368 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  29,  1897. 
corrects  it  by  applying  a  dressing  of  sulphate  of  lime,  CaS04,  136, 
and  thus  converts  the  sodium  from  positive  poison  into  absolutely 
beneficial  sulphate.  This  is  as  far  as  we  need  carry  this  matter  for 
practical  purposes,  and  goes  to  show  that  sodium  is,  like  other  minerals, 
useful  or  otherwise  according  to  its  availability  as  food.  But  is  it  a 
food  of  plants  or  a  needful  element  of  soils  for  preparing  matter,  which, 
absorbed  by  plants  and  utilised  in  the  building  up  of  their  structures, 
serves  useful  purpose  1 
Sodium  carbonate,  or  carbonate  of  soda,  Na2C03.  106,  is  usually 
present  in  the  ashes  of  plants.  According  to  Prof.  E.  von  Wolff,  the 
ash  and  soda  in  1000  parts  of  the  following  substances  consist  of  the  sub¬ 
joined  average  quantities,  the  frst  figures  representing  the  ssh  and  the 
second  the  soda  : — Orchard  grass  17-8,  0  8;  Bed  Clover  in  flower  13- 7, 
0’3  ;  White  Clover  in  flower  14  3,  1*0  ;  Beets  9*1,  1-5  ;  Carrots  S  2,  17  ; 
Turnips  6-4,  0’6  ;  Badis’n  4'9,  P0  ;  Parsnips  10  0,  0  2;  Onion  7-4,  0*2  ; 
Jerusalem  Artichoke  9  8,  L0  ;  Potato  9  5,  0'3  ;  Cabbage,  outer  leaves, 
IS'6,  P5  ;  Cabbage,  heart,  9  6,  0-8  ;  Cauliflower,  heart,  8  0,  01 5  ;  Cucum¬ 
ber,  fruit,  5*8,  0f6  ;  Lettuce  8-1,  08;  Asparagus,  sprouts,  5'0,  0-9; 
Spinach  16'0,  5‘7  ;  Mushrooms  10  0,  0-2  ;  Pea  seed  23  4,  0  2  ;  Pea  straw 
43’1,  1*8  ;  Bean  (horse)  seed  310,  0'3  ;  Kidney  Bean  seed  27-4,  04; 
fruit — Apple  2  2,  0'6  ;  Pear  3  3,  03  ;  Cherry  3  9,  0’1  ;  and  Grape  S’8,  0-l. 
The  amount  of  soda  is  a  variable  ingredient  of  plants,  as  shown  by 
the  proportions  in  the  ash,  and,  as  a  rule,  the  richer  tbe  plant  is  ia 
nitrogen  the  smaller  the  amount  of  soda ;  but  however  minute  the 
quantity  it  is  always  present  in  each  cell  of  every  plant,  and  exists 
partly  in  the  cell- wall,  incrusted  or  embedded  in  the  cellulose,  and  partly 
in  the  plasma  or  contents  of  the  cell.  It  is  soluble  in  water,  and  occurs 
in  the  juice  or  sap.  This  is  true,  in  general,  of  the  alkali  metals,  an  i 
of  the  sulphates  and  chlorides  of  calcium  and  magnesium.  Silica,  the 
calcium  phosphates,  and  the  magnesian  compounds  are  mostly  insoluble, 
and  exist  in  the  tissue  of  the  plant  in  solid  form,  but  these  minerals 
enter  the  plant  in  liquid  form,  and  in  the  matter  of  liquidation  soda 
plays  no  insignificant  part,  especially  in  the  case  of  silica,  which,  with 
lime  and  magnesia,  present  the  most  invulnerable  wall  to  invading 
fungi.  This  at  least  is  one  reason  for  the  use  of  soda  as  a  manure. 
Carbonate  of  soda  is  obtained  from  common  salt  by  somewhat 
complicated  processes,  and  is  sent  into  commerce  as  soda  ash,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  million  tons  being  annually  prepared  in  this  country  for 
use  in  the  industrial  arts.  It  is  an  impure  carbonate,  but  possibly  of 
equal  value  for  applying  to  land  as  washing  soda — the  sal-soda  of 
America — which  is  the  substance  deposited  when  a  solution  of  soda  ash 
is  allowed  to  crystallise,  the  crystals  containing  63  per  cent,  of  water, 
which  partly  escapes  when  the  soda  is  exposed  to  the  air,  leaving  a 
white  opaque  powder.  Washing  soda  has  the  formula  Na2C03, 10  ;  H20, 
and  is  coming  into  use  as  a  manure  for  Brassicas  to  induce  sturdy  and 
hardy  growth,  such  as  will  insure  more  of  the  useful  part  with  resist¬ 
ance  of  climate  vicissitudes  and  of  fungi  and  insects.  Remember  this 
has  come  from  practice  and  not  from  science. — G.  Abbey, 
(To  be  concluded.) 
TULIPS. 
Bittekly  cold  east  wind  was  blowing  almost  fiercely  over  the  bulb 
ground  at  Long  Ditton,  where  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons  have  such  a 
wonderful  collection  of  everything  floral  that  is  hardy.  When  I  looked 
over  them  recently  it  seemed  difficult  to  realise  that  under  such  adverse 
weather  conditions  beautiful  flowers  could  be  found  in  such  profusion  ; 
but  there  were  big  clumps  or  masses  of  early  Tulips  in  most  glorious 
colour  and  profusion,  such  colouring,  indeed,  as  would  if  found  on  any 
lawn  have  made  it  too  garish  to  look  upon,  but  distributed  here  and 
there,  amidst  bigger  masses  of  now  fading  Daffodils  and  unbloomed 
Irises,  seemed  to  be  so  acceptable  and  so  lovely.  Large  as  then  was  the 
show  of  early  Tulips,  I  am  not  sure  whether  the  display  of  late  ones 
will  not  be  greater. 
In  any  case  the  collection  of  these  latter  at  Long  Ditton  is  an 
immense  one,  and  will  well  repay  a  visit  to  the  grounds  in  a  very  few 
days.  A  little  genial  weather,  warm  nights,  and  bright-  days  should 
open  the  flowers  rapidly.  But  whilst  these  latter  Tulips  bear  close 
individual  inspection,  for  the  markings  of  the  flowers  are  most  beautiful 
as  well  as  picturesque,  the  early  Tulips  are  best  suited  to  form  brilliant 
masses,  and  as  the  bulk  of  them  have  .self  colours,  so  does  one  good 
flower  represent  the  many.  There  are  not  a  few  beautiful  parti-coloured 
flowers  also,  but  without  doubt  those  which  most  forcibly  catch  the  eye 
are  of  self  colours  of  the  entire  Tulip  family  ;  from  the  time  the  early 
Van  Thols  come  into  bloom  until  the  latest  fade  away  there  is  consecu¬ 
tiveness. 
But  where  it  is  desired  to  obtain  a  fine  show  at  one  particular  time 
no  doubt  those  varieties  which  bloom  concurrently  are  best.  Out  of 
the  many  of  the  early  section  I  noted  as  the  very  best  and  most  effec¬ 
tive,  as  well  as  fine  of  flower,  were  the  old  white  Pottebakker,  large  and 
rotund  ;  Princess  Marianne,  white,  flushed  rose,  the  petals  long  and 
pointed  ;  Chrysolora  and  Ophir  d’Or,  two  splendid  yellows  ;  scarlet 
Pottebakker,  very  brilliant,  with  orange  base,  and  rather  deeper  ;  La 
Belle  Alliance,  a  very  rich,  effective  Tulip  ;  Proserpine,  so  well  known, 
is  a  striking  rosy  magenta,  and  still  deeper  in  colour  and  rather  dwarfer 
is  Adeline.  A  rich  crimson  colour  is  found  in  Dusart,  and  still  richer  is 
the  superb  red  maroon  Van  der  Neer,  whilst  darker  still  is  Wouverman. 
Rather  taller  and  just  a  day  or  two  later  is  the  striking  orange  red 
Prince  of  Austria  ;  and  finally  of  the  seifs  is  Couleur  Cardinal,  rich  scarlet 
purple. 
These  comiwise  in  my  estimation  the  finest  of  the  self  flowers. 
Some  very  beautiful  bicolored  varieties,  however,  are  charming,  and 
especially  so  when  closely  inspected.  The  famous  scarlet  and  yellow 
Keizers  Kroon  is  universally  grown.  Fabiola,  striped  white  and  red  ; 
Roiamundi,  red  and  white  ;  cerise  Gris  de  Lin,  having  a  broad  edging  of 
white  ;  and  Cottage  Maid  are  of  the  best  of  this  section.  I  have  here 
given  a  list  of  eighteen  varieties,  all  of  which  may  be  obtained  where 
there  is  room  to  plant  and  variety  is  desired.  The  doubles  have  their 
admirers,  but  I  am  not  of  them.  I  rather  regard  the  double  Tulip  as  a 
very  lumpy,  ungainly  flower.  Most  certainly  the  singles  are  more 
pleasing  in  form,  and  because  of  the  bold  breadth  of  petal  presented 
much  the  most  beautiful.  If  the  doubles  want  praise  they  must  seek 
elsewhere  for  it  than  from  me. 
When  the  late  varieties  are  open  few  doubles  will  be  in  evidence, 
and,  whilst  the  markings  and  colourings  of  the  flowers  will  compel 
admiration,  no  lover  of  the  beautiful  in  floral  form  will  be  annoyed  by 
the  presence  of  lumps  of  petals  that  are  obnoxious.  It  need  hardly  be 
said  that  apart  from  bulbs  there  are  myriads  of  beautiful  things  in  the 
Long  Ditton  grounds  in  the  spring  to  attract  attention.  Aubrietias  in 
huge  clumps  on  rockwork  are  particularly  effective ;  indeed,  in  all 
directions  can  le  seen  something  to  attract  Dotice.  I  was  much 
interested  in  the  effective  silvery  variegation  of  the  Symphytum 
Bobemicum,8o  useful  in  spring  gardening. with  the  marbled-leaved  clumps 
of  Heuchera  Richardsoni,  the  Spotted  Pulmonaria,  and  similar  things, 
because  in  an  unostentatious  way  they  can  be  made  to  play  a  most 
useful  part  in  winter  and  spriDg  bedding. — A.  D. 
CONFUSION  IN  CONIFERS. 
CtJPRESSUS  LAWSONIANA  AND  C.  NOOTKATENSIS. 
That  there  is  a  great  exterior  resemblance  between  these  two 
species  cannot  be  denied,  and  in  consequence  C.  nootkatensis  frequently 
does  duty  for  C.  Lawsoniana,  However  much  this  is  for  several  reasons 
to  be  regretted,  I  have  from  personal  observation  found  that  the  mixing 
up  of  the  two  species  is  of  very  common  occurrence.  The  differences 
are,  however,  markedly  characteristic,  for  if  the  strong  pungent  smell 
of  the  foliage  of  C.  nootkatensis  were  not  sufficient,  even  in  the  dark, 
the  more  pendulous  branches,  larger  cones  with  distinctly  reflexed  scale 
protuberances,  and  sulphury  yellow  catkiDS  should  render  recognition 
by  no  means  difficult.  It  may  be  well  to  add  that  the  cones  of  C.  Law¬ 
soniana  are  almost  smooth,  or  only  with  a  film-like  appendage,  and  the 
pollen  catkins  bright  red. 
The  cones  of  C.  nootkatensis  have  four  scalei  and  eleven  seeds,  those 
of  C.  Lawsoniana  seven  scales  and  nineteen  seed* ;  while  of  the  former 
112  000  go  to  the  pound  weight,  as  against  105,000  of  the  other. 
Unfortunately,  for  its  va'ue  as  a  forest  tree,  the  stem  of  C.  noot¬ 
katensis  is  invariably  carrot-shaped — thick  at  the  base  with  a  rapid  taper 
upwards — and  this  is  noticeable  everywhere  throughout  the  country. 
Thuta  orientalis  falcata. 
Tbe  various  varieties  of  the  Chinese  Arbor  Vitae  are  in  a  sad  state 
of  confusion — indeed,  many  are  incapable  of  accurate  identification. 
I  have  seen  three  totally  distinct  forms  of  the  so-called  T.  orientalis 
falcata,  and  as  these  are  growing  in  the  same  grounds,  and  not  50  yards 
apart,  and  under  similar  conditions  in  every  way,  the  chances  of 
mistaken  identification  in  this  particular  instance  are  very  remote. 
The  first  or  normal  form  is  of  larger  growth  than  any  of  the  others, 
of  upright  but  not  appressed  growth,  and  with  large  deep  green  cones 
that  are  twice  the  size  of  the  species.  Second  comes  a  much  smaller 
growing  perfectly  taper-like  shrub,  the  foliage  of  a  different  shade  of 
green,  and  the  cones  similar  in  every  respect  to  the  latter  ;  and  third, 
the  most  distinct  and  ornamental  of  any — a  neat-habited  shrub  with 
yellowish  green  foliage,  that  is  quite  uniform  in  colour  all  over  the 
specimen,  and  with  unusually  large  cones,  many  of  these  being  fully  an 
inch  long,  the  sickle-shaped  spines  being  very  conspicuous. 
So  long  are  the  spines  in  this  particular  form  that  they  might  well 
be  likened  to  a  molar  tooth  with  the  fangs  intact.  ThiR  is  most  notice¬ 
able  when  the  cones  have  attained  to  full  size,  but  before  becoming 
ripe,  for  at  the  latter  stage  the  shrinkage  of  the  spines  is  very  perceptible. 
This  golden  form  is  well  worth  cultivating,  the  neat  habit  and  bright 
tint  of  both  foliage  and  bark  rendering  it  a  very  desirable  garden  shrub. 
— A.  D.  Webster,  Boxmoor,  Herts. 
Animals  Poisoned  by  Broom. — All  parts  of  the  Broom — root,, 
stem,  leaf,  and  flower  —  are  more  or  less  poisonous  to  animals, 
owing  to  their  containing  two  alkaloids,  scoperine  and  sparteine,  the 
latter  especially  being  dangerous.  In  any  case  tbe  Broom  is  not  only 
purgative,  but  is  also  very  emetic  in  its  effects.  The  horse  and  the  ass 
detect  more  readily  than  the  ruminant  animal  the  sickly  odour  and  the 
bitter  taste  of  the  plant,  and  are  less  likely  to  eat  it.  But  should  a 
horse,  ass,  or  mule  have  eaten  Broom  in  any  more  or  less  considerable 
quantity,  there  should  be  no  delay  in  administering  the  antidote,  which 
is  found  in  a  large  dose  of  coffee,  7  or  8  quarts  or  so,  given  warm  and 
weak.  The  effect  of  this  remedy,  says  the  “  Revue  Horticole,”  is  not 
always  certain,  and  it  is  best  to  prevent  the  animals  from  browsing 
on  Broom,  whether  it  be  Genisla  scoparia,  G.  jnncea,  G.  tinctoria,  or  any 
other  species. 
