September 8, 1900. 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
19 
SPECIAL OFFER OF . . 
FIVE GRAND DAFFODILS. 
Suitable for Flower Beds and Borde-s, for Pot-culture, to grow 
for Cut Bloom or to naturalise in Grass, Woodlands, &c. 
0 / the following five HANDSOME D ffodils we have 
cultivated large stocks, knowing how highly they will be 
appreciated by buyers when obtainable at a price which 
will allow of their being planted in quantity either for 
effect or for cutting. All are very strong growers and par¬ 
ticularly adapted for permanent beds and borders, and for 
naturalising. The flowers are bold and slioivy, of good 
substance, and as they last long in water and have long 
stems they will be found valuable for cutting. 
EMPEROR) perianth de:p pri crose, trumpet rich full yellow, 
very large flower. 
Strong Flowering Bulb3, per i.ooo, 14-0/-; per ico, 
15/- ; per doz., 2 -. 
Extra Large Bulbs, per i,ocn, 190/-; per ioo, 21/-; 
per doz., 3/-. 
BARRII CONSPICUUS, a flower of great beauty and re¬ 
finement, having broad rich yellow petals and a short cup 
with a deep margin of orange-scarlet; profuse bloomer 
and strong grower. 
Strong Flowering Bulbs, per i.ooo, 90/-; per ico, 
10/6 ; per doz., 1 / 6 . 
Extra Strong Selected Bulbs, per i.ooo, 120/-; per 
ioo, 13/6; per doz., 1/9. 
SIR WATKIN, perianth rich sulphur, cup yellow, slightly 
tinged with orange, very large flower. 
Strong Flowering Bulbs, per i.coo, 120/-; per ioo, 
13/- ; per doz , 1/9. 
Extra Strong Selected Bulbs, per i.ooo, 160/-; per 
ioo, 17/6; per doz., 2/6. 
P. R. BARR, a handsome golden-yellow trumpet Daffodil o. 
stiff, sturdy habit, vety free blooming, and of refined 
elegant form. 
Strong Flowering Bulbs, per i,ooo, 110/- ; per ioo, 
12/6; per doz., 1/9. 
Extra Strong Selected Bulbs, per i,ooo, 160/-; per 
ioo, 17/6; per doz., 2/6. 
BICOLOR GRANDIS, petals snowy white, large and broad, 
trumpet large and full yellow ; late flowering. 
Strong Flowering Bulbs, per i.ooo, 120/-; pgr ioo, 
13/-; per doz., 1/9. 
Extra Strong Selected Bulbs, per i.ooo, 190/-; per 
ioo, 21/- ; per doz., 3/-. 
BARB’S DAFFODIL CATALOGUE contains a full descriptive 
List of all the finest Daffodils in cultivation, including Ihe 
latest Novelties cf igoo. Free on Application. 
BARR & SONS, II, 12 & 13 King St., Covent Carden, London. 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man "— Bacon. 
Edited by J. FRASER, F.L.S. 
SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 8 th, 1900. 
NEXT WEEK'S ENGAGEMENTS. 
Tuesday, September nth.—Royal Horticultural Society, in 
Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, Westminster, S.W. ; Paris 
Exhibition (temporary show). 
Wednesday, September iath.—Royal Caledonian Horticul¬ 
tural Society (a days); Derbyshire Agricultural and 
Horticultural Show, at Derby (2 days). 
Thursday, September 13 th.—Interna 1 ioDal Pomological Con¬ 
gress, at Paris (2 days); Boston Dahlii and Chrysanth¬ 
emum Society's Show. 
ir John Bennet Lawes, Bart., a 
Pioneer in Agricultural Improve¬ 
ment.— By the death of Sir John Bennet 
Lawes, Bart., D.C.L., LL.D., Sc. D., 
F.R.S., of Rothamsted, Herts, the science 
of Agricultural Chemistry loses one of its 
most devoted students and ablest exponents. 
Horticulture may also be said to lose by 
his death, for it is closely akin to its sister 
science of agriculture. Sir John Lawes 
was born at Rothamsted, Hertfordshire, in 
1814, and passed away at the ripe old age of 
eighty-six, on Friday, August 31st last. 
He came into his ancestral inheritance when 
he was only about eight years old. 
While being educated at Eton and Oxford 
he became fascinated with the science of 
chemistry, then in its infancy and full of the 
glamour of possibilities in a little known 
hi Id. Being also of a practical turn of mind 
he resolved to turn his knowledge of the 
subject to some useful purpose, and, accord¬ 
ingly, decided to dedicate himself to the 
task of improving the fruits of field and 
garden by means of chemistry. Soon after 
entering into possession of Rothamsted, his 
hereditary property, or say when he had 
attained his majority, he commenced experi¬ 
menting with manures of various kinds, first 
upon pot plants and afterwards in the field. 
This was in 1834, at which time he was an 
admirer of De Saussure, and an ardent 
student of that worker’s researches on 
vegetation. Amongst his earliest experi¬ 
ments, the manufacture and application of 
superphosphate of lime to various root crops 
gave the most striking results. The super¬ 
phosphates were obtained from bones, bone 
ash and apatite by the application to them 
of sulphuric acid, otherwise known as 
vitriol. The results obtained during 1837, 
1838 and 1839 were such as to lead to much 
more extended trials in the field during 
1840, 1841 and subsequently. His dis¬ 
coveries in this field gave rise to marvellous 
results. The superphosphate of lime which 
he manufactured and used in his experi¬ 
ments were but the infantile beginnings of 
an industry which has grown to millions of 
tons of an annual output from the various 
British factories all over the land. He may 
therefore be said to have made many blades 
of grass grow where only one grew before; 
so that British agriculture and horticulture 
are greatly indebted to his initiative, zeal 
and life long industry on their behalf. 
In 1843 he commenced experiments in 
the field on a more systematic plan. A barn 
that had been utilised to some extent as a 
laboratory was from henceforth entirely 
devoted to agricultural investigations. The 
Rothamsted experiments may, practically, 
be said to have commenced in 1843, and 
have been carried cn in the same elaborate 
manner, and scientific spirit ever since. 
Thus while it may be said that Sir John 
has been experimenting for the last sixty- 
five years, the Rothamsted Experiment 
Station, - being founded in 1843, has had an 
existence of fifty-seven years. By the date 
just mentioned the experiments had assumed 
a promising character, and Sir John enlisted 
the services of a practical chemist, Dr., 
now Sir Henry Gilbert, F.R.S. From 
this date the Rothamsted establishment may 
be said to have become a national agricul¬ 
tural laboratory, and a Mecca for the 
farmers and others interested in field 
researches in Great Britain. A splendid 
laboratory has since been fitted up and well 
equipped with all appliances and means for 
carrying on elaborate experiments on a far 
reaching scale. It was built by a public 
subscription of agriculturists in 1854 an d 
1855. The Rothamsted Experimental 
Station was carried on entirely at the 
expense of Sir John, and without connection 
with any other institution or organisation. 
He set aside a sum of £100,000, the 
Laboratory and certain areas of land for the 
purpose of carrying on investigations after 
his death. While in 1889 trustees were 
appointed, as well as a committee of 
management to superintend and direct the 
working of the establishment. 
The new laboratory built and presented 
to Sir John Lawes in 1854-5 has become 
packed to overflowing with a collection of 
40,000 bottles of samples of vegetable pro¬ 
duce, animal products, ashes, soils, &c., as 
well as thousands of samples not stored in 
bottles, but mostly produced on the estate, 
and affected or connected in one way or 
another with the experiments in hand. An 
additional “sample house” was built in 1888. 
The investigations being carried on fall 
under two headings, namely, “ Experiments 
on Vegetation,” and “ Experiments on 
Animals.” The former of these includes 
the investigation of soils, rainfall and drain¬ 
age, amount of water transpired by plants, 
botanical characteristics, arrd experiments 
on the assimilation of .free nitrogen. His 
studies in the latter field of research have 
been of a far reaching character, and many 
a farmer all over the land has been guided 
by the instructions emanating from Roth¬ 
amsted. Many a field of research has been 
thoroughly explored, and the how, why and 
wherefore of utilising nitrogenous manures 
has been placed at the service of plant 
growers and farmers. 
The results of his labours, combined with 
those of his assistants, have been communi¬ 
cated to the world in a great variety of 
ways. Papers and pamphlets have been 
published and disseminated from Roth¬ 
amsted itself, as well as by the Royal 
Agricultural Society of England, the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science, 
the Chemical Society of London, the Royal 
Society of London, the Society of Arts, the 
Royal Dublin Society, &c. He was created 
a baronet in 1882. Other honours conferred 
upon him, include a fellowship of the Royal 
Society, the Royal Medal (in conjunction 
with Sir J. Henry Gilbert, F.R.S.), a Gold 
Medal from the Imperial Agricultural 
Society ot Russia, a Gold Medal of Merit 
from the German Emperor, &c. In 1842 
Sir John married a daughter of the late Mr. 
Andrew Fontaine, of Narford Hall, Norfolk, 
who pre-deceased him in 1895. A son and 
heir was born to him in 1843, and now 
succeeds to the ancestral estate, namely, 
Mr. Charles Bennet Lawes, a sculptor of 
eminence. 
•i» -—- 
Mr. George Courtauld, J.P., has engaged a lady 
to take charge of his beautiful gardens at Cut Hedge, 
Essex. 
Crystal Palace Fruit Show, September 27th, 28th, 
and 29th. Intending exhibitors should note that 
entries close on September 20th. 
Royal Horticultural Society,. — The next fruit 
and flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, September nth, in the 
Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, 1—5 p.m. 
A lecture on “ Garden Manures ” will be given by 
Mr. F. J. Baker at three o’clock. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 
Society.—A special meeting will be held at the 
Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, W.C., 
on Monday, September 10th next, at 8 p.m., for the 
purpose of taking into consideration the recom¬ 
mendation of the committee upon that part of Rule 
8 which relates to the secretary’s salary.— W. Collins, 
Secretary. 
“ Anglo-Saxon Guide to the 1900 Paris Exhibi¬ 
tion.”—Though it may seem late to be sending out 
a guide for the great Paris exhibition, which now has 
less than two months to run, we may hasten to say 
that this is a second edition, and it includes the 
awards which " Anglo-Saxon ” firms have received 
over the way. It is the only English guide sold at 
the official bookstalls inside the exhibition, and is by 
far the best which'has reached us. Included within 
the covers we find a large map of Paris (20 in. by 
15 in.) with all the important streets, railway routes, 
places of interest, &c., marked and numbered to 
correspond with the names which are tabled con¬ 
veniently by the side of the map. This alone is 
worth the shilling, which the guide costs. Illustra¬ 
tions and other maps are lavishly employed, and the 
publication in its entirety is exceedingly well drawn 
up, and we feel sure will meet all the wants that any 
visitor will ever have. Those of our readers or their 
friends who may yet intend to make a visit, we 
advise to secure this Anglo-Saxon guide. It 
may be had from Messrs. Boot & Son, Ltd., 24, Old 
Bailey, London, E.C.; at ioo, Broadway, New 
York; and 44 Rue Vercingetorix, Paris, &c. 
