January  28,  1892. 
79 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Secretary. — Scrase-Dickins,  C.  R,,  Coolkurst  Park,  Horsham. 
Barr,  P.,  12,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C. 
Bennett-Poe,  John  T.,  29,  Ashley  Place.  S.W. 
Bourne,  Rev.  S.  E.,  Dunston  Vicarage,  Lincoln, 
Burbidge,  F.  W.,  M.A.,  Trinity  College  Gardens,  Dublin. 
Cammell,  G.,  Brookfield,  Hathersage,  near  Sheffield. 
Cammell,  M.,  Loxwood  House,  Billingshurst,  Sussex. 
Cowan,  C.  W.,  Valley  field,  Penicuick,  Midlothian. 
De  Graaff,  S.  A.,  Leyden,  Holland. 
GoldriDg,  W.,  34,  Gloucester  Road,  Kew. 
KingsmilJ,  A.,  Esq.,  The  Holt,  Harrow  Weald,  Stanmore. 
Krelage,  J.  H.,  Haarlem,  Holland. 
Leichtlin,  Max,  Baden-Baden. 
MacMichael,  Rev.  C.,  Walpole  Rectory,  Wisbech. 
Marsh,  Rev.  T.  H.,  Cawston  Rectory,  Norfolk. 
Milne,  Readhead,  R.,  Holden  Clough,  Bolton-by-Bowland,  Clitheroe. 
Moore,  F.  W.,  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Glasnevin.  Dublin. 
Perry,  Amos  I.,  Hardy  Plant  Farm,  Winchmore  Hill,  N. 
Vilmorin,  Henry  L.  De,  Quai  de  la  Megisserie,  Paris. 
Walker,  James,  Ham  Common,  Surrey. 
Ware,  Walter  T.,  Inglescombe  Nurseries,  near  Bath. 
Willmott,  Miss,  Warley  Place,  Great  Warley,  Essex. 
FERTILISERS  FOR  THE  ORCHARD. 
AT  the  recent  annual  meeting  of  the  Indiana  Horticultural  Society  a 
paper  read  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Stevens  on  the  “  Feeding  and  Care  of 
Orchards  ”  contained  many  valuable  thoughts.  As  to  the  relation 
between  fertility  of  soil  of  the  best  crops,  he  said  that  when  a  bearing 
orchard  begins  to  decline  in  the  quality  of  fruit  lack  of  fertility  is 
indicated.  Orchards  should  be  fed  before  the  fertility  is  exhausted  and  the 
trees  become  stunted.  It  is  a  simple  matter  to  understand  that  orchards 
must  be  fertilised  for  precisely  the  same  reason  that  our  grain  fields  and 
gardens  are  manured.  The  fruit  removes  the  phosphoric  acid,  nitrogen 
and  potash  from  the  soil  just  the  same  as  cereals  and  root  crops  do,  and 
we  must  keep  a  liberal  supply  of  available  plant-food  in  the  soil  for  the 
orchard  if  we  expect  profitable  returns.  In  fact  it  is  more  necessary  to 
fertilise  the  orchard  than  it  is  our  grain  fields,  for  the  reason  that  on 
most  farms  much  of  the  grain  produced  is  consumed  by  the  stock,  and 
through  the  manure  heap  finds  its  way  back  to  the  land,  while  there  is 
little  or  nothing  that  goes  back  to  the  soil  from  the  fruit  crop  that  is 
harvested  year  after  year. 
We  hear  the  question  asked  quite  frequently,  Why  is  it  that  our 
orchards  are  not  vigorous  and  long-lived  as  they  used  to  be?  It  is 
chiefly  because  they  are  starved  to  death.  Even  the  new  lands  we  now 
clear  up  are  not  as  rich  in  vegetable  mould  and  the  mineral  elements  of 
the  plant  food  that  make  tree  growth  as  they  were  half  a  century  ago. 
In  fact,  much  of  our  woodland  is  now  pastured  until  it  is  half 
exhausted  before  the  trees  are  taken  off,  or  rather  die  off. 
It  requires  about  the  same  elements  of  plant  food  to  make  an  Apple 
tree  that  it  does  a  Pear  or  Peach,  but  when  the  fruits  are  analysed 
we  find  quite  a  difference  in  their  composition.  For  example  : 
Phos.  acid.  Potash.  Nitrogen. 
100  bushels  Apples  contain  ...  1  lb.  10  lbs.  7  lbs. 
100  bushels  Pears,  about .  H  lb.  4  lbs.  5  lbs. 
100  bushels  Peaches,  about  ...  lbs.  13  lbs.  6  lbs. 
ThnB  we  see  that  potash  is  the  predominating  element  in  Apples  and 
Peaches,  while  nitrogen  leads  in  Pears.  Apples  need  two  and  a  half 
times  and  Peaches  three  times  as  much  potash  as  Pears.  It  would  not 
be  good  judgment  to  use  precisely  the  quantities  indicated  in  the  above 
table  to  get  an  additional  100  bushels  of  fruit.  The  new  wood-growth 
and  foliage  must  be  accounted  for,  as  well  as  an  allowance  for  some 
losses  through  fermentation  and  bleaching.  It  is  also  impracticable  to 
distribute  any  fertiliser  so  perfectly  as  to  bring  all  of  it  within  reach  of 
the  feeding  rootlets  of  a  tree.  I  would  always  advise  a  liberal  use  of 
such  plant  food  as  we  are  sure  our  trees  need,  for  a  year  lost  in  an 
orchard  by  failure  to  feed  is  gone  irretrievably. 
Whatever  we  use  to  fertilise  the  orchard  should  be  in  readily  avail¬ 
able  form,  so  that  the  trees  can  profit  from  it  from  the  moment  it  is 
worked  into  the  soil.  Barnyard  manure  is  not  the  best  thing  to  use 
by  any  means.  Its  nitrogen  is  partly  available,  but  the  potash  and 
phosphoric  acid  are  not.  When  barnyard  manure  is  applied  new  wood 
will  be  formed  in  abundance,  while  the  aim  of  the  orchardist  should  be 
to  have  as  little  new  wood  as  ia  consistent  with  bearing  spurs,  and  these 
spurs  will  not  form  satisfactorily  when  there  is  too  much  nitrogen  in  the 
soil.  Besides,  fruit  from  orchards  fed  with  improperly  balanced  manures 
not  only  keeps  badly,  but  also  lacks  flavour. 
The  following  formulas  are  suggested  for  bearing  orchards  : — For 
Apples,  ammonia  4,  potash  6,  phosphoric  acid  2  per  cent.  For  Peaches, 
ammonia  4,  potaBh  5,  and  phosphoric  acid  6  per  cent.  For  Pears, 
ammonia  4,  potash  2,  and  phosphoric  acid  4  per  cent.  Acidulated  tank¬ 
age  is  preferable  for  the  ammonia,  or  fish  scrap  if  more  convenient. 
The  cheapest  potash  would  be  the  muriate.  The  phosphoric  acid  is  most 
useful  as  acid  phosphate.  From  500  to  600  lbs.  of  fertiliser  to  the  acre 
Bhould  be  applied  and  worked  well  into  the  soil  every  year,  whether  the 
orchard  bears  or  not. 
When  these  available  fertilisers  are  used  the  application  should  be 
made  in  early  spring,  and  then  there  can  be  no  loss  of  fertility  during 
the  winter  from  surface  drainage  or  leaching.  Clover  can  be  grown  and 
ploughed  under  to  supply  the  orchard  with  the  nitrogen  it  needs,  but 
the  potash  and  phosphoric  acid  must  be  spread  upon  the  land,  having 
been  obtained  from  whatever  source  is  cheapest. 
When  orchards  are  on  very  rolling  land,  or  land  that  washes  badly, 
seed  down  to  Clover  and  orchard  grass  and  cultivate  about  the  trees 
with  the  hoe  for  several  years,  or  until  they  are  old  enough  to  bear. 
Such  an  orchard  should  never  be  pastured  with  any  kind  of  stock,  and 
the  ground  will  remain  loose  and  offer  a  nice  mellow  bed  for  the  feeding 
rootlets  of  trees. 
Mr.  Stevens  does  not  think  it  pays  to  renovate  old  orchards.  The 
time  and  labour  spent  to  get  them  into  any  sort  of  satisfactory  condition 
will  suffice  to  start  a  new  orchard  that  will  be  a  source  of  profit  and 
satisfaction  for  half  a  lifetime.  — J.  Troop  (in  “  Garden  and  Forest.”) 
NOTES  FROM  THE  ISLE  OF  WIGHT. 
The  Arreton  Horticultural  Society. 
The  annual  meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  on  Wednesday, 
January  20th.  The  Rev.  J.  Black-Hyland  was  re-elected  President,  and 
Mr.  G.  Way,  C.A.,  Chairman  of  Committee.  The  date  of  the  next  show 
was  fixed  for  July  28th,  1897.  Prizes  were  offered  to  be  competed  for 
at  the  next  show  by  Messrs.  Daniel  &  Son  of  Norwich,  Toogood  &  Sons 
of  Southampton,  and  John  Dimmick  of  Ryde. 
Isle  of  Wight  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Chrysanthemum  Society 
was  held  at  Warburton’s  Hotel,  Newport,  on  Saturday,  January  16th. 
Dr.  Groves,  B.A.,  J.P.,  Chairman  of  the  Society,  presided.  The  financial 
statement  showed  that  the  year  1896  commenced  with  a  surplus  of 
£23  9s.  5d.  The  takings  of  the  last  show  amounted  to  £30  7s.  5d., 
which,  with  donations,  brought  the  total  amount  of  receipts  to 
£98  11s.  4d.  Tte  balance  in  hand  for  next  show  is  £22  7s.  Then 
followed  the  election  of  officers.  Sir  Chas.  Seely  was  re-elected 
President,  Dr.  J.  Groves  Chairman,  Dr.  M.  L.  B.  Coombs  Treasurer, 
and  Mr.  J.  Taplin  Assistant  Secretary.  Mr.  A.  E.  Cave  resigned  his 
position  as  Secretary,  which  office  will  no  doubt  be  taken  by  Mr.  C.  H. 
Cave,  florist  and  seedsman,  Newport. 
Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improvement  Association. 
A  special  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improvement 
Association  was  held  at  Newport  on  Saturday  last,  Dr.  Groves  in  the 
chair.  A  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  C.  L.  Conacher, 
the  new  Manager  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Central  Railway,  for  the  reductions 
he  had  made  in  the  carriage  of  Island  garden  and  farm  produce,  thereby 
assisting  the  above  Association  in  promoting  the  development  of  the 
principal  industries  of  the  Island.  A  sub-committee  was  afterwards 
appointed  to  draw  up  a  scheme  for  the  re-organisation  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion.  It  was  also  decided  that  the  Association  be  affiliated  with 
the  R.H.S. 
Isle  of  Wight  County  Council. 
The  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  County  Council  was 
held  at  the  Guildhall,  Newport,  January  13th,  1897.  The  Technical 
Education  Committee  (Chairman,  Col.  Crozier,  J.P.),  reported  that  the 
organising  Secretary  (Prof.  Custance)  had  informed  them  that  during 
the  three  months  ending  December  25th,  1896,  thirty-seven  village 
classes  had  been  conducted  in  the  rural  district,  of  which  six  were 
horticultural  classes. 
The  horticultural  classes  had  been  held  at  Niton,  Carisbrooke, 
Haven  Street,  Blackwater,  Alverstone,  and  Bembridge.  The  average 
attendance  was  good,  especially  at  the  Bembridge  class.  Lectures  had 
been  given  by  the  Horticultural  Instructor  on  the  following  subjects  : — 
“  Garden  Insects,”  with  lantern  slides  ;  “Bees  and  Bee-keeping,”  with 
lantern  slides  ;  “Cultivation  of  Peas  and  Beans;”  “Seaweed,  Bones, 
Soot,  and  Lime,”  their  value  as  manures  ;  “  Yarietie  s  of  Early  and 
Late  Potatoes  for  Light  and  Heavy  Soils,”  with  samples ;  “  Canker 
Club-root,  and  Potato  Blight,”  with  diagrams. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Eucharis  Culture. 
What  can  be  more  useful  than  the  beautiful  Eucharis  Lily  with  its 
pure  white  flowers,  and  yet  in  many  places  we  do  not  see  the  plants  in 
a  thriving  condition.  To  grow  them  well  a  good  bottom  heat  and  a 
stove  temperature  are  indispensable,  and  if  a  house  can  be  devoted 
exclusively  to  their  culture  so  much  the  better. 
I  think  a  common  cause  of  failure  is  too  frequent  potting,  as  expe¬ 
rience  teaches  me  that  they  are  very  impatient  of  being  disturbed. 
Most  of  the  plants  in  the  houses  under  my  charge  have  not  been  potted 
for  three  years,  and  they  are  now  the  picture  of  health,  some  of  them 
in  12-inch  pots  throwing  as  many  as  ten  spikes  of  flowers. 
When  the  flowering  period  is  over  we  rest  the  plants  about  six  or 
eight  weeks,  by  lowering  the  temperature  of  the  house  a  little.  The 
syringe  is  used  among  them  freely  on  bright  days,  and  as  the  power  of 
the  sun  increases  a  light  shade  is  given  them. 
E.  amazonica  produces  an  abundance  of  bloom,  and  is  very  useful 
for  making  into  wreaths.  The  smaller  flowering  variety,  E.  Stevensi, 
does  not  flower  so  freely  with  us  as  the  first  named,  but  is  more  suitable 
for  bouquets  and  lighter  floral  work. 
The  mealy  bug  is  a  troublesome  pest,  but  can  readily  be  removed  by 
