December 9, lb99. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
227 
PROOF! PROOF!! PROOF!!! 
VITAL IMPORTANCE TO 
EVERY CHRYSANTHEMUM GROWER. 
To secure their plants and cuttings from a reliable source and not from Rust-infected stock. The 
Ryecroft rested stock I guarantee to be entirely free from Rust, and though grown so near London gives 
much the best return. 
RESULTS 
Read the following unsolicited testimonials (two of many) 
“Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham. Tne Gardens, Strathfieldsaye, Mortimer, R.S.O., Berks. 
“ Dear Sir, —Having had all my Chrysanthemums from you last year, you will be pleased to learn that they have given 
entire satisfaction. Would you please send me the enclosed list of nev sorts when they are sent out ? ” 
I am Sir, yours very truly, (Signed), J. W. McHattie.” 
It is acknowledged by the leading experts that Mr. J. W. McHattie is in the proud position of having exhibited the finest 
sixty Blooms ever staged in one competition, securing the First Prize in the Great Vase Class at the Show of the N. C. S. on 
November 6th , and in addition, on the same day, taking the following prizes : First, for 24 Japanese ; First, for 6 White Japanese ; 
First, for 6 Japanese any colour; First, for 6 Japanese Incurved ; Second, for 48 Japanese. 
“Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham. Keip Gardens, Dunblane, N.B. 
“ Dear Sir, —I have watched with interest the results of the cuttings I had from you last year of old varieties against our 
own of the same varieties, and I am pleased to say all yours have done first-class, and given us some of our best blooms. No doubt 
your rested stock has a great advantage upon our own cuttings, which halve to be taken from plants that have been fed heavy, and 
shaded while in bloom ; this makes our cuttings weakly. I must draw upon you again to supply me with a number of the older 
varieties. I have no rust in my collection and wish to keep clear of it. I will send order in a few days for what I require.” 
I am, yours truly (Signed), T. Lunt. 
Mr. T. Lunt is now recognised as the Champion Chrysanthemum Grower in Scotland. At the great Show held in Edinburgh 
(1898 and 1899) he was successful in winning the Blue Ribbon of Scotland,viz.: the “ City of Edinburgh ” prize, a piece of plate value 
/20 and ^14 m cash. He was also successful in winning (not the Scottish Challenge Cup as stated last week), but the thirty-six, 
distinct ; and in addition he has won the Blue Ribbon of Ireland, viz. : ^25 for twenty vases at Belfast. 
I have much pleasure in announcing that I hold the entire stock of the following Grand Novelties, which I shall send out in the Spring 
MADAME VON ANDRE.— Sulph ur Sport from Mutual Friend. First-class Certificate, N. C. S. 
MRS. ALFRED TATE.— A red chestnut-bronze Sport from Etoile de Lyon. Award of Merit, R. H. S. 
SOUVENIR DE MARCHIONESS OF SALISBURY.— A Yellow Sport from M. Chenon de Leche. 
In addition I have some magnificent Seedlings, which will be announced later. 
MY GENERAL CHRYSANTHE MUM CATALOGUE IS ALSO NOW READY, POST FREE ONE STAMP. 
H. J. JONES, Ryecroft Nursery, LEWISHAM, S.E. 
PRIVATE GREETING CARDS for Xmas, 
and New Year. 12 Artistic Cards from 2s., with 
Name, Address and Motto. Specimens sent on 
receipt of 3d. for postage. Hicks, Wilkinson 
& Sears, 180, Fleet St., London. 
1 Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man."— Bacon. 
ifM 
Edited by J. FRASER, F.L.S. 
SATURDAY , DECEMBER 9 th, 1899'. 
Constitution of Rose Soils. — Our 
readers may remember that, on the 
occasion of the National Rose Society’s 
show at the Crystal Palace in July last, we 
made some suggestions about that society 
undertaking the analysis of soils from the 
famous Rose-growing districts in this coun¬ 
try, in order to ascertain whether anything 
in those soils contributed to the remarkable 
success of certain Rose growers, particularly 
those in Essex. We discovered soon after 
that our suggestions had been anticipated, 
that, in fact, a sub-committee had been 
formed for the purpose of ascertaining what, 
if any, particular chemical ingredients in 
the soil enabled Roses “ to produce an ex¬ 
ceptionally large proportion of choice exhi¬ 
bition blooms.” That sub-committee con¬ 
sisted of Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S. (Chair¬ 
man), the Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, Mr. 
George Paul, Mr. J. J. Willis, and Mr. E. 
Mawley (Secretary) ; and carried out its 
obligations by appointing Dr. Bernard 
Dyer, F.C.S., F.L.S., to analyse some half- 
a-dozen samples of soil procured from the 
Rose nurseries of Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt; of Mr. B. R. Cant, Messrs. 
Frank Cant & Co., and Messrs. D. Prior & 
Sons, all of Colchester ; of Messrs. Hark- 
ness & Sons, Hitchin ; and of Mr. George 
Prince, of Longworth, near Oxford. A 
sample of soil was also procured from the 
Rose grounds of Mr. E. B. Lindsell, Hit- 
chin, to represent the amateur element of 
the society. The report giving the result 
of the investigation is now before us. Mr. 
Alexander Hill Gray, of Beaulieu, Bath, 
has the honour and credit of first suggest¬ 
ing the scheme to the Committee of the 
National Rose Society, and his suggestions 
were accompanied by £5 to help defray the 
expenses cf the investigation. 
The secretary, Mr. Mawley, superin¬ 
tended the collection of the sampTs of soil, 
this being accomplished during the latter 
half of July last. None of the soil was pro¬ 
cured from those portions of the Rose 
grounds subjected to artificial manuring for 
many years past, but was taken from be¬ 
neath grass paths, roads, margins, &c., in 
open situations, the natural soils of the 
locality being the desideratum. Slices of 
soil 2 in. thick and 10 in. deep were cut out 
with a spade, after the removal of the super¬ 
incumbent turf. The samples were sent off 
immediately to Dr. B. Dyer, for analysis. 
The experts of the National Rose Society 
do not admit that superior cultural skill, on 
| the part of the winners of the most impor¬ 
tant prizes, is responsible for their remark¬ 
able success, because they have no mono¬ 
poly of the art of Rose culture. 
Of the three soils sent from Colchester, 
two of them were described as disintegrated 
clay, about 10 in. deep, overlying a subsoil 
of yellow clay. The third was said to con¬ 
sist of marl and grit, on a clay subsoil. The 
three were mixed before analysis. The 
average altitude of this district is 150 ft. 
above sea-level, and the average rainfall 
23-65 in. The mixture on analysis was 
found to consist of 7 per cent, of stones or 
gravel, 63 per cent, of clean sand, and 27 
per cent, of clay and all other fine matter 
removed by washing. This was the 
mechanical composition, showing that the 
Rose grounds about Colchester consist of a 
sandy loam. The chemical analysis showed 
85-620 of silicious matter, 3-125 oxide of 
iron, 3-280 alumina, 0-537 lime, 0-360 mag¬ 
nesia, 0-226 potash, 0-085 soda, 0-003 chlo¬ 
rine, 0-115 phosphoric acid, 0-002 nitric 
acid, 0-041 sulphuric acid, and 6-6o6 organuj 
matter, water of hydration, &c. This con¬ 
firms the mechanical analysis, and shows a 
soil rather poor in nitrogenous matter, and 
remarkably deficient in lime. Such being 
the case; it would be a mistake to apply 
phosphatic manures in the form of super¬ 
phosphates, because the latter would render 
the‘‘soil acid in the relative absence of lime. 
Dr. Dyer considered that liberal manuring 
was necessa^to make the soil sufficiently 
fertile for horticultural purposes. 
Cheshunt is 90 ft. above sea-level and 
has a mean annual rainfall of 25-85 in. The 
sample of soil, taken from Messrs. Paul & 
Son’s nurseries, consisted of 5 per cent, of 
stones and gravel, 38 of clean sand, and 62 
of clay and other hne matter removed by 
washing. When dry this soil is relatively 
I light and porous ; but when wet it appears 
like clay, but its adhesiveness is chiefly due 
to the fineness of the sand. Chemically 
analy el it showed more sil cious matter 
but less of oxide of iron, alumina, lime, 
