116 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 21, 1899. 
treatment, analysis showed that the defici¬ 
ency of lime, magnesia, potash, and soda, 
was one-fifth compared with that in clay 
from unflooded land. The double silicates 
of alumina had been destroyed to some 
extent by the salt water, so that the 
mechanical condition of the soil had thereby 
been impaired. An improvement has been 
effected, however, on some portions of the 
flooded land by applications or dressings of 
lime, whereby the double silicates are repro¬ 
duced, thus causing the soil to revert more 
or less to its former granular condition. 
The elimination of lime by the salt water 
was to a great extent the cause of the bad 
condition of the soil; while the deposit of 
salt naturally held an excess of water, 
retarding the speedy and natural drainage 
of the land. The application of lime pro¬ 
duces amelioration of the land more quickly 
than more inert forms of the same material, 
such as chalk or shells. The aeration of 
the clay land by good tilth, and the plough¬ 
ing in of spoilt hay or clean straw, are also 
advocated by the writers of the report. 
Rapid drainage is also being advocated for 
the elimination of salt, for it can be carried 
away in the drainage much more quickly 
than it can be absorbed and removed by 
any kind of crop, Mangolds not excepted. 
By experiment in the Laboratory it was 
proved that ifins. of rain water allowed to 
filter through six inches of the flooded soil, 
was effective in removing almost every 
trace of salt, It is reckoned that a reason¬ 
ably heavy rainfall during the coming 
winter will be sufficient to remove the 
remaining salt from the land that was 
flooded, provided that the drains are kept 
open and the water run off as it collects 
in the dykes inside the sea walls. If not 
carried away during winter, it must be 
remembered that the salt in the soil will 
be borne upwards again towards the sur¬ 
face by evaporation during warm and dry 
weather in summer. The Essex farmers 
should, therefore, profit by the hint while 
conditions are in their favour for the 
elimination of the salt still remaining in 
their soils. While the soil has been 
impoverished in certain respects, it is to 
be noted that there is an increase of avail¬ 
able potash and phosphates of which the 
farmers may take advantage by good culti¬ 
vation. Nitrification has been retarded, 
so that the application of nitrates will prove 
highly beneficial. Basic slag may also be 
applied in preference to superphosphate, 
seeing that the remaining salt will exercise 
a solvent effect upon the slag. Cruciferous 
plants, it may be noted, have given almost 
uniformly more satisfactory crops than any 
other farm culture. 
From the summary of estimated produce 
from flooded land, many useful items may 
be gleaned. At St. Osyth, during 1898, 
coleseed, spring beans, and tares, failed to 
germinate. Apple trees planted in an 
orchard in 1893 were killed by the salt 
flood. The finer grasses and clovers gradu¬ 
ally died, and the seeds of red clover failed 
to germinate. Ten of the ewes and 30 of 
the lambs, allowed to run on the flooded 
marshes for a short time daily, for a few 
days, died. During 1898 and 1899 more 
than average crops of the Thousand-headed 
Cabbage were secured. Various cereals 
and beans gave but poor crops from land 
that had been inundated. Leguminous 
crops, cereals, &c., sown on heavy alluvium, 
overlying a subsoil consisting of an ancient 
stratum of seaweed, at Tillingham, all died 
off. During the present year, some land 
left unsown at the same place, became 
covered with couch grass, furnishing half a 
ton of coarse hay per acre. Land fallowed 
during 1898 gave better results this year, 
being a sign of returning fertility. Land 
fallowed at Dengie in 1898 gave eight 
quarters of black oats this year, which we 
should consider very satisfactory. The 
best crop of rye grass at Great Wakering 
this year was obtained from land manured 
with long hay; and the worst where sewage 
cake had been used as a manure, the latter 
being too close in tsxture for land under 
the conditions above mentioned. A great 
number of experiments and observations 
were made and here recorded, which those 
concerned may study for themselves in the 
report. 
- 
Excursions to Edinburgh Chrysanthemum Show.— 
The North Eastern Railway Company is arranging 
excursions to the Chrysanthemum show inaugurated 
by the Scottish Horticultural Association, commenc¬ 
ing on November 16 next. The area to which the 
advantage of cheap fares will be extended will in¬ 
clude Sunderland and intermediate stations to Edin¬ 
burgh, and the tickets will be available for three or 
five days, according to the desire of excursionists 
when taking tickets. Last year the excursion was 
run for the first time, and was so successful that it 
is being again tried. Every society promoting a 
show of more than local importance should make 
similar arrangements with the railway companies of 
their districts, or bring the matter before them for 
consideration. 
New Glazing System.—We have had placed before 
us the explanation 'of a system of glazing which so 
far as we can judge seems to meet the needs of 
market men and others who have to study economy 
and utility at every point. The system is simply 
this. Rafters or principals are fixed at proper 
distances, and these support purlins which run in 
parallel lines. The whole may be of wood or iron. 
The panes of glass are “ slotted,” that is, holes are 
made at top, middle, and bottom of the edges as 
the case may be, and when they are laid 
flat down, form apertures through which a pin or 
clip is passed and secured on the inside of the pur¬ 
lin by means of a screw or nail, thus holding the glg,ss 
firm. The clip is cork or rubber lined, and when 
fastened to the purlin, makes a neat watertight joint. 
The advantages of this method, which is simplicity 
itself, is that no outside paint is needed; nothing 
obstructs the light; no putty is required and the first 
cost is much less than the putty system ; and then 
anyone can repair a broken pane. In places not 
subject to high winds there seems no reason why this 
new system should not become popular and prove 
perfectly efficient. The subject is brought to our 
notice by Mr. G. G. Taylor, 10, Meridian Place, 
Clifton, Bristol. 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.—The opening meeting of the winter 
session was held at St. John’s Parish Room on 
Thursday, the 12th ins\., when there was a very 
good attendance. The Rev. A. N. Scott, M.A., one 
of the society’s vice-presidents, took the chair at the 
opening of the meeting, and expressed his interest in 
the work of the society, wishing it every success 
during the session that was so suspiciously com¬ 
mencing. A very able paper was given by Mr. W. 
Bound, of Wokingham, Berks., on "A Few Useful 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants.” He illustrated his 
remarks with several specimen plants, cut blooms, 
and plates, amongst which was a fine collection of 
Anthurium blooms, and a well developed plant of 
Acalypha Sanderi. The plants he urged the 
audience to cultivate, both on account of their use¬ 
fulness and easy culture were Anthuriums, Poinsettia, 
Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora, Aeschynanthus, Strepto- 
carpus, Begonias, induing the variety Gloire de 
Lorraine, and Acalypha Sanderi. Mr. Bound gave 
in the clearest manner cultural directions to secure 
the best results ; the soil best fitted to grow the differ¬ 
ent plants; method of propagation, &c. ; laying great 
emphasis in each case on the need for good drainage, 
careful watering, and plenty of ventilation. The 
thanks of the meeting were heartily accorded Mr. 
Bound for his attendance and paper ; also to Messrs. 
Sander, St. Albans, for providing the specimens. 
Prizes for twelve Onions were awarded—first, Mr. 
Shaddick ; second, Mr. Bannister ; and the Society’s 
Certificate of Merit was awarded to Mr. Shaddick 
(Croton), Mr. Newberry (Odontoglossum grande); 
and Mr. White (Pitcher Plant). 
Fungi.—There are some 6,000 species of Fungi. 
Of the Agarics alone there are about 1,200 known 
species in this country. 
The Botany of the Behring Sea Coast of Alaska has 
been explored through the authority of those in¬ 
terested at the University of California. The ex¬ 
perts who made the investigations, returned with 
many important specimens. 
Earth Worms and Horse Chestnuts.—In one of our 
contemporary continental papers there appeared a 
receipt for the destruction of earth worms in pots. 
The process is to crush Chestnuts, put them in a 
muslin bag, using eight to each quart of water. 
Leave these to macerate for twenty-four hours and 
use the liquid in watering the plants. It is claimed 
the worms will come to the surface and die. Not 
even the most delicate roots are hurt by the Chest¬ 
nut juice, yet the effect works such miracles on 
stout skinned worms. 
Fruit Growers and Railway Rates.—I have just been 
reading the paragraph in Gardening World 
headed : " How Fruit Growers are Handicapped,” and 
have been much struck with the difference in rates 
charged by the railway companies for foreign versus 
home-grown fruit from Dover to London. Can this 
not be remedied by an application to the Railway 
Commissioner or the Law Courts? By the Railway 
and Canals’ Acts no preference is to be given by 
railway or canal companies to one trader over 
another, and I am of opinion that the home grower 
has a good case for remedy—aye, even to compel 
restitution of past sums paid in excess. The matter 
was tested in Scotland by colliery owners suing the 
railway companies, who had given less rates to other 
coal owners, and the companies had to refund sums 
amounting to many thousands of pounds, which had 
been illegally exacted. Even the carrying of foreign 
fruit by express trains is a preference, provided the 
home grower offers a truck load of fruit. Is it not 
worth while looking into this?— Cor. 
Reading and District Gardeners—The opening 
meeting of the autumn session of the Reading and 
District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion was held last week, when an interesting hour 
was spent on the subject of “ Successes and Failures 
of the past Season." This was opened by Mr. H. 
Wilson, The Gardens, Lower Redlands ; and from 
the experience elided from Messrs. Neve, Stanton, 
Bound, Townsend, Exltr, Chamberlain, Woolford, 
Alexander, andTIintOD, a good opinion was formed 
of the crops in the neighbourhood. Early Peas 
were good ; the later crops in most places a failure; 
Beans, fairly good ; Potatos, good; Carrots, good ; 
Cauliflowers, nearly a failure; Turnips, similar; 
Lettuce, poor; Oniob, very good; Spinach, a 
failure, but a splendid substitute when this crop fails 
is the Spinach Beet. Fruit was of better colour and 
clearer in the skin than usual; Peaches (outdoor) were 
very good ; Plums, very good ; Pears, very good ; 
Apples very good ; Cherries, very good ; Currants and 
Gooseberries, excellent ; Strawberries, some varie¬ 
ties, very good indeed. The best flowers to with¬ 
stand the drought proved to be fibrous rooted 
Eegonias, Godetias, Nemesia, Antirrhinums, Ver¬ 
benas, Petunias, and Phlcx Drummondii. The ex¬ 
hibits consisted of a splendidly flowered Orchid, 
Miltonia Candida, shown by Mr. Lever, The Gardens, 
Hdlside ; a bunch of highly coloured Salvia, Sutton’s 
Scarlet Queen, by Mr. E. Fry, The Gardens, Green- 
lands ; and a grand specimen of Alfriston Apple, 
weighing 1 lb. 10 oz., by Mr. Farey, Balmore Gard¬ 
ens. As it was the first meeting held by the associa¬ 
tion since the death of Mr. James Martin, who had 
been a member since its foundation, the President, 
Mr. C. B. Stevens, referred to the great loss the 
association had sustained by the death of Mr. James 
Martin, and said that he had become one of the most 
practical men in his profession ; there might be greater 
theorists, but practical men,none. He was a friend to 
every gardener, and his great characteristic was to 
impart to them the knowledge he bad obtained. His 
death was a great loss to their association and to the 
great firm by whom he was employed. Messrs. 
Woolford, Stanton, Neve, Macdonald, and Dore also 
spoke to the great interest shown by the deceased in 
all things appertaining to their profession. It was 
suggested that some memorial should be raised, and 
it was decided to bring the matter forward at the 
next meeting. 
