THE OA RDENfNO WORL D. 
February 11, 1905. 
m 
the blooms. With careful attention to ventilation and fol¬ 
lowing- out these few hints, the loveliest Roses can be pro¬ 
duced by the first week in May. 
Some of the best varieties I have found for pots are K. A. 
Victoria, a beautiful lemon-white Rose, coming to perfection 
in the greenhouse; Madame Lambard, a lovely Rose, and con¬ 
stant bloomer ; Mrs. W. J. Grant, Papa Gontier, Niphetos, a 
lovely white; Sou. de Elise Vardon, Sou. de Therese Levet, a 
dark red Tea Rose; Liberty and Sou. de Catherine Guillot, 
two ideal pot Roses; Mareclial Niel, best on a wall. 
Some of the hybrid Perpetuals make good pot Roses—such 
as Ulrich Brunner, Duke of Edinburgh, Merveille de Lyon, 
S. M. Rodocanaehi, and Margaret Dickson. Among the newer 
varieties are some splendid Roses for pots; Frau Karl 
Drusehki, a large white ; Mildred Grant, one of the grandest of 
Roses Duchess-of Portland, an improvement on K. A. Vic¬ 
toria ; Lady Moyra Beauclerc, Alice Lindsell, Sou. de Pierre 
Netting, and Lady Roberts, a lovely Tea Rose. 
A. D. Cooper. 
Schizanthus as Decorative Plants. 
Among the many exquisite annuals which are invaluable 
for planting out in the open border and also equally suit¬ 
able for pot culture I think it may be safely asserted that 
few afford so much satisfaction as several species and varie¬ 
ties of Schizanthus. Their free flowering propensities, grace¬ 
ful foliage, and elegant habit, render to them a distinct charm, 
and undoubtedly a few well-grown plants are a decided acquisi¬ 
tion for the embellishment of the greenhouse or conservatory 
during the early spring and summer months. Success with 
their culture in pots may be readily attained, providing they 
are grown cool, only resorting to the use of fire heat in order 
to dispel frost or tin undue amount of dampness pervading 
the house or pit in which they are growing. A free circula¬ 
tion of air on all favourable occasions should be accorded them, 
and at all times it is necessary to exercise careful attention 
with respect to watering, as few plants of this class are more 
susceptible to injury from an overdose of water than this 
member of the natural order Solanaceae. 
For an early spring display seed may be sown in August, 
and for later effects, successional sowings should be made in 
February and March. A number of- 3-in. pots, filled with a 
light, rich, friable compost, should be employed for this opera¬ 
tion, as I have found from my own practical experience that ■ 
this method of sowing the seed in small pots at the commence¬ 
ment is far preferable to sowing a larger quantity of se'ed 
in pans, as this necessitates the handling of the seedlings more 
often than is desired for their well-being, and my experience 
in this matter has led me to believe that seedling Schizanthus 
do not relish having their roots disturbed more often than is 
absolutely necessary. 
The seedlings should be thinned out to three or four in 
a pot, and when sufficiently rooted, potted on into 5-in. or 
6-in. pots, in which size they will flower admirably. The com¬ 
post, for this larger shift should consist of good fibrous loam, 
leaf soil, and sand, with the addition of a small amount of 
well-rotted manure. Occasional applications of soot-water 
and diluted liquid manure, when once the plants are well 
established, will prove most beneficial in keeping them in 
a healthy and robust condition. 
The only pests which I have found to attack these plants 
are red spider and green fly. These may be effectually kept 
at bay by resorting to the use of the syringe on bright, sunny 
days, and occasionally fumigating them. 
S-. retusus is without doubt one of the most strikingly 
beautiful species that has vet appeared ; it was introduced 
in the year 1851 by Dr. Gillies, who discovered it in the 
Chilian Andes. S. pinnatus, a remarkably free flowering 
species, introduced in 1822, is, with the last mentioned, excep¬ 
tionally suitable for cultivation in pots. Upon S. wisetonensis 
too much praise cannot be lavished. The compact habit, 
graceful Fern-like foliage, and beautiful colouring of the 
flowers, lend to the whole plant quite a unique appearance. 
There are many other varieties worthy of mention the seed 
of which may be readily obtained from any reliable nurserv- 
mar at a very small outlay. T. G. F. 
Obituary. 
Mr. James Edward Ransome. 
We regret to announce the death of Mr. James Edward Ran- 
some, head and chairman of the firm of Messrs. Ransome, Sims 
and Jefferies, Limited, Orwell Works, Ipswich. Mr. Ransome 
died in London on the 30th ult. after a brief illness at the 
age of 66. 
He was related to the founder of the firm, and served his 
apprenticeship, taking a regular course through the shops of 
the firm and obtaining a thorough practical knowledge of the 
business. He became a partner in 1868, and when the busi¬ 
ness was converted into a. limited liability company in January, 
1884, he became managing director. He was a native of 
Ipswich, and at the time of his death was a member of the 
council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, of the 
council of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society, 
of the Agricultural Engineers’ Association, of the Institute of 
Mechanical Engineers, and chairman of the Ipswich Endowed 
Schools Governors. Ipswich, therefore, lost- a leading citizen 
by his death. He leaves a widow, four sons and three 
daughters. Hi's remains were interred at the Ipswich 
Cemetery on the 3rd inst. 
Mr. Thomas Rippon. 
The death of Mr. Thomas Rippon, of Hythe Farm, Consett, 
Durham, occurred unexpectedly on the 29th ult. in the 41st 
year of his age. He was the: eldest son of the late Mr. Leonard 
Rippon, of East. Butsfield, one of the old families in the locality, 
who was supposed to have given the name Rippon Burn to a 
stream which flows through the neighbourhood. He was in 
robust health till about two years ago, when he bad an 
accidental fall, receiving internal injuries from which lie since 
suffered. 
Although Mr. Rippon lived at the Hythe Farm, which he 
rented, he was previously gardener for some time to Mr. 
W. B. Van Haansbergen, of Woodlands, who held him in high 
esteem. He succeeded his father as gardener at Woodlands 
about twenty-two years ago, and had worked there ever since. 
His employer held him in high esteem, and thoroughly trusted 
him to do either garden work, farm work, or forestry. The 
deceased was of an obliging disposition and greatly esteemed 
amongst his neighbours. He leaves a wife and three daughters 
to mourn his untimely loss. 
Basic Slag axd Its L t ses. —A paper on the above subject was 
read by Mr. W. A. Cox at Ashfield, co. Wicklow, in which he 
described the origin and uses of basic slag. He detailed how 
that phosphorus was an impurity in pig iron, and after it was 
smelted lime was added in order to withdraw the phosphorus 
from the iron. This matter is then a waste product, and for 
many years was not utilised until its value as a fertiliser was 
discovered. The material rises to the top of the molten iron 
in the smelting furnaces, and when it cools it solidifies like a 
piece of stone. We may say that railway people found a use for 
it before its m anuria-1 properties were discovered by reducing it 
to the form of macadam and placing it between the metals on 
Vailway lines to keep down dust. Since it was found to contain 
phosphate of lime, that could be reduced to a fertiliser on the 
farm and garden the slag was ground to a powder and used 
to be known as Thomas’ phosphate of lime. The percentage of 
phosphoric acid which this powder contains varies to some extent 
according to the quality of the iron used and to the details in 
thq process of manufacturing steel. The article from certain 
districts of Lincolnshire contains about "25 to -325 per cent, of 
phosphoric acid and 16 to 18 per cent, of lime, so that basic slag 
would supply two elements of plant food, besides having a 
certain mechanical effect upon the soil, 
