392 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 2, 1E03. 
Readers' Competition—continued. 
the heat of the summer sun from scorching the soil and stones, 
ofttimes to the detriment of the most cherished gems among our 
collection of plants. This scorching to which our plants are 
subjected is totally different from the treatment of nature in 
their mountain homes, where, although it is in summer warm 
and sunny, the whole atmosphere is charged with moisture, 
and the soil in the fissures of the rocks is wet with the recently 
melted snow. Realising this, we shall readily agree that the 
best position for our plants is a spot open to the sun, but from 
which the evaporation of- moisture is checked to the greatest 
possible extent. 
Here it is that the sunk rockery has the advantage over the 
elevated mound, for by making an excavation into the solid 
earth and facing the more or less perpendicular sides with 
stones, the plants have a rooting medium largely out of reach of 
the sun’s power, while at the same time the atmosphere of the 
recess will be soft and warm, thus giving the plants an almost 
ideal home. 
I am glad to be able to endorse these remarks of my friend, 
as I accepted his invitation to go and see his garden, where last 
year he had partially reorganised the erstwhile elevated rockery, 
converting one part of it into a deeply cut recess with three 
irregular stony banks, two of which were well open to the sun, 
while the third was entirely in the shade. 
The plants have not occupied their new home long enough 
to thoroughly furnish the place, but much of the work was done 
in time for planting last spring, and the one season’s growth 
of the plants is sufficient to show that they are intent upon 
making themselves at home. I was delighted to see several 
choice things flourishing that had previously been very unsatis¬ 
factory on the mounds, while some things had come well through 
the winter that had heretofore to be annually replaced. Among 
these latter may be mentioned Romneya -Coulteri (planted at 
the base of an overhanging boulder), Shortia galacifolia, and 
Andromeda tetragona. Other things that were doing well were 
Androsaces, Ramondias, Onosma taurica, and many choice 
Saxifragas, while on the shady side could be seen pushing up 
strongly the young fronds of Ferns, interspersed with Trilliums, 
Uvularias, and a host of other good things. Altogether the 
prospect is bright indeed, and I do not wonder at my friend’s 
conviction that sunk rockeries are best for many things ; indeed, 
I came away determined henceforth to urge more strongly than 
ever that at least a part of every rock garden should be sunk 
below the level of the surrounding ground. 
Heather Bell. 
Mixed Vineries 
A friend entering on a new situation takes charge of a very 
good vinery, but with eight varieties of Vines in it. In inviting 
me to call he has this in his mind, and, as a consequence, it is 
the first thing I am taken in to see. 
This is the list of the Vines:—No. 1, Black Hambro ; 2, 
Foster’s Seedling ; 3, Gros Maroc ; 4, Duke of Buceleugh ; 5, 
Gros Colman; 6, Airs. Pince ; 7, Muscat of Alexandria; and 
lastly, 8, Lady Downes Seedling. 
Mixed vineries have been the fashion for long, and the 
gardener has to adapt himself to the management of such. 
While general, jhere is no objection to these mixtures ; it pre¬ 
sents a few difficulties which have to be overcome, the later 
difficulty being in finishing and ripening 5, 6, 7, and 8. Such 
fruit, when ripe, being then cut long and bottled, can be kept 
into the new year. 
Coming now to the present culture, all will be under the 
same heading, tying, stopping, etc., as required. 
As they come into flower it will be well to not only tap the 
Vine rods once or twice a day, but also to use the pollen from 
one to the other ; this can be expeditiously done by using a 
pampas plume. 
Nos. 6 and 7 should be particularly attended to, they each 
being shy setters. Having secured the setting, border being 
inside, each Vine should be well watered, at the same time using 
a good dressing of Vine manure. The true use and object of 
this is very plain, not only feeding the top, but also assisting 
the new root making. Nos. 6, 7, and 8 can also be well watered 
as they go out of bloom with clear lime water for a week before 
applying any stimulant; this will assist the formation of the 
stoning. The top growth culture of all is about the same, with 
the exception of No. 7, which will do with less lateral growth, 
or, rather, sub-laterals, as this grape requires more light to 
colour the berries, yet good foliage is necessary to prevent sun 
scald. When colouring a drier atmosphere must be maintained. 
No. 5 in such a Vinery is not so subject to red spider, thoujh 
the chances are against it fully developing its true character. 
In thinning, each variety should be well considered, and hos. 
6 and 7 be left last—No. 6 to see which are the best stoned 
berries, 7 to be sure also of the same. 
Rods being 3ft. apart, ample room is given the due develop¬ 
ment of each variety. At no time should any variety be allowed 
to run wild ; this would be at not only the loss of vigour to 
the particular Vine, but it would also “ rod ” its neighbour. 
No. 4, a shy showing variety in most instances, was showing 
sufficient to make a crop, but irregular. The young rod system 
is undoubtedly best for this variety ; next is the leaving of 
longer spurs when pruning. During the season I shall again 
refer to this collection of Vines. Stephen Castle. 
April 28th, 1903. 
A Cheap Ammonia Project.— According to Mr. John Speir 
(says the Field), some ingenious person has on the point of com¬ 
pletion a scheme for the requisition of ammonia from the air 
for agricultural purposes. The idea is being worked out on a 
comparatively small scale at present, and it is anticipated that 
the process will be proclaimed publicly in the course of a month 
or two. It is reasonably calculated that this discovery will 
prove of immense value in cheapening the cost of soil fertilising 
substances, and important results are looked for in consequence. 
* * * 
Poison in Potatos. —Potato® contain a poisonous alkaloid 
known as solanine. Little of this poison is found in new 
Potatos, but even fresh Potatos which have grown above the sur¬ 
face of the soil and have a green skin are generally known to b,- 
poisonous. When Potatos are kept a long time they contain a 
large amount of this poison, says an American journal. About 
ten years ago many soldiers in the German army were ill from an 
unknown cause. The matter was investigated, and it was dis¬ 
covered that the. men had been eating Potatos which had been 
kept for a long time in a damp place until they had begun to 
sprout. A chemical examination showed that these Potatos con¬ 
tained twenty-four times as much solanine as is found in new 
Potatos. 
* * •* 
The Forest Flora of New' South Wales. —Mr. J. H. Maiden, 
the Government Botanist of the mother State, is issuing, under 
the auspices of the Forest Department in Sydney, a, series o 
monographs on “ The Forest Fiona of New South \Y ales (S\ dney • 
W. A. Gullick, Government printer), in which he is following 
the lines laid down by the late Baron von Mueller and Sir 
Frederick M‘Coy in similar publications, and will describe and 
portray the 450 trees, attaining a height of 25 feet and upwards, 
which are already ascertained to exist in that part of Australia. 
Apart from the scientific value of such a work, it is to be wel¬ 
comed on account of its economical utility, for at present we an- 
but imperfectly acquainted with the industrial uses to wine i 
many of the -species of trees as timber are capable of being ap¬ 
plied. “There are, for example,” as Mr. Maiden points out, " im¬ 
portant possibilities in regard to the utilisation of timbers foi 
wood pulp, and to a less extent for fish curing. Again, nni-'n 
of our knowledge in regard to the value of the ashes of Umbels 
is quite superficial.” Four trees are described and figured in the 
present number, the most remarkable being the turpentine tree, 
Which has the property of resisting the teredo, is not inflam¬ 
mable, although it exudes turpentine, is very durable and very 
difficult to burn, besides being a noble shade tree. Its natural 
habitat is in deep gullies, and it can be freely produced from 
seed. Accompanying each monograph is an illustration, drawn 
by Miss Margaret Flockton, representing a branch of the tree in 
flower, together with each of its anatomical constituents, very 
carefully executed. 
* * The prize last week in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “ H. W. C.” for his article on “ Tuberous-roctec 
Begonias from Seed,” page 369. 
