564 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 7, 1898. 
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conducted during the past year in Berk¬ 
shire, Dorset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire. 
The county councils for these respective 
shires co-operate with the College at Read¬ 
ing, and each grants subsidies to cover the 
expenses. During the past year the 
experiments consisted largely of testing the 
effects of manures on the principal farm 
crops, but arrangements have been made for 
experiments that will continue from year to 
year till the whole course of a rotation of 
crops has been completed. Much valuable 
information should be obtained from this 
course regarding the value and effects of 
unexhausted manures, that is, of those that 
retain their fertilising faculty in the soil for 
two or more years and thus benefit succeed¬ 
ing crops. The average results for different 
centres are given separately. Samples of 
soils from the different districts have been 
analysed, and glass jars containing sections 
of soil have been stored in the College 
Museum for future reference. The experi¬ 
ments have been carried out under the 
supervision of Douglas A. Gilchrist, B.Sc , 
the Director of the Agricultural Depart¬ 
ment. The report of the experiments should 
prove valuable to those farmers who are 
provident enough to avail themselves of the 
information supplied. 
Experiments were made with Swedes and 
Turnips with the view of combating 
or checking the destructive and much 
dreaded Finger-and-toe Disease (Plasmo- 
diophora Brassicae.) Under the name of 
club or clubbing gardeners are only too 
familiar with this pest of Cabbages, Cauli¬ 
flower, Brussels Sprouts and other members 
of this important tribe. Some important 
and interesting results have been obtained 
at Headington, Oxford, in a soil consisting 
chiefly of fine sand, where one would have 
expected that the fungus could make but 
little headway. In 1895, the crop of Swedes 
outside the experimental plots was almost 
completely destroyed. It was observed 
that the disease was most virulent where 
farmyard manure had been applied, a result 
due, no doubt, to the greater amount of 
moisture available for the fungus. The soil 
consisted of sand overlying the Middle 
Oolite system, a calcareous formation ; but 
where the sand was deep it was very poor 
in lime, and here the greatest amount of 
damage occurred. Eleven plots of land, 
each X J 2 of an acre were marked off in 1896 
upon the same ground where the disease 
had been so prevalent the previous year. 
Dressings of varying quantities of caustic 
lime, gas lime, sulphate of copper, bleaching 
powder and basic slag were given to sepa¬ 
rate plots in January to give them time to 
disinfect the soil before the time of sowing 
the Turnips arrived. They were applied 
and stirred into the soil to a depth only of 
1 in. or 1^ ins., so as to give them a good 
chance ol being evenly distributed. 
The roots were carefully classified at the 
end of the growing season, according as 
they were sound, slightly diseased, or badly 
so, and each heap weighed separately. 
The results were singular and striking, but 
the obvious conclusion was that the fungi¬ 
cides applied had been inoperative. None 
of the dressings had appreciably reduced 
the ravages of the disease, while, singularly 
enough, the heaviest lot of sound roots was 
obtained from the undressed plot. This 
gave Turnips at the rate of 5 tons 6 cwt. 
per acre perfectly free from disease. The 
next heaviest weight was 5 tons 4 cwt. of 
sound roots where a dressing of 3 tons of 
gas lime per acre had been given. The 
heaviest total crop came off the plot dressed 
at the rate of 4 tons of caustic lime per 
acre. The next highest total again came 
from the plot dressed at the rate of 3 tons 
of gas lime. It was obvious that no reliable 
data could be deduced from the results. It 
was resolved therefore to continue the ex¬ 
periments on the same plots last year, 
without further dressing, in order to 
ascertain whether the reputed fungicides 
would show any appreciable results after a 
more lengthened period in which to disin- 
effect the soil. In 1897 these, expectations 
were fully realised, for excellent results 
were obtained by the use of caustic lime, 
gas lime and chalk, that had been applied 
in January 1896. Nothing satisfactory was 
obtained from dressings of sulphate of 
copper and bleaching powder. The con¬ 
clusions, therefore, are that lime in some 
form or other has the effect of destroying 
the fungus to a greater or less extent, but 
that it must be applied to the soil some 
considerable time previous to the sowing of 
the Turnips. We should reasonably expect 
that the same instructions would apply to 
all other crops of the Brassica tribe. 
Elaborate experiments were also made 
with Potatos in the Trial Grounds of Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading, as well as at five 
other centres. The results in each case go 
to prove that Potatos always give the most 
satisfactory returns from ground that has 
been manured for some previous crop. As 
we recorded on a previous occasion the 
application of artificial manures may not 
only not be serviceable, but prove harmful 
on dry or sandy soils in droughty seasons. 
Provided the rainfall were sufficient during 
the growing season artificial manures would 
give satisfactory or even handsome returns ; 
but the Potato is a shallow rooting plant, 
and suffers in the southern counties in 
droughty seasons, to an extent of which 
northern growers enjoying a moister climate 
can have no conception. The most generally 
useful manure for Potatos has been found 
to consist of 12 tons of farmyard manure, 
1+ cwt. nitrate of soda, 3 cwt. superphos¬ 
phate, and 1 cwt. muriate of potash per 
acre, all applied in the autumn previous to 
planting, except the nitrate, which should 
be given in two applications during the 
earlier period of growth. 
--- 
The Ghent Quinquennial. —It is estimated that this 
superb show cost ico.oco francs, or /4 ,i 66 13s. 46. 
in English money. 
May Day in Bermondsey. —The annual May Day 
festival of the Children’s Guild of Play was held in 
the Town Hall, Bermondsey, on Saturday, the 30th 
ult. The Chairman of the London School Board 
(Lord Reay) presided. 
Royal Horticultural Society.— The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, May 10th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, 1—3 p.m. At 3 o’clock 
the Rev. Prof. G. Henslow, V.M.H , will lecture on 
•* Some of the Plants Exhibited.” The schedule of 
the show of British grown fruit, to be held at the 
Crystal Palace, on September 29th, 30th, and 
October 1st, is now ready and can be obtained on 
application to the Secretary, R. H. S., 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W. 
Havoc by Hail.—The towns of Plymouth, Devon- 
port, and Stonehouse were visited on Monday by a 
hurricane of wind and rain accompanied by a storm 
of hailstones of large size. Many places of business 
had to cease work for the day owing to the work¬ 
rooms being deluged as a result of the down pipes 
refusing to act. At the dinner-hour the main 
entrance gates to Keyham Dockyard were blocked by 
hailstones and debris washed down from the higher 
thoroughfares, and some twenty carts were at work 
removing the obstruction. At the Marine Barracks, 
Stonehouse, the covered drill shed was inundated, 
and the fire brigade were requisitioned to pump 
the water out. No casualties from seawards are yet 
reported, but from the fruit-growing vicinity of the 
Tamar it is announced that the crops have been 
irretrievably damaged by the hailstorm. The 
damage is estimated at several thousand pounds. 
Mrs. McKinley receives so many flowers daily at 
the Windsor Hotel, Washington, that a special cold 
store-room has been set apart to maintain them in a 
fresh condition. 
Raffiia.—The finer matting now so extensively 
used for tying purposes in gardens has no affinity 
with the material of which Russian mats are made. 
It is prepared from the leaves of Raphia Ruffia, a 
Palm native to the island of Madagascar. 
Species of Cacti.— Something like 1,000 species of 
the order Cacteae are admitted by botanists; but 
gardeners have greatly multiplied this number inde¬ 
pendently of those which are the direct result of 
artificial hybridisation. Most of them belong to 
tropical and subtropical North America, including 
Canada. A few are found in Brazil and Chili. A 
solitary species of Rhipsalis is found in South Africa, 
Mauritius and Ceylon, being the only member of the 
family truly indigenous to the Old World. Several 
Nopaleas and Opuntias introduced from America 
have been naturalised on this side of the Atlantic. 
Farmers in Cape Colony would be glad to get rid of 
the Opuntias which now infest their fields. 
National Amateur Gardeners’ Association.—The first 
Saturday afternoon excursion of this association 
takes place on the 7th inst. As we go to press we 
notice that the members have for the second time 
within the last three years made the beautiful gar¬ 
dens of Aldenham House, Elstree, the destination of 
an outing. They have reason to be thankful for the 
kind permission of Lord Aldenham to visit his gar¬ 
dens and grounds ; and no doubt they will highly 
appreciate the horticultural skill of the gardener, 
Mr. E. Beckett, independently of his welcome and 
personal attention to the party The association 
has also made arrangements for visiting the Trial 
Grounds of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, at Reading, on 
the 23rd July next. On that date the main party 
will travel by the train leaving Paddington at 1.45 
p.m. Those wishing to leave sooner will be per¬ 
mitted to travel by an earlier train. 
M. Ed. Pynaert-Van Geert.—We learn with much 
satisfaction that M. Pynaert, of Ghent, Belgium, 
has been named a Chevalier du Merite Agricole. 
He was for many years professor at the School of 
Horticulture, Ghent, in company with his three 
illustrious friends, MM. Em. Rodigas, Van Hulle, 
and Burvenich. All four of them have come to be 
designated familiarly as the four-bladed Clover or 
Trefoil. They have rendered great services to 
Belgian horticulture, collaborating amongst them 
several journals, organising conferences, occupying 
themselves with exhibitions, and in a word defending 
and supporting the horticultural interests of their 
country. When the Government of France, in 
1890, wishing to develop the hothouse industry of 
their country, had inscribed a duty of thirty francs 
per 100 kilogrammes, in addition to the ordinary 
tariff, M. Ed. Pynaert and M. Bruneel went to 
France in order to combat the projects of the 
Government. They acquitted themselves of their 
mission with great address and energy, resulting in 
establishing an equal reciprocity between the two 
neighbouring countries. We congratulate M. 
Pynaert on his recent distinction from France. 
The Pope and the Gardener.—Whilst walking in 
the gardens of the Vatican recently, Leo XIII came 
across an undergardener who was engaged in digging. 
His Holiness is a zealous student of the practical 
adjustment of scales of remuneration for workmen, 
and is always glad of the opportunity of putting 
some of his broad-minded theories to the test. So 
he said to the gardener : “ My good man, how much 
do you receive a day for your labour ? ” “ Two 
francs, your Holiness,” was the reply. "And how 
many children have you ? ” " None, your Holiness.” 
" And does your wife also work for her livelihood ? ” 
"Holy Father,” said the labourer, "I have never 
been married.” The Pontiff paused and reflected, 
"Then, my good man,” said he, "I shall give 
instructions that from henceforward, instead of two 
francs a day, you shall receive a franc and a-half, 
and that half-a-franc shall be added to the wages of 
some other workman who has a wife and family to 
support." His Holiness appeared pleased with his 
own decision ; not so the gardener, who failed to see 
the justice of the decision, and by no means shared 
in the enthusiasm of the Pope over his solution of 
the question. 
