426 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  20,  188?. 
Passing  from  the  plant  to  its  roots,  we  find  they  contain  more 
potash  than  nitrogen,  scarcely  any  phosphoric  acid,  but  a  very  large 
amount  of  lime. 
The  fruit  of  the  Tomato  only  contains  about  half  as  much 
nitrogen  and  potash  as  the  plant,  less  than  a  quarter  as  much 
phosphoric  acid,  and  scarcely  any  lime. 
What  does  this  teach  us  ?  First  of  all  that  there  must  be  an 
abundant  supply  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash,  and  a  fair  propor¬ 
tion  of  nitrogen  and  lime,  during  the  development  of  the  plants  ; 
secondly,  that  the  roots  require  a  fair  proportion  of  nitrogen  and 
potash,  and  a  large  quantity  of  lime  ;  and  thirdly,  that  nitrogen, 
potash,  and  phosphoric  acid  are  required  in  fair  proportions  for  the 
development  of  the  fruit. 
Let  us  carry  our  inquiry  a  little  farther,  and  see  how  much  of 
these  selected  constituents  a  plant  requires.  The  quantity  of  food 
needed  by  an  individual  plant  is  very  small,  and  the  weight  of  the 
different  ingredients  would  have  to  be  described  in  grains  ;  we 
will,  therefore,  take  100  plants,  this  being  a  better  number  for  the 
purpose  of  illustration. 
One  hundred  Tomato  plants,  when  4  feet  in  height,  would 
weigh  about  300  lbs.,  the  roots  400  ozs.,  and  the  fruit  300  lbs.,  and 
would  contain,  according  to  the  above  analysis,  as  follows : — 
Plants — 15}  ozs.  of  nitrogen,  1  lb.  G  ozs.  of  potash,  2  lbs.  of 
phosphoric  acid,  and  15  ozs.  of  lime. 
Roots — 1  oz.  of  nitrogen,  1^  oz.  of  potash,  traces  of  phosphoric 
acid,  and  2}  ozs.  of  lime. 
Fruit — 8  ozs.  of  nitrogen,  12  ozs.  of  potash,  8  ozs.  of  phosphoric 
acid,  and  4  ozs.  of  lime. 
One  hundred  Tomato  plants  with  their  roots  and  fruit  would, 
therefore,  contain: — 1  lb.  9  ozs.  of  nitrogen,  equal  to  11  lbs.  of 
nitrate  of  soda ;  1  lb.  9  ozs.  of  potas-h,  equal  to  13  lbs.  of  kainit ; 
2$  lbs.  of  phosphoric  acid,  equal  to  18  lbs.  of  superphosphate  of 
lime;  and  1  lb.  5|  ozs.  of  lime. 
A  manure  to  be  of  any  value  for  Tomatoes  must  therefore 
contain  nitrogen,  potash,  phosphoric  acid,  and  lime.  After  carrying 
out  dozens  of  experiments  on  Tomatoes  with  different  artificial 
manures,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  a  mixture  of  half  a 
part  or  pound  of  nitrate  of  soda,  half  a  part  of  dried  blood,  one 
and  a  quarter  part  of  kainit,  and  two  parts  of  superphosphate  of  lime, 
will,  as  a  general  rule,  give  the  best  results  of  any  artificial  fertiliser 
on  a  sandy  soil  or  sandy  loam. 
The  following  mixture  has  also  given  gcod  results — Half  a  part 
or  pound  of  sulphate  of  ammonia,  half  a  part  of  Peruvian  guano, 
half  a  part  of  muriate  or  sulphate  cf  potash,  and  one  and  half  part 
of  superphosphate  of  lime.  The  above  mixtuies  should  be  applied 
to  plants  fruiting  in  pots  at  the  rate  of  1  oz.,  or  a  teaspoonful,  in 
a  gallon  of  water  twice  a  week  after  the  first  fruit  is  set.  For  plants 
in  borders  apply  2  ozs.  to  the  square  yard  once  a  week. — W.  Dyke. 
OUR  HARDY  PLANT  BORDER. 
( Continued  from  page  334.) 
Godetias. 
Probably  it  will  have  been  observed  in  the  preceding  notes 
that  we  have  included  few  annuals  amongst  the  plants  raised  for 
our  border.  This  omission  is  chiefly  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
situation  and  soil  are  too  cold  and  wet  for  the  majority  of  those 
that  are  usually  raised  in  autumn  to  flower  the  following  season, 
while  the  spring  is  so  late  and  uncertain  that  early  raising  out  of 
doors  cannot  be  depended  upon.  Still  we  have  succeeded,  with 
some,  and  because  the  hints  may  be  useful  to  those  similarly 
situated,  a  few  of  the  most  reliable  are  here  noted.  First  in  order 
as  regards  effectiveness  in  masses  must  he  placed  the  Godetias,  of 
which  two  varieties  have  proved  extremely  useful  summer  flowering 
plants. 
Several  of  the  best  of  the  Evening  Primroses,  the  (Eaothera*, 
are  grown,  and  the  Godetias  are  near  relatives  of  these,  differing, 
however,  in  two  characters,  which  are  well  marked  popular  distinc¬ 
tions — namely,  the  absence  of  the  yellow  colour,  which  is  general 
in  the  (Enotheras,  and  in  the  opening  of  their  flowers  not  being 
so  much  controlled  by  the  sunlight  aB  to  come  under  the  heading 
“  evening  ”  flowers.  Still,  they  are  influenced  by  very  blight 
weather  to  some  extent,  for  the  flowers  do  not  open  so  freely  as 
on  slightly  duller  days,  but  they  expand  well  if  cut  and  placed  in 
water  in  a  room,  and  they  last  well,  too,  under  such  conditions, 
much  better  than  many  annuals  do  when  similarly  treated. 
Ordinary  well-dug  and  fertile  soil  suits  Godetias  well,  but  they 
do  not  require  a  quantity  of  rank  manure  ;  indeed,  if  nothing  is 
available  but  fresh  stable  or  farmyard  manure  they  are  better  with¬ 
out  such  additions  altogether.  In  my  experience  this  applies  to 
many  other  annual  plants  that  are  cultivated  for  their  flowers,  and 
except  where  the  soil  is  very  light  and  deficient  in  humus,  or  it  can 
be  prepared  some  time  in  advance  of  the  sowing  or  planting,  I  have 
found  nothing  so  safe  and  satisfactory  as  a  light  dressing  of 
superphosphate  of  lime  with  potash  derived  from  burnt  rubbish 
and  clearings,  or  kainit.  As  previously  noted  in  several  letters, 
1  oz.  to  the  square  yard  of  superphosphate  or  kainit,  and  about 
half  the  quantity  of  nitrate  of  soda  or  sulphate  of  ammonia  are 
sufficient,  but  the  two  latter  stimulants  are  seldom  needed  for  the 
smaller-growing  annuals. 
Godetia  seed  can  be  sown  out  of  doors,  or  in  a  frame  or  green¬ 
house,  as  it  germinates  readily  without  artificial  heat,  and  if  sturdy 
well  hardened  seedlings  are  ready  for  planting  out  in  April  and 
early  May  they  develop  into  good  flowering  specimens.  If  sown 
in  the  open  border  the  seeds  must  be  scattered  so  that  the  plants 
have  sufficient  space,  or  early  thinning  should  be  resorted  to.  As 
with  many  other  plants  self-sown  seedlings  produce  the  strongest 
plants  provided  the  soil  is  not  allowed  to  become  exhausted,  and  I 
have  beds  that  have  been  retained  in  this  way  for  several  seasons. 
The  only  attention  they  have  needed  has  been  a  light  dressing  of 
roadside  scrapings  with  a  dusting  of  superphosphate  annually, 
either  after  cutting  away  the  old  plants  or  in  early  spring  ;  and 
thinning  the  seedlings  where  too  crowded.  Masses  6  feet  in 
diameter  have  an  excellent  effect,  especially  if  the  light  and  dark 
colours  are  contrasted,  that  is,  in  separate  but  neighbouring  beds, 
as  when  mixed  they  do  not  look  so  well  except  in  small  borders. 
Two  varieties  are  f^r  in  advance  of  all  the  others  for  growing 
in  the  way  indicated,  and  these  are  Lady  Albemarle,  rich  bright 
crimson,  with  a  beautiful  satin-like  gloss  on  the  petals,  and  Duchess 
of  Albany,  pure  white — a  partica'arly  handsome  plant.  Both  have 
large  flowers,  produced  in  profusion,  and  the  habit  is  compact  yet 
vigorous,  branching  freely,  and  reaching  the  height  of  about  a  foot. 
But  dwarfer  selections  from  these  are  now  offered  by  seedsmen, 
and  for  some  purposes  they  are  preferable  to  the  others,  but  if 
a  good  strain  of  seed  is  obtained  the  ordinary  types  are  the  best 
for  large  beds.  Charming  varieties  of  less  distinctly  marked 
characters  have  received  names,  such  as  Satin  Rose,  which  is  one 
of  the  best  known,  Bridesmaid,  Ladybird,  Apple  Blossom,  and 
Duchess  of  Fife,  all  possess  bright  and  beautiful  flowers,  or  in  a 
good  mixed  strain  many  similar  variations  will  be  found.  Though 
not  possessing  the  range  of  colour  seen  in  some  popular  favourites 
yet  the  Godetias  have  much  to  recommend  them  to  notice,  and  it 
is  rather  surprising  that  they  are  not  more  generally  grown. 
Sweet  Peas. 
Lathyrus  odoratus  has  received  keen  attention  from  seedsmen 
and  others  interested  in  their  improvement,  and  the  result  within 
quite  recent  years  is,  to  say  the  least,  astonishing.  Perhaps  there 
is  not  another  annual  flowering  plant  in  general  cultivation  at  the 
present  time  which  has  so  much  to  recommend  it  as  the  graceful 
Lathyrus,  familiarly  known  as  the  Sweet  Pea.  In  colours  alone 
there  is  a  most  unusual  range,  for  not  only  are  there  pure  white 
and  a  near  approach  to  black  in  the  darkest  of  purple  shades,  but 
we  have  pure  blue  in  many  tints,  rose,  crimson,  and  scarlet,  with 
intermediate  shades  innumerable,  while  a  distinct  shade  of  yellow 
has  also  been  secured.  Scores  of  varieties  have  received  distinctive 
titles,  and  many  have  been  honoured  with  certificates  by  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society’s  Floral  Committee,  the  members  of  which 
seem  to  have  a  very  excusable  weakness  for  these  delightful  plants  ; 
yet  I  have  found  that  a  good  mixed  strain  from  any  well-known 
seed  firm  will  give  all  the  Variations  that  can  be  desired.  The 
grower  then  has  the  privilege  of  naming  the  seedlings  himself  if  he 
wishes  them  named,  but  they  do  not  appear  any  more  beautiful  or 
useful  because  they  are  labelled  “  Messrs.  Somebody’s  Extra  Special 
Gigantic  Rainbow  Sweet  Peas.” 
We  are  grateful  to  the  seedsmen  for  the  excellent  work  they 
have  done  in  improving  so  many  of  our  garden  flowers,  but  we  do 
not  always  appreciate  the  multiplication  of  names.  This,  however, 
is  only  a  personal  fancy,  and  if  anyone  has  an  inclination  for  a 
collection  of  plants  representing  the  nobility  and  the  celebrities  of 
the  present  times,  they  can  easily  satisfy  themselves  with  the  Sweet 
Peas,  for  they  have  been  honoured  with  names  from  Her  Majesty 
downwards,  including  a  liberal  allowance  of  princesses  and 
duchesses. 
Apart  from  all  other  considerations,  however,  Sweet  Peas  ar^ 
