July  4,  18954 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
15 
(V)  What  elements  do  plants  obtain  from  the  air,  and  by  what 
agency  do  they  obtain  them  ? 
(a)  1,  Plants  by  means  of  their  roots  absorb  water,  in  which  are 
dissolved  certain  compounds  containing  two  or  more  of  the  following 
elements  : — Carbon,  hydrogen,  nitrogen,  oxygen,  sulphur,  phosphorus, 
chlorine,  silicon,  potassium,  sodium,  magnesium,  calcium,  and  iron.  The 
first  eight  belong  to  the  class  of  elements  known  as  the  non-metals, 
these  in  combination  with  hydrogen  and  oxygen  form  acids  (tf.y.,  nitric 
acid,  sulphuric  acid).  The  other  five  are  known  as  metals,  they  too 
combine  with  oxygen — sometimes  with  oxygen  and  hydrogen — to  form 
bases  ((S.y.,  potash,  lime,  &c.).  Acids  will  readily  combine  with  bases 
to  form  salts  (e-9  >  nitrate  of  potash  and  sulphate  of  lime),  these  salts 
being  more  or  less  soluble  in  water  are  soon  taken  into  the  plant, 
2,  If  we  pull  a  rapidly  growing  plant  carefully  out  of  the  soil  and 
examine  its  roots  we  find  about  an  inch  behind  the  apex  of  the  root 
fibrils  covered  with  delicate  root  hairs.  These  are  developed  as  out¬ 
growths  of  the  epidermal  cell  walls,  each  hair  growing  from  a  single 
cell.  These  hairs  enable  the  roots  to  present  a  larger  absorptive  surface, 
and  are  the  means  by  which  nearly  all  the  water  and  dissolved  salts  are 
taken  into  the  plant.  Those  epidermal  cells  near  the  growing  point 
which  have  not  elongated  to  form  root  hairs — and  there  are  many  on 
some  plants — can  and  do  absorb  moisture  from  the  soil,  but  their 
superficial  surface  is  very  small  in  comparison  with  the  root  hairs.  As 
the  roots  penetrate  through  the  soil  the  outer  cells  of  the  root  cap  die, 
by  their  decay  they  give  a  trace  of  carbonic  acid,  which  attacks  some 
of  the  insoluble  ingredients  of  the  soil,  which  are  then  absorbed  by  the 
underlying  cells.  The  absorbed  water  with  the  dissolved  salts  passes 
from  cell  to  cell  by  a  process  known  as  osmosis  or  diffusion.  The  richer 
a  cell  is  in  protoplasm  the  stronger  will  be  its  power  of  attraction.  The 
inner  cells  of  a  young  growing  root  are  full  of  protoplasm  and  make  a 
strong  centre  of  attraction,  so  that  a  current  of  water  passes  from  outside 
to  the  more  central  part  of  the  root,  afterwards  through  the  vessels  of 
the  wood  into  the  leaves. 
(5).  1,  Plants  obtain  from  the  air  large  quantities  of  carbon  and 
oxygen,  traces  of  nitrogen  and  hydrogen.  2,  The  agency  by  which 
these  elements  are  obtained  from  the  air  are  the  leaves,  or  any  part  of 
the  plant  coloured  green  by  chlorophyll.  Carbon  and  oxygen  chemi¬ 
cally  combine  to  form  the  gas  carbon  dioxide,  which  is  found  in  the 
atmosphere  to  the  extent  of  four  volumes  in  every  10,000  volumes  of  air. 
It  is  from  this  compound  that  plants  obtain  by  means  of  their  leaves 
the  carbon  and  part  of  the  oxygen  they  contain,  but  they  can  also 
absorb  free  oxygen  from  the  atmosphere.  Hydrogen  and  nitrogen 
chemically  combine  to  form  ammonia.  Plants  are  able  to  make  use  of 
this  gas  if  absorbed,  but  there  never  is  mors  than  a  trace  in  the 
atmosphere. — W.  D.,  Turnford. 
ROSE  AND  HORTICULTURAL  SHOWS. 
ISLE  OF  WIGHT.— JUXE  25th. 
The  weather  was  beautifully  fine  for  the  annual  exhibition  of  the 
above  Society,  which  took  place  in  the  shady  grounds  of  Westhill, 
Cowes,  on  June  25th,  an  appropriate  and  charming  site  for  such  a 
purpose,  kindly  lent  by  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Milroy.  The  exhibits  were 
arranged  in  two  tents,  one  being  devoted  to  the  open  classes  and 
amateur  exhibits  and  the  other  to  the  cottagers.  Thirteen  of  the 
thirty-two  classes  on  the  schedule  were  open,  four  of  them  to  amateurs. 
The  principal  prizetakers  were  Messrs.  B.  R.  and  Frank  Cant  of 
Colchester,  whose  collections  were  of  the  first  order.  Last  year 
Mr.  F.  Cant  took  the  lead.  This  year  the  premier  place  was  taken 
by  Mr.  Benjamin  R.  Cant,  who  carried  off  the  first  prizes  in  the  principal 
open  classes,  and  in  his  collection  was  the  best  Rose  in  the  show,  a 
beautiful  example  of  Madame  Cusin.  The  open  classes  were,  speaking 
generally,  keenly  contested,  and  the  show  of  blooms  was  excellent. 
Features  of  the  most  praiseworthy  character  were  presented  in  the 
competitions  limited  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  and  members  of  the  Society. 
Mr.  J.  Lee  White  of  East  Cowes  had  the  honour  of  taking  the  Queen’s 
gold  medal  in  the  class  for  twelve  distinct  Roses,  open  to  members 
of  the  Society.  This  was  a  very  fine  collection,  prominent  of  the 
twelve  being  a  good  example  of  Marie  Baumann,  followed  by  the  Earl 
of  Dufferin,  Prince  Arthur,  and  Louis  Van  Houtte.  In  the  same  class 
the  silver  medal  was  awarded  to  Mr.  G.  Kent,  and  the  bronze  medal  to 
Dr.  J.  B.  Morgan.  The  Society’s  handsome  silver  challenge  cup  was 
taken  by  Sir  J.  Barrington  Simeon,  Bart.,  for  a  beautiful  collection  of 
twenty-four  distinct  varieties.  Most  of  them  were  Teas,  but  the  best 
flower  among  them  was  Eclair.  He  had,  however,  a  close  competitor 
in  the  Rev.  G.  E.  Jeans,  who  was  adjudged  the  second  award,  and  Mr. 
G.  Kent  the  third.  Lady  Mary  Hamond-Grseme  secured  the  silver 
medal  for  twelve  distinct  Teas.  Mr.  J.  Lee  White  was  also  the  winner 
of  a  silver  medal  in  one  of  the  divisional  classes.  The  best  Rose  of  any 
sort  shown  from  the  Island  proved  to  be  one  in  the  collection  of  the  Rev. 
G.  E.  Jeans,  a  beautiful  example  of  Etienne  Levet.  In  the  open-to-all 
amateurs’  classes  Messrs.  F.  W.  Flight,  A.  Slaughter,  and  R.  E.  West 
were  awarded  the  prizes  in  the  order  named  for  eighteen  blooms. 
Messrs,  Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.  of  Salisbury,  sent,  for  exhibition 
purposes  only,  a  varied  collection  of  Lord  Penzance’s  Hybrid  Sweet- 
briars,  an  assortment  of  brilliant  hues  which  attracted  general  atten¬ 
tion  and  admiration,  A  fine  show  of  miscellaneous  hardy  plants  was 
made  by  Mr.  B.  Ladhams  of  Southampton  (also  a  successful  com¬ 
petitor  in  the  open  classes).  Mr.  J.  0,  Brook  of  Ryde  displayed  a 
magnificent  collection  of  Roses  with  foliage  which  received  the  first 
prize.  Lady  Harpur  Crewe  made  a  valued  contribution  to  the  flowers 
sent  merely  for  decorative  purposes.  Mr.  H.  Morgan  and  Mr.  W. 
Saunders  of  Cowes  lent  a  number  of  foliage  plants  which  added  much 
to  the  appearance  of  the  show. 
THE  ROYAL  OXFORDSHIRE.— June  25th. 
The  Oxford  Commemoration  Flower  show  was  held  in  the  gardens 
of  Trinity  College  on  the  25th  ult.  in  brilliant  summer  weather.  The 
most  notable  feature  of  these  gardens  is  “  the  Lime  tree  walk,”  the  rows 
on  each  side  of  which  are  formed  of  twenty-four  trees,  a  number  corre¬ 
sponding  with  that  of  the  Fellows  and  Scholars  formerly  on  the  foundation 
the  College.  These  trees,  from  being  polled  when  in  vigorous  growth  of 
niany  years  since,  now  present  a  very  picturesque  appearance,  their 
arching  branches  forming  a  perfect  canopy,  affording  a  most  agreeable 
retreat  from  the  summer  sun.  Advantage  was  taken  of  this  situation  to 
stage  the  numerous  exhibits  of  vegetables,  the  whole  of  the  other  pro¬ 
ductions  being  accommodated  in  the  two  large  marquees  erected  on  the 
north  lawn. 
Amongst  the  most  notable  exhibits  were  the  classes  open  to  all 
England,  the  most  important  one  for  stove  or  greenhouse  plants,  nine 
varieties,  attracting  well-known  competitors.  Mr.  James  Cypher,  Chelten¬ 
ham,  secured  the  premier  position,  being  followed  by  Mr.  J.  Marriott, 
Coventry,  and  Mr.  W.  Vause,  Leamington.  For  ornamental  foliaged 
plants,  six  varieties,  Mr.  Cypher  was  again  first ;  Mr.  Vause  second,  and 
Mr,  Marriott  third.  Show  Pelargoniums  were  effectively  staged  by 
Mr.  Chas.  Turner,  Slough,  to  whom  the  chief  award  was  made  ;  the 
second  being  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Johnson,  Garsington.  Mr.  Cypher  was 
the  only  exhibitor  in  the  class  for  nine  Orchids,  his  exhibit  securing 
the  first  priae. 
Roses  made  a  very  good  display,  being  generally  staged  in  a  better 
condition  than  might  have  been  anticipated  considering  the  long- 
continued  drought.  For  twenty-four  varieties,  three  of  each,  Mr.  George 
Prince,  Oxford,  was  first ;  Mr,  Jno.  Mattock,  New  Headington,  second  ; 
and  Messrs,  Townsend  &  Sons,  Worcester,  third.  For  twenty-four 
varieties,  distinct,  some  excellent  blooms  were  staged,  particularly  those 
from  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton,  Havering,  Romford,  who  returned  from 
Oxford  with  first  honours.  The  second  prize  went  to  Messrs.  Townsend 
and  Sons,  Mr.  Jno.  Mattock  being  third.  For  table  decorations,  Mr. 
Mattock,  Mr.  Vause,  and  Mr.  C.  Bates  were  the  successful  competitors, 
and  were  awarded  the  prizes  in  the  order  named.  In  the  members’ 
classes,  stove  and  greenhouse  plants.  Orchids,  Gloxinias,  Pelargoniums, 
exotic  and  British  Perns  were  particularly  noteworthy,  as  were  the 
collection  of  hardy  perennial  flowers,  Roses,  and  Pelargoniums. 
Vegetables  were  so  well  shown  in  this  division  as  to  suggest  their 
being  unaffected  by  an  adverse  season.  The  special  prizes  offered  by 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading,  and  Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons,  Stourbridge, 
for  collections  of  six  vegetables  were  awarded  as  follows  : — Mr.  W.  Pope, 
Highclere  Gardens,  Newbury,  was  first  in  both  cases  ;  Mr.  C.  Brock, 
Witney,  was  second  in  the  former  and  third  in  the  latter  ;  while  Mr. 
Geo.  Neal,  Bampton,  was  third  in  the  first  named  competition  and 
second  in  the  other  ;  the  fourth  prize  in  the  former  being  taken  by  Mr. 
R.  Wadham,  Steeple  Aston. 
Extra  productions  comprised  a  collection  of  vegetables  from  Mr. 
Deverill,  Banbury  ;  a  group  of  Orchids  from  Mr.  E,  A.  Bevers,  Oxford  ; 
wild  flowers  and  honey.  Mr.  Thomas  Whillans,  gardener  to  the  Duke 
of  Marlborough,  staged  a  collection  of  Carnations,  including  named  and 
seedling  varieties  of  the  perpetual  flowering  section,  and  was  awarded  a 
certificate  of  merit  for  a  seedling  yellow  self  named  Admiration,  the 
largeness  of  the  flowers  and  its  fine  colour  attracting  a  good  deal  of 
attention. 
GLOUCESTER.— June  27th. 
The  National  Rose  Society  held  a  most  successful  meeting  in  the 
Spa  Cricket  Field,  adjoining  The  Park.  There  were  very  few  of  the 
classes  but  what  were  strongly  contested,  and  the  general  opinion  was 
that  we  had  seen  the  best  Rose  Show  of  this  season,  the  great  heat  and 
drought  having  brought  them  on  so  rapidly.  No  bad  stands  were  placed 
on  the  tables,  and  the  quality  ruled  high  all  through  the  show. 
Nukserymen’s  Classes, 
In  the  premier  class  for  forty-eight  varieties,  single  trusses,  there 
were  eight  competitors,  Messrs,  Harkness  &  Sons,  Bedale,  Yorks,  being 
placed  first,  closely  followed  by  Mr.  B.  R,  Cant,  Colchester.  Messrs. 
Harkness’  back  row  consisted  of  Suzanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  Charles 
Darwin,  Caroline  Testout,  Gustave  Piganeau,  Captain  Christy,  Comte 
de  Raimbaud,  Francois  Michelon,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Maurice  Bernardin, 
Marie  Verdier,  Captain  Hayward,  Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam,  Alfred 
Colomb,  Mrs.  John  Laing,  Marie  Baumann,  and  Her  Majesty  ;  in  the 
second  row  were  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  La  Boule  d’Or,  A.  K.  Williams, 
Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  Charles  Lefebvre,  La  France,  Dupuy  Jamain, 
Pride  of  Waltham,  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  Madame  Hoste,  Comtesse  de  Ludre 
(silver  medal  bloom),  Souvenir  d’Elise,  Horace  Vernet,  Jean  Ducher, 
and  Madame  Victor  Verdier  ;  the  front  row  being  Madame  Eugene 
Verdier,  Fisher  Holmes,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Countess  of  Rosebery,  Madame 
Gabrielle  Luizet,  Duchesse  de  Morny,  Catherine  Mermet,  Senateur 
Vaisse,  Marie  Rady,  Francisca  Kruger,  Doctor  Andry,  Earl  of  Dufferin, 
General  Jacqueminot,  Merveille  de  Lyon,  Duchess  of  Bedford,  and 
Queen  of  Queens.  It  was  a  magnificent  stand,  and  did  not  contain  a 
faulty  bloom.  In  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant’s  the  following  were  very  good  : — 
Earl  of  Dufferin,  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  Suzanne  Marie  Rodocanachi, 
