight. Never allow them to 
become pot-bound, but shift them on into larger 
pots as required, keeping the leading shoot always 
in advance of the rest, removing all flowering points 
at once, and never allowing any side shoots to get 
beyond their fellows, by pinching them back when 
necessary. Up to the commencement of September 
all the energies of the plant should be directed into 
the formation of growth, and to secure this end 
place the plants either in a cool damp pit or north 
house, or anywhere where the conditions are favour¬ 
able to growth and against the ripening of the wood. 
