282 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 2, 1897. 
either descend or ascend ; consequently, the root run 
is much limited, and if a dry season comes the crops 
suffer severely as the moisture rapidly evaporates. 
In fact, on some soils the pan becomes so hard that 
the soil cultivated above might almost be resting on 
a solid rock. On the other hand, should seasons be 
very wet, the ground is one perpetual puddle, as the 
water cannot possibly escape freely ; the roots either 
die or simply exist, and the crops must of necessity 
be of inferior quality. It is really marvellous how 
deep the roots of most vegetables will go if a suitable 
medium is provided. I have measured Onion, Leek, 
Celery, Peas, etc., 3 ft. long, and Brussel Sprouts, 
Broccoli and similar vegetables over 4 ft. And as 
to how deep such crops as Carrots and Parsnips 
would go under favourable conditions is a query I 
could not definitely answer; but it is no unusual 
occurrence to find roots 4 ft. long, and even then the 
point gone. In fact this subject of roots is not only 
an important one, but most interesting not only to 
the horticulturist, but likewise to the agriculturist, 
as many farmers will tell you that the roots of Wheat 
will go down 6 ft., for which reason dry seasons 
affect it less than other cereal crops, again proving 
conclusively the immense value of securing a deep 
root run. 
From my own experience, I am quite certain 
that I could not in years past have secured 
continuous supples of tender vegetables if deep 
cultivation had not been accomplished for, as 
stated in the case of wheat, the roots had gone down 
so deeply that long periods of dry weather had com¬ 
paratively little effect on the growth. Perhaps next in 
importance to deep culture, comes surface cultiva¬ 
tion ; during the summer months, by frequently 
moving the surface soil, a powerful check is given to 
the drying influences of the sun's rays, moisture is 
conserved, and those robbers of the land, viz., weeds, 
are kept in check, to say nothing of the cleanliness 
of the garden. To prove how valuable is this system 
of hoeing the soil, any vegetable crop may have one 
portion hoed as advised, and another portion left 
untouched, pulling out any weeds from the latter as 
they appear. The difference will convince the most 
sceptical of the beneficial influences following fre¬ 
quent hoeing of the soil. 
It may possibly be thought that deep cultivation 
and frequent hoeings are impossible in many 
gardens through lack of labour ; this unfortunately 
is too often the case in many gardens, but even then 
a portion of the garden could be trenched every 
winter, when other work is not so pressing, so that 
in the course of, say, three winters the whole of the 
vegetable quarters would be trenched, and a start 
then made to go over the whole again. As to hoeing, 
instead of increasing the labour, it materially 
reduces it by keeping down weeds, as an expert man 
with a Dutch hoe will get over a lot of ground in a 
day. 
If specially fine crops are wanted, an application of 
chemical manures should be worked in when hoeing ; 
but this subject of manures is so complex, if I may 
use that word, that the greatest care is needed as to 
what manure is employed, or the expense of pur¬ 
chasing, and the labour of applying may be almost 
entirely wasted. First, we must ascertain what ele¬ 
ments are present or absent in the soil we have to 
deal with, and the constituents required by the crop. 
Suppose we take a piece of land of a light or 
moderately light character, and plant half with Peas, 
and the other half with Cabbages, and after each 
had made a fair amount of growth, we gave each 
crop a dressing of nitrate of soda at the rate of one 
ounce to each surface yard ; the result would, in the 
case of the Peas, be nil, and an absolute waste, as 
the Pea family absorbs all the nitrogen it requires 
from the atmosphere ; but in the case of the Cabbage 
portion, the benefits of the nitrate application would 
be very marked, and probably increase the value of 
the crop at least, ioo per cent. In this way we 
secure the very best possible results in the kitchen 
garden, i e., by providing a suitable and deep rooting 
medium, cleanliness, and studying the requirements 
of the various kinds of crops ; for by keen observa¬ 
tion, and a few careful experiments it is possible to 
discover with a fair amount of accuracy what are 
the best manures for different crops on the soil the 
cultivator has to deal with. It is, however, fre¬ 
quently stated by many gardeners, that if they could 
get plenty of farmyard manure, they would require 
no other manure. 
Opinions differ on the subject ; and while I fully 
admit that a good farmyard manure contains all the 
elements of plant food required by vegetable crops, 
the question arises, how may we get good farmyard 
manure ? The answer must be, very seldom; for 
this reason, the manure as it is made is wheeled out 
into a heap in the open air, and first becomes very 
hot, and the ammonia may be seen escaping daily in 
the form of steam ; not only so but being exposed to 
all the rains that come, many of the most valuable 
elements are lost, and I question if one ton of such 
manure contains 20 lb. of fertilising matter, the 
remainder being composed of water, and other un¬ 
necessary ingredients. At the same time, it must be 
admitted that, apart from all manurial properties, 
farmyard manure acts mechanically on the soii, 
causing it to work more freely, against which must 
be placed the greatest amount of seeds of noxious 
weeds imported into the garden with the manure. 
This is avoided with chemical manures, to say 
nothing of the ease of application in their intense or 
concentrated form, which does not fill the soil with a 
superabundance of humus, needing lime to correct 
the injurious effects. Another point of some interest 
is, does farmyard manure tend towards the increase 
of insect foes in the garden ? I believe it does if 
buried year after year in the soil, and for that reason 
I prefer it as a mulch, thereby fertilising and retain¬ 
ing moisture. 
Liquid manure is a valuable aid, whether it is from 
the drainings of cattle sheds or from manure heaps, 
and is more useful and effective than solid manure. 
It is not only rich in plant food, but in a form which 
can be taken up immediately by the roots. Every 
exhibitor of vegetables, etc,, is alive to its value, and 
employs it more or less freely, and what is done by 
them could be done by those who do not exhibit, 
much more generally than is the case now. Some 
have an idea that such feeding has a tendency to 
coarseness; but if a man desires to have tender 
vegetables in quantity, high feeding must be the 
rule, so that the soil is well stored with plant food, 
and able to respond to the cultivator's wishes at all 
times and seasons, and not land him in a difficulty 
at a season that is sure to come awkward, if it ever 
does occur. 
(To be continued.) 
-- 
BIRMINGHAM HORTICULTURISTS AT 
DINNER. 
On Wednesday, the 16th ult., the Birmingham and 
Midland Counties' Chrysanthemum, Fruit, and 
Floricultural Society held its annual dinner at "Ye 
Olde Royal " Hotel, the famous hcstelrie under the 
direction of Host Emile Chatriane, who provided an 
excellent menu, served with precision and prompti¬ 
tude. 
The chairman of the society, Mr. W. B. Latham, 
of the Botanic Gardens, presided, faced in the vice¬ 
chair by Mr. J. Pope, whilst to the right and left of 
the chair were Mr. W. Jones, treasurer, and Mr. J. 
Hughes, the energetic secretary of the society. 
Others present included Messrs. Robert Sydenham, 
W. B. Child, Acocks Green : W. H. Dyer, North- 
field ; C. H. Herbert, Sparkhill Nurseries; William 
Spinks, Solihull; Wm. Gardiner, Harborne; Mr. J. 
Deacon and Mr. H. A. Burberry, Highbury ; David 
Haynes; Arthur Watkins (Thomson & Co.); W. 
Wright, Moseley; A. Noakes (Hewett & Co.) ; 
Alfred Jenkins, Wylde Green ; G. Pressley ; W. B. 
Griffin ; Allen ; Toreville, Kings Heath ; Stubbs, 
Ipswich; and many others—in all some eighty 
guests. 
The chairman, in submitting the customary loyal 
toasts, referred to the many changes which the sixty 
years of Her Majesty's reign had witnessed, and in 
the improvement of the condition of every work or 
profession that of the gardener had undoubtedly 
been included. The speaker recalled his own 
experience of fifty years ago, when it was six o’clock 
to six every day, with no four o’clock movement on 
Saturdays. In many other ways, continued he, the 
lot of the gardener has been improved; but he 
questioned if the gardener even to-day was paid so 
well as other trades, although he counselled them 
not to be dissatisfied with their lot. Here honours 
were paid to the toast. Mr. J. Carless proposed 
" The Society,” remarking at their last show he 
sympathised with the judges in the undoubted 
difficulty of their task of adjudicating so keen was 
the competition. He coupled the name of Mr. W. 
B. Latham, the chairman, whom he described as an 
excellent captain of an excellent ship. That gentle¬ 
man, in responding, paid touching tribute to the 
names of such historic exhibitors as Page & Gallier, 
whose connection with the society in its early days 
was only equal to that of another of their old 
supporters, Mr. H. Lee, who was present with them 
that evening. (Applause.) The chairman then went 
on to refer to the important question which had 
arisen as to the site of their future shows, and the 
advisability of holding their next exhibition in a 
building larger than the Town Hall where they had 
found the space too limited to admit of the opening 
out of the large groups and in other ways. The 
subject had, of course, still to be discussed in com¬ 
mittee. There were some difficulties in the way, and 
ways and means would be a great question with 
them, and a guarantee fund might be found desir¬ 
able. 
Mr. W. H. Dyer proposed the health of " The 
Exhibitors," referring with satisfaction to the 
support given to horticulture by the leading families 
in the neighbourhood, and coupled with the toast 
the name of Mr. J Deacon, gardener to the Rt. 
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., who, on rising to 
respond, was received with applause. Mr. Deacon 
said that considering he was one of the latest intro¬ 
ductions to their district and their society, he was 
flattered with their placing the response to this toast 
in his hands. As a successful exhibitor, he was 
proud to belong to an employer whose thorough love 
of horticulture, and the enthusiasm with which he fol¬ 
lowed it was not equalled in all England. Adverting 
to the keen competition at their last show the speaker 
said it was no easy matter to stage successfully at 
Birmingham. Their prize list induced some of the 
best men to come forward, and although he had 
competed during the last ten years in the Western 
Counties, and in the south at Kingston and London, 
yet he found it more uphill work at Birmingham, 
where the exhibitors fully held their own with all 
comers. He agreed that the show should be held 
on a larger basis, and should like to see it take its 
proper place in the shows of England. 
Mr. J. Hughes proposed "The Non-competitive 
Exhibits” and “ Special Prize Donors,” to whom he 
attributed much of the success of their shows. Mr. 
J. Pope, in responding, explained that the idea of 
enlarging their show had in the main originated with 
him, and his ambition was to see their 1897 exhibi¬ 
tion the exhibition of England. He believed it would 
induce greater outside support, and hoped that the 
movement would meet with the success it un¬ 
doubtedly deserved. Mr. Robert Sydenham also 
responded, stating that it always gave him pleasure 
to support the Birmingham Society, and promised 
still further support in the way of a Challenge Cup, 
if the 1897 show was held in the Bingley Hall. He 
thought the class for small groups was one attracting 
attention, and might be encouraged in this way. 
Mr. E. Crook also responded. 
The chairman here announced that telegrams had 
been exchanged during the evening with the 
National Amateur Gardeners’ Association, London, 
who were similarly celebrating their anniversary 
that night at the Holborn Restaurant, under the 
presidency of T. W. Saunders, Esq. The text of 
telegrams was as follows ;—" The president National 
Amateur Gardeners' Association, Holborn 
Restaurant, London. The Birmingham Chrysan¬ 
themum Society at their annual dinner assembled, 
send greetings, and wish you a pleasant evening, 
Hughes, secretary "—to which reply had been 
received—" Greetings heartily reciprocated ; wish 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society every success 
- President N.A.G.A. (Applause.) 
Mr. W. Spinks (Solihull) proposed the health of 
the officers in a well chosen speech, and Mr. W. 
Jones, the treasurer, in responding announced that 
their year’s working showed a deficit of £23 5s. 2$d., 
their income having been £437 6s. 8d., and their 
expenditure £460 ns. io.Jd. It was stated, how¬ 
ever, that the society had still a balance at the bank, 
and need not lose heart. Mr. Jones warned his 
hearers that in an enlarged programme increase of 
expenditure was inevitable, but he thought that with 
increased facilities there was no reason why their 
shows should not be the greatest successes. Other 
toasts followed. Mr. G. Stacey proposed the 
“ Nursery and Seed Trade,” to which Mr. C. H. 
Herbert very ably responded. Mr. J. Child sub¬ 
mitted the toast of " Our Visitors,” coupled with the 
name of Mr. A. E. Stubbs, of Ipswich, who 
responded. The usual tribute to chair and vice¬ 
chair brought an enjoyable programme to a close, 
the various toasts and speeches having been well 
punctuated by songs from Messrs. Allen, C. Phoenix, 
Walker, W. B. Griffin, Peake, Deacon, Jenkins, Bur¬ 
berry, Stubbs, and Yardley, the latter gentleman also 
contributing a finely executed concertina solo.— Gyp. 
