20 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 11, 1897. 
name for the latter is “ stickstoff,” conse¬ 
quently the great chemical firm of Meister, 
Lucius and Briining, who are responsible 
for the term, may look at the possible con¬ 
fusion of names in this country with great 
unconcern. 
In the September number of Knowledge 
Mr. C. F. Townsend, F.C.S., gives an 
interesting article on the subject ofNitragin, 
commenting generally upon the interdepend¬ 
ence of the higher animals and microscopi¬ 
cal animal parasites for their mutualwell-be¬ 
ing as well as upon the higher and lower 
vegetable organisms from the same point of 
view. At one time the parasites were believed 
to be harmful, but are now known to be 
“ absolutely essential to the lives of their 
hosts.” In proceeding to explain the use of 
the nodules on the roots of Peas, Beans, 
Vetches, &c., Mr. Townsend mentions the 
fact that many farmers, especially on the 
Continent, grow a crop of some leguminous 
subject in order to prepare the land for 
wheat or other grain. They were well 
aware of the advantage of so doing, but of 
the reason they were ignorant. The prac¬ 
tice is very ancient, for we read that Virgil 
while speaking of fallowing and other 
methods of renovating the soil for grain, 
according to Dryden’s translation, says :— 
“ At least where vetches, pulse, and tares have 
stood, 
And stalks of lupines grew (a stubborn wood), 
The ensuing season, in return may bear, 
The bearded product of thegolded year." 
Within the last few years it has been 
discovered that Peas, Beans, Vetches, &c., 
have the power of fixing and utilising the 
free nitrogen of the air, and that the nodules 
on the roots are the channels through 
which thisallimportantoperation is effected. 
A thimbleful of soil contains millions of the 
bacteria, some of which invade the sub¬ 
stance of the root hairs, stimulating them 
to intense action, with the result that they 
develop into the complicated growths 
termed nodules, in which the fixation of 
nitrogen, under the influence of the bac¬ 
teria, takes place. If the plants are well 
supplied with nitrogenous food by artificial 
means, the nodules do not take nitrogen 
from the air, so that, as they still continue 
to be formed, they must have some other 
function to perform in the economy of the 
plant, but which remains to be discovered. 
It has been found possible to isolate 
the organisms that form the nodules, 
by cultivation and selection. Dr. J. A. 
Voelcker has been making experiments and 
recently delivered an instructive lecture, 
with illustrations and micro-photographs of 
the organisms, at a meeting of the Society 
of Chemical Industry. Red, white, and 
other species of Clover patronise eight 
different forms, or possibly stages of the 
same individual, the final shape being a 
three-pointed star. The organism of the 
Broad Bean is similar in shape but two of 
the arms are branched, while all three arms 
are again branched in that of the Vetch. The 
Bacterium of the Broom is like a well- 
formed comma ; that of the Gorse a badly 
formed comma ; and that of Lucerne like a 
point of exclamation. 
Meister, Lucius and Briining, and other 
enterprising Germans have begun to culti¬ 
vate these organisms, collectively termed 
nitragm, and to offer them for sale com¬ 
mercially. Many experiments have also 
been carried out in England, on the land of 
Mr. Howard Ryling, as well as that of 
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading, with 
whom nearly the whole of the trials 
have given favourable indications of the 
utility of seeding the land with these 
organisms. The experiments are to be 
repeated. The ground must be inoculated 
before sowing, or the seed itself must be 
inoculated and then sown, because the 
nodules are formed in the early stages of the 
host plant. To complete this form of 
manuring, phosphates and potash must also 
be supplied. Something very important 
will have been gained if nitragin enable the 
farmer and gardener to grow leguminous 
crops in many successive years upon the 
same land. Cultivated plants of themselves 
are unable to utilise the free nitrogen of the 
air ; and its combination can only be effected 
by electricity either during thunderstorms, 
or by artificial means. These organisms 
(nitragin) can accomplish it at the ordinary 
temperature of the soil; the study of how 
to turn them to practical account should, 
therefore, be fostered and encouraged. 
- - 
Lilies of the Valley are much in request for form¬ 
ing bridal wreaths. 
Monifieth Nurseries-—No 68i of The Gardening 
World will contain an illustrated article dealing 
with these nurseries. 
Our Bulb Number.—By a printer’s error our last 
issue was marked No. x, instead of 679. Subscribers 
will kindly note this. 
Oranges to the extent of 1,000 cases are to be sent 
to Europe by way of experiment by the New South 
Wales Board of Export. They want to test whether 
they can be sent as ordinary cargo. 
Dr. R. Hamilton Ramsay entertained the members 
of the Torquay District Gardeners’ Association to 
dinner at his residence, Duncan House, on the 
evening of Wednesday, September 1st. Between 
fifty and sixty attended. 
Little Johnny's Essay on the " Fall."—"Adam and 
Eve lived in a big garden. Eve left Adam one day, 
and ate an Apple, and then gave some Apples to 
Adam, and Adam ’ad ’em ! But the Apples were 
bad ones, for they made Eve ill ; and through this 
eve-ill the human family has lived unhappily ever 
since."— Scraps. 
Mr. William Coomber.—We are pleased to learn 
that Mr. William Coomber, who for so many years 
acetd asSuperintendentoftheRoyal Botanic Society’s 
Gardens at Regenis Park, has been appointed garde¬ 
ner to Lord Grey de Wilton at Houghton Hall, 
Swaffham, Norfolk, and we hope that Mr. Coomber’s 
great knowledge and skill will there receive the re¬ 
cognition it deserves. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The early 
autumn three days’ exhibition of this society was 
held, as usual, at the Royal Aquarium, on Septem¬ 
ber 7tb, 8th, and 9th. There was a good gathering, 
the greater part of the body of the hall being filled 
with the various exhibits. Early Chrysanthemums 
were well-represented, and Dahlias were present in 
great numbers. Gladioli were also good. The 
pressure on our space, due to the number of shows 
which have taken place in various parts of the coun¬ 
try during the past ten days, prevents a full report 
appearing in this week's issue This, however, will 
find a place in next week's number. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.—At the 
meeting of the floral committee of this society on 
August 14th, First-class Certificates were awarded 
to Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, Jun., of Haarlem, for 
Cactus Dahlias Bridesmaid, Cycle, Fantasy, and 
Starfish ; to Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, of Haar¬ 
lem, for Gladiolus gandavensis Weisse Dame, G. 
Lemonei Henriette Renan, G. nancieanus Colonel 
Gillon, and Lygodium japonicum; and Mr. K. 
Wezelenburg, of Hazerswoude, for Glyceria specta- 
bilis fol. var. Certificates of Merit fell to the lot of 
Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, Jun., for Canna Ami Jules 
Chretien, C. Vice-President Luizet, Cactus Dahlia 
Cinderella, and Kniphofia Surprise, Nov.Jiyb.,', to 
Mr. Phil Henkel, of Hilversum, for Helio- 
tropium Madame Renne Andre; and to Mr. K. 
Wezelenburg for Tamarix Odessana. A botanical 
Certificate was awarded to Mr. J. H. Schrober, of 
Pulten, for Oenothera tetraptera. Messrs. M. Van 
Waveren & Son, of Hillegom, showed a collection of 
seedlings of Gladiolus gandavensis, which received 
honourable mention. 
Cobnuts and Filberts present a fine appearance 
this season, and nut-growers are expecting to harvest 
the largest crop known for years. 
Apples and Pears promise to be an exceptionally 
good cop in Kent, as far as quality is concerned, 
but the trees are not very heavily laden, and Pears 
are even scarce in some of the orchards. The season 
for soft fruits has been good but short, owing to the 
hot weather. Strawberries did not command high 
prices, but other crops were satisfactory in this 
respect. 
The Irish Potato Crop.—A Skibbereen corres¬ 
pondent says that the Potato crop in West Cork is in 
a bad way ; also, in consequence of the continuous 
spell of damp weather, the grain crop has been 
seriously injured. From Mitchelstown come reports 
that Potato disease has appeared extensively in 
north Cork, and adjacent parts of County Limerick. 
It is likewise stated that there is a prevalence of 
Potato disease in County Donegal, so that, alto¬ 
gether, the outlook for the Irish cultivator is not very 
promising. 
Foxgloves with a Regular Top Flower.—In refer¬ 
ence to a note on this subject on p. 819 of last volume 
a correspondent writes from Tivoli, Coppoquin, Co. 
Waterford :—Mrs. Keane has had Foxgloves with the 
pot bloom of every plant bell-shaped for many years. 
Plants always come true to seed. She received the 
seed from a friend at Macon, in France, but it pro¬ 
bably came originally from America, as the plant 
grows wild in some parts of California. The late 
Dr. Moore, of Glasnevin, when on a visit to Lis- 
more, was much pleased with it and asked for 
some seed, which Mrs. Keane sent. The Foxgloves 
vary in colour from deep purple to pure white, and 
are large and very handsome. 
The Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society.—The 
members of this association paid a visit to the wood¬ 
lands and pleasure grounds of the Right Hon. Earl 
Fitzwilliam, at Coollatin, Co. Wicklow, on August 
19th. The run by rail to Shillelagh, through a 
country of great natural beauty and historical 
interest was much enjoyed by the party. The 
visitors were piloted over the earl’s estate by the 
agent, Mr. F. Brooke, the gardener, Mr. Whytock, 
and the forester, Mr. Johnstone. They were enter¬ 
tained to lunch by his lordship in the Town Hall, 
Shillelagh. A halt was called at Ballybeg, where is 
much fine timber of Oak, Beech, Silver Fir, and 
Larch, and also a fine park, the property of Major 
G. G. Newton, J.P. On the following day the party 
visited St. Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square, the 
University, and Botanic Gardens at Dublin, and 
Carton, Co. Kildare. 
Loughborough Horticultural Society held its fortieth 
annual exhibition at Elms Park, on August 21st. 
The cut flowers were in distinct advance of last year, 
and vegetables were of high quality. A new feature 
of the show was the competition in which Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, of Swanley, Kent, presented £6 
in prizes and a championship belt. This was to be 
competed for by horticultural societies in Leicester¬ 
shire and Derbyshire. The exhibits were to consist 
of ten kinds, of vegetables, six distinct varieties of 
hardy fruit, and a stand of annuals or other outdoor 
grown flowers arranged for effect. Only three 
societies entered, Loughborough being first, Huggles- 
cote second, and Sileby third. The fine specimens 
of Cauliflowers, Potatos, and Carrots, staged by the 
Loughborough Society, went a great way towards 
deciding the awards of the judges. 
A Nursery of great Gardeners. —On Saturday, 
August 28th, Mr. Asquith, M.P., opened a flower 
show at Tayport. In an interesting speech, he said 
he believed that it was a truism that the love of 
flowers both in their wild and cultivated states was 
as intense, and as common in Great Britain as in 
any other country in the world. It was certain, 
moreover, that in no part of Great Britain had the 
taste been more remarkably developed than in 
Scotland, which had been and still is training ground 
and nursery of many of the great gardeners of the 
world. An exhibition such as he was about to open, 
continued Mr. Asquith, did not represent merely the 
endeavour of a comparatively restricted body of 
experts who surpassed one another in technical pro¬ 
cesses or in a particular trade, but was rather the 
outcome of the expression of an instinct spontaneous 
in its nature, and universal in its diffusion through¬ 
out the length and breadth of Scotland. 
