rHB GARDENING WORLD 
February 13, igog. 
tank might hold about 20 to 30 gallons. 
After the soot has been in the tank for twenty- 
four hours you could use the water, and then 
fill up the tank again and give the sack a 
shake-up, and if any more ammonia is pre¬ 
sent in the soot, it would get dissolved in 
the water and be fit for use. After a week 
the goodness would be all out of the soot, 
and you could then use a similar quantity 
of fresh soot again. If this soot is kept dry 
it will be more valuable than if allowed to 
<mt wet before it is used in the tank. Never 
mix soot in water for the purpose of water¬ 
ing plants, nor should you place any soot 
on the top of the pots. The clear liquid only 
should be used, and soot should be put in a 
bag in order to keep the water clean. 
3630. Garden Soil Getting Dry in 
Summer. 
The soil of my garden looks almost like 
clay in winter, but in July and August it 
becomes dry and hard, and requires a lot of 
watering to make the plants grow like any¬ 
thing at all. Can it be improved in any 
way to alter this state of things? (A. R. 
Powell, Sussex.) 
The remedy for soil of this kind is to 
trench it at short intervals, say, every second 
or third year, and to manure it well every 
vear, using rank stable manure and plenty 
of it. Other substances that would improve 
such a soil would be leaf-mould, road grit, 
wood ashes, the scourings of ditches and the 
parings of road-sides. The grit, of course, 
would make it porous, but the decayed vege¬ 
table matter added to it also supplies plant 
food and enables .the soil to hold moisture 
in the summer time, when clay soils in their 
primitive condition would get dry and hard. 
Anything containing grit would improve the 
soil mechanically, but that containing decay¬ 
ing vegetable matter would improve it both 
mechanically and chemically, so that it de¬ 
pends upon what you can get most readily 
in your neighbourhood. At the same time, 
do not forget to trench it deeply at frequent 
intervals. 
3631. Paving with Pebbles. 
There is a part of the garden path which 
is always wet and soft, owing to the water 
which runs down there in wet weather, and 
it cannot be raised owing to a door in a 
wall. Will you give me a hint or two as to 
the method of paving it with pebbles ? (A. 
M. D., Berwickshire.) 
If the bottom of the walk there is not 
substantial, you should take out the material 
and put in 6 in. to 12 in. of brickbats or 
pebbles, then cover it over with rough gravel, 
beating this down firmly. Make it up to 
within 2 in. or 3 in. of the level, the upper 
2 in. or more consisting of fine sand. The 
pebbles can then be embedded in this sand, 
standing them on their edges, if they are 
flat pebbles,, so that a considerable portion 
will be embedded in the sand, leaving only 
the narrow edges to walk upon. When the 
whole piece has been paved over level in 
this fashion, spread some fine sand on the 
top and give it a watering so as to run the 
sand between the pebbles, making them firm. 
NAMES OF PLANTS. 
(J. Ridley) 1, Eranthis hyemalis, cr Winter 
Aconite; 2, Laurustinus (Viburnum Tinus) ; 
3, Veronica Traversii. 
(A. L. B.) 1, Primula verticillata ; 2, Ru- 
ellia Portellae; 3, Artillery Plant (Pilea 
muscosa); 4, Rivina laevis; 5, Peristrophe 
speciosa. 
(H. Calder) 1, Cyrtomium falcatum; 2, As- 
plenium bulbiferum; 3, Litobrochia vesper- 
tilionis ; 4, Lygor'ium scandens; 5^ Aspara¬ 
gus rnedeoloides, or Smilax; 6, Selaginella 
emiliana. 
. (A. C. S.) 1, Acacia Drummondii; 2, Aca¬ 
cia riceana; 3, Sparmannia africana; 4, 
Choisya ternata. 
^QP.US S& 
m/V£ GEHU/NE Oy 
TT7HY purchase seed of inferior quality for your garden, 
' v when by sending to Eckford, at Wem, the best can be 
obtained ? The success of your garden depends upon the 
seed sno|.lied, and it therefore becomes a question of 
QUALII Y— n->t quantity. 
Every see i sent out by me is carefully examined by hand, 
ami brighter colours, larger flowers and longer stems will be the 
result of growing s ed bought from Wem. 
Villa (Bi Collection. 
24 splendid varieties, 
suitable lot* txliibiri. n, 
50 seeds of each, 5s. 6d. 
Villa (Ci Collect on. 
12 splendid varieties, 
suitable for exhibition, 
50 seeds of eacb, 2s. 9 d. 
NOVELTIES FOR THE SEASON 
' Dodwell F. Browne (Waved). A beautiful intense bright 
crimson. Almost a self. 7 seeds 6d.. 15seeds 1 -. 
Mrs. Charles Masters. A bright rosy salmon standard, with 
almost pure cream wings, «hicli .-.re only slightly rose flushed. 
7 seeds 6d., 15 see s 1 
Apple Blossom (Waved). As its name denotes, th s is a beautiful 
flower of Apple Blossom colour. *20 seeds 6d , 40 seeds 1 
Queen Victoria (Waved’. Extremely large flowers with a back¬ 
ground of deep primrose, flushed with rose. 10 seeds 6d.. 20 
seeds 1 -. 
Menle Christie (Waved). The standard is an intense purple mau e, 
with wings of a somewhat lighter shade. 12 seeds 6d.. 25 see. si-. 
Mid Blue Bobbie’s). A medium sized erect flower of de p sky-blue, 
nearly a self. 10 seeds 6d. 20 seeds 1 
Saint George. Bright fiery orange standards, winged slightly deeper 
than the standard. 7 seeds 6d., 20 seeds 1 -. 
Mrs. Henry Bell (Waved'. A beautiful rich apricot ground overlaid 
with a soft pink. 10 seeds 6d., 20 seeds 1;-. 
SPECIAL NOVELTY OFFER. 
1 full-sized Packet of each of the 8 Grand Novelties, 
post free for 7s. 6d. 
1 full-sized Packet of each of the Novelties, and also the 
Villa C Collection, post free for 10s. 
A Booklet giving full particulars on the Culture of Sweet Peas 
given with ever}/ order. 
■ (3 U E7 _Send a post card for coloured illustrated and full deserip- 
W\ C Ea ■ tive Catalogue. It is sent post free. Write to day. 
(Dept 8), 
WEM Shropshire 
Cetvviirve otvly- Direct /fomWem 
