May 27, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
617 
it all depends. Pages have been and might yet be 
filled discussing this subject, and we still would 
have a party who would manure with "artificials,” 
and another clique who never would forego the use 
of "muck.” Gardeners are now seeing more than 
before the advantages they gain from a judicious 
use, in proportions, of farmyard and other natural 
manures and reliable compounds sent out by 
manufacturers. When chemical knowledge is so 
freely distributed nowadays we may hope to 
find gardeners using compounds of their own 
mixing and of the right sort, too. It must 
be known to all who take any interest in horti¬ 
cultural literature that " muck ” is absolutely essen¬ 
tial to a soil's fertility and not all the chemical 
manures in the world can make up for the want of 
it. It supplies humic, ulmic and other acid of the 
first importance. It retains moisture without which 
artificial manures would only be wasted. It yields 
phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen, which form 
important constituents of plant food. It darkens 
the soil and dark soil attracts and stores the heat 
rays of the sun. Without it the soil organisms 
would die and in fact the soil would be sterile. Use 
it then. But all this does not overthrow our opinion 
of the qualities of chemical manures. These are 
easier to handle, quicker in action, cheaper by far 
when manuring is extensive, and by certain signs we 
may know what our soil lacks, and apply the needful 
elements directly by the use of artificial manures. 
Richardias.— A. McQ.: They are hardy, but if 
you wish floriferous and finer plants grow them in 
pots. They will soon be out of flower, after which 
place them out in borders till September, when it 
becomes necessary to take them indoors for 
safety at that particular period, because in full 
growth. 
-—- 
TRINITY GROVE, EDINBURGH. 
A descriptive sketch of Trinity Grove has already 
appeared in a by-gone number of the Gardening 
World, so that we do not purpose more than to 
relate a few details bearing specially on the views 
the lower stories. It formed a quiet retreat for 
beautiful and tormented Mary, Queen of Scots, and 
in later times the Wizard of the North has had 
connections here. 
But we wish rather to bask in the sunshine of the 
present. Most people have some knowledge of the 
fair scenes in the broad miles around the environs 
of Edinburgh, and from the tower aforementioned 
these beaming expanses are stretehed in view. The 
shining Forth with its white-sailed yachts ; the soft- 
green woods or the darker hills across in the Fifeshire 
" kingdom,” with the Bass and many other rocks 
or islands lying in the Firth; the Forth Bridge 
arching itself away up in the western ranges, may 
all be seen ; and to the south we see Edinburgh 
Castle frowning from its height down upon the lower 
while slightly to the left the more erect C. atlantica 
stretches out its branches. The front side of the 
house is one mingled mass in summer-time of Vitis 
festoons, Clematis flowers, Ivy-clouds, Magnolias, 
Ceanothus azureus and other climbers, with borders 
of sweet smelling flowers around the base. 
One may notice an attached conservatory at the 
extreme right, and here we would find if we were 
there, Mocking birds, and Love birds, Weavers and 
Parroquets all lively and all loved, for Mrs. Thomp¬ 
son cares for them herself. We also reproduce what 
is one of the finest ornaments to the garden— 
an old Pear tree. Seen with its blossom, seen 
with its leaves, with its fruits, or at any time 
it is grand—and I can use no better adjective. 
It crops well every year and the Pears are 
Trinity Grove from the South. 
Old Pear Tree at Trinity Grove. 
here shown. Trinity Grove, the residence of Alex¬ 
ander Thompson, Esq., is a quaint old house, 
picturesque to the greatest perfection, for look at it 
from any vantage and you have a picture of angled- 
walls, rounded buttresses, juttiDg windows, and the 
sentinel tower guarding as it would seem, the weal of 
falls of the city. All this can be seen from the 
tower. And yet contrasting with the life without, 
what peace there is within. Here we have rolling 
lawns and handsome shrubs most beautifully 
arranged. In the photo we see the gardener, Mr. 
Mc.Kenzie, seated with his back to a Cedrus Deodora, 
good eating, but they do not keep long. I cannot 
give the name of it, but that would not improve it. 
I may give further notes of this beautiful old 
garden subsequently. The Pear tree photograph was 
taken by Mr. Thompson. Both he and Mrs. Thomp¬ 
son and family enjoy their garden.— Van Dyck. 
