596 
r HE GARDENING WORLD 
May 21, 1898. 
coming crops on land that was only a short 
time under water. Wheat that had been 
sown just previous to the flood has since 
germinated and is now looking well. 
Turnips are sending out fresh roots that do 
not appear to suffer from the salt still re¬ 
maining in the soil. In order the more fully 
to test the condition of the soil and its 
influence upon various plants, Mr. D. 
Houston undertook a series of experiments. 
Flower pots were filled with soil taken from 
two of the flooded districts, and seeds of 
Mustard, Turnips, Mangolds, Beet, Cab¬ 
bages, Peas, red Fescue and creeping Bent 
grass were sown in the same. All of them 
have germinated and are now doing well. 
Analyses of the soil show that, where 
flooding occurred, about o-2 per cent, of 
salt is deposited in the surface layer, and 
this would amount to 2 tons per acre, which 
if applied to growing crops would be 
injurious. Land that has not been flooded 
contains only croi per cent, of salt. Samples 
of soil taken from numerous localities give 
a varying per cent, deposit of salt, accord¬ 
ing to the depth or duration of the flood, 
but a glance at the table giving the percent¬ 
age shows that a little patience is all that 
is necessary for Nature to repair the damage. 
The rains have evidently been doing their 
work before the analyses were made for the 
greater percentage of salt now occurs at 
some distance below the surface, or even in 
the subsoil. An interesting case occurs at 
Tillingham where the land was enclosed or 
reclaimed in 1871. About 8 in. below the 
surface is a compact layer of vegetable 
matter, consisting mostly of seaweed, which 
has retained a considerable amount of salt 
at that depth. At West Thurrook the salt 
was most abundant in the first inch of soil, 
which was flooded for eight weeks. The 
analysis was made before any rain had 
fallen after the draining of the land, a fact 
which readily accounts for the salt being on 
the surface. On the contrary salt has been 
brought to the surface by evaporation, just 
as, under ordinary conditions, a coating of 
nitrates may be deposited on the surface of 
soils during dry weather. 
The injury done to the land by salt in¬ 
directly has been more harmful than any 
direct injury to the roots of plants. Earth¬ 
worms have been killed in the flooded por¬ 
tions, so that the natural means of draining 
and aerating the soil do not now exist. 
This is more particularly serious on heavy 
clay lands, because in the absence of drain¬ 
age it will take a much longer period of 
time for the rainfall to wash the salt away 
and aerate the soil. The first remedy will be 
the removal of the salt from the soil. This 
may be done by providing means for the 
water to drain away from the soil, and rain 
will do the rest. The growing of special 
crops to absorb the salt would take many 
years to fully accomplish, and is therefore 
impracticable. The cereals are least liable 
to injury on land containing salt, but they 
absorb only a very small percentage during 
a growing season. When the salt has been 
sufficiently washed out by rain for earth¬ 
worms to exist, it would, we think, be a good 
plan to resow the land with a fresh stock 
of worms obtainable from land having an 
over-abundant supply. Amongst the crops 
suggested for the salt land no mention has 
been made of Seakale or Asparagus, which 
surely could be turned to profitable account 
in some of the districts at least. 
-- I -— - 
Caltha palustris as Food.—It is stated in a recent 
issue of Gardening (American) that some of the early 
settlers in America cooked and ate as greens the 
stalks and yotiDg leaves of the Marsh Marigold, 
Caltha palustris. In view of the acrid and poisonous 
principle that characterises the order Ranunculaceae 
this is somewhat surprising. The "greens” would, 
we imagine, be rather “ strong.” 
The Cowslip.—In this country the popular name of 
"Cowslip” is given to Primula veris, but in the 
"States” it is applied to Caltha palustris, known 
here as the Marsh Marigold. 
Unprofitable Orchid Culture,—A Cornish gentleman, 
who was an Orchid enthusiast, for some years spent 
£600 annually in the pursuance of his pet hobby. 
He died, as people have a knack of doing, the 
greenhouse fires were let out, and the whole collec¬ 
tion was sold for £3, rather a serious depreciation 
upon the nominal value. It only goes to show that 
Orchids will not stand neglect. 
A Green Primrose was brought to us a few days 
since by Mr. J. C. Stogdon. The flower was of the 
ordinary size, and perfectly green, but the segments 
were cut at the edges like leaves. The green Prim¬ 
rose, although it may be a curiosity to many, is 
really an old favourite which has been lost sight of 
for some time and again revived. As a matter of 
course several popular names have been bestowed 
upon it at various times and in different parts of the 
country. Of these Jack-in-the-Green, Pantaloons, 
and Galigaskins are some of the most noticeable. 
Chestnut Sunday.—Last Sunday was “ Chestnut 
Sunday,” but the weather clerk was in a most un- 
propitious humour. The day was wet, cold, dark, 
and miserable, and the famous avenue of Bushey 
Park was, as a consequence, well nigh deserted. The 
boats which ply between Hampton Court and the 
London piers carried very few people, and even they 
did not appear to greatly enjoy themselves. It will 
take a full week's bright sunshine to bring the 
Chestnuts to their best, so what with the weather, 
the unreadiness of the trees, and the consequent 
lack of people, " Chestnut Sunday ” was so only in 
name. 
Sutton’s Cycling Club.—Ever on the watch for 
means of affording healthful pleasure and instruction 
to their employes, this, the formation of a cycling 
club, is again encouraged by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
of Reading. The club is under the presidency of 
Mr. Martin J. Sutton, M.P., the other partners of 
the firm being vice-presidents. A neatly printed, 
single-fold card gives the list of officers and the 
rules of the club, as well as the projected excursions 
for the year 1898. These fall into two divisions. 
The entries in the first take place on Wednesday 
afternoons. There are ten of them, commencing on 
May nth, and continuing fortnightly up to and 
including September 7th. Places of interest within 
a radius of 20 miles of Reading are to be visited, and 
these include Basingstoke, Silchester, Burnham 
Beeches, Virginia Water, Aldershot, Nettlebed, 
Windsor, and Finchhampstead, besides the trip to 
Great Marlow, which took place on the nth inst. 
The second section is for evening runs, and a blank 
space, to be filled in as the season wears on, has 
been left for these. Altogether, the idea is a happy 
one, and worthy of the generous spirit that animates 
the governing partners of the renowned seed firm. 
The Modest Violet.—It seems, at first sight, rather 
curious that Napoleon, the proud Dictator of Europe 
should have chosen as his emblem the modest 
Violet, and yet he did so, although the selection was 
made at a time when the great warrior’s star was in 
obscurity. He remained faithful to his choice, how¬ 
ever, through his life, for on leaving France for Elba 
he is reported to have said, " I shall return with the 
Violets,” and he did return. On the eve of his 
second and final banishment to St. Helena, he gave a 
Violet to an English naval officer, in whose charge 
he was, but whether as a prophecy of his second 
return or not is not known. The Violet thus became 
closely associated with the fortunes of the 
Napoleonic dynasty, and during the reascendency of 
the house of Bourbon it was dangerous to wear the 
Violet publicly, as it was still regarded as the 
Napoleonic flower. With the second Empire came 
the revival of the popularity of the Violet, and 
curiously enough Louis Napoleon owed to it bis 
escape from the fortress of Ham, at which place he 
was a prisoner. A package of Violet plants had 
arrived, and the prison officials were so much 
occupied with planting them that they forgot all 
about their royal prisoner, who, promptly availing 
himself of the opportunity, escaped. 
Oranges from California. —No fewer than 12,000 
carloads of Oranges are being, or have been, shipped 
from southern California this year, which, at present 
prices, will realise some £1,200,000. The estimated 
loss by frost was 2,000 carloads, representing a money 
value at current prices of £200,000. The greater 
part of the produce is from the celebrated Navel 
Orange, of which the first plantation was made at 
Riverside, California, in 1877—twenty-one years ago. 
A Yorkshire Lecture. —On the 4th inst., Mr. T. 
Reddington gave the last of his series of four 
lectures at Scarborough. On this occasion he took 
for his subject " Flowers and the Flower Garden.” 
Dealing first with the position of the flower garden 
he recommended a piece taken from the kitchen 
garden as likely to give satisfaction. He cautioned 
his audience against choosing draughty corners, for 
cold draughts were injurious to plants in the 
open as well as to plants in the window 
or the greenhouse. He spoke of various soils, and 
gave directions for improving such as were unfit. 
Manures also came in for discussion. In conclusion 
he made some remarks about window plants gene¬ 
rally, and advised them as to the sort of soil to use 
for various plants and the method of preparing it for 
use. 
Loughborough Gardeners met on Tuesday evening, 
the 3rd inst., to hear a paper upon the “ Cultivation 
of Azaleas and Camellias,” by Mr. J. Smith, gardener 
to J. Griggs, Esq., of Mountfield. The subject was 
handled by the essayist in a capable manner. He 
advocated the potting of the plants just after growth 
had commenced, and recommended plenty of heat 
and moisture throughout the growing season. After 
the buds were set the plants should be stood out¬ 
side to ripen their growths. The soil given 
Camellias should be rather more loamy than that 
supplied to Azaleas. A brisk discussion took place 
after the reading of the paper. A number of 
exhibits was forthcoming from various sources, in¬ 
cluding some well-flowered Azaleas from Mr. Smith. 
Praying for the Crops. —The 14th inst. being the 
fifth Sunday after Easter, and Rogation Day, a 
period for special supplication, a quaint old custom 
of " praying for the crops,” was this year observed 
at Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, as it has been for 
several years past. At 2.30 p.m. on the day in 
question a procession, headed by the choristers and 
clergy in full canonicals, wended its way through 
the streets of the old-fashioned market town towards 
the fields and homesteads in the Walsworth and 
Parwell districts. A service was performed thus 
beneath the canopy of the great temple of the sky, 
special prayers being offered for the crops. On the 
following day, Monday, the 16th inst., similar visits 
were, made to other districts in the vicinity of the 
town. 
Vegetation in the Cape Verde Islands.—Mr. Boyd 
Alexander, M.B.O.N., who is evidently an ornitho¬ 
logist, gives a picture, though not a very alluring one, 
of the vegetation of Sao Nicolau, Cape Verde Islands, 
in the May number of Knowledge. He was on a bird 
collecting expedition, but frequently alludes to the 
vegetation. On dropping anchor in Porto Preguiza, 
the harbour of the above named island, he says that 
" one seeks in vain for cool verdure on which to look 
and rest one's eyes.” Soft brown hills acutely 
angled confront the visitor in every direction. The 
grass which grows on the lower portion is quickly 
eaten by the goats, and the thousands of locusts that 
infest the plains. Trees of Acacia albida grow here 
and there on the small plains, but by their stunted 
appearance show the difficulty they have in getting a 
foothold, while others are bent double by the north 
wind. Scarcely any rain has fallen upon the island 
during the past three years. The village of Stancha 
occupies the only fertile valley upon the island, and 
nestles amoDgst an abundance of tropical growth in 
the bottom of a dried-up watercourse. Coffee bushes 
clothe many portions of the steep sides of the valley ; 
and on the higher ground patches of Maize surround 
the huts of the peasants. Orange trees flourish in 
the more fertile spots, together with plantations of 
sugar cane. The fish cane forms an avenue along 
the banks of a stream ; while Cocoanut Palms over¬ 
top everything else. The foliage of the orange is 
dark green ; the Cccoanut is lighter ; the Sugar Cane 
has very light green foliage ; and the Fish Cane is of 
delicate bluish green. Bananas have their leaves 
torn to shreds by the wind. Maidenhair Ferns hang 
in graceful festoons from the banks of the stream. 
