February  3,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
109 
THE  MANURIAL  VALUE  OF  SOLUBLE 
PHENYLE. 
The  practical  experiences  of  Mr.  W.  Iggulden  with  ^luble  phenyie 
are  most  interesting,  and  as  my  remarks  on  the  subject  appear  to  be  out 
of  accord  with  practical  results,  I  would  ask  your  indulgence  for  a  few 
more  words  on  a  subject  upon  which  I  was  rash  enough  to  embark.  It 
should  be  understood  that  I  am  only  interested  in  the  scientific  facts  at 
stake,  and  that  I  am  willing  to  accept  anything  if  it  can  be’  proved 
experimentally. 
First  let  me  remark  that  the  original  advice  given  to  your  readers 
was  that  of  using  1  gallon  of  phenyie  in  100  gallons  of  water.  Mr. 
Iggulden  uses  apparently  a  tenth  of  this  strength,  and  is  now  about  to 
employ  a  dose  ^i^th  of  the  original  strength  recommended.  Surely  it  is 
desirable  for  your  readers  to  be  in  possession  of  two  facts. 
(1)  What  is  the  weakest  strength  required  to  kill  eelworm  in  infected 
soil  ? 
(2)  What  is  the  strongest  dose  (a)  a  Tomato,  (&)  Cucumber,  (c) 
Cyclamen  will  stand  ? 
My  opinion— and  it  is  only  an  opinion— is  that  so  dilute  an  application 
as  1  gallon  in  2000  gallons  would  not  kill  anything,  much  less  an  eel- 
worm. 
That  eelworm  can  be  cured  by  this  substance  I  have  no  reason  to 
doubt,  but  I  am  anxious  to  know  if  it  can  be  applied  safely  at  a  killing 
strength.  If  this  be  established,  soluble  phenyie  will  be  a  great  boon  to 
gardeners. 
I  am  not  yet  convinced  about  the  manurial  benefit.  From  Mr. 
Iggulden’s  statements  as  to  the  manuring  of  his  Tomatoes  he  gave  them 
half  a  ton  of  kainit,  half  a  ton  of  “  super,”  and  a  ton  of  soot  per  acre, 
besides  a  liberal  supply  of  dung  (40  tons  per  acre),  also  frequent  doses  ol 
nitrate  of  soda  and  soot.  This  manuring  is  well  arranged,  and  the  only 
item  in  excess  is  the  kainit,  which  certainly  is  in  unnecessary  proportion. 
Mr.  Iggulden  makes  ample  provision  for  the  largest  crop  of  Tomatoes  it 
IS  possible  to  obtain,  and,  moreover,  in  the  form  of  the  cheap  substances 
any  agricultural  authority  might  recommend  for  the  purpose. 
We  are  told  that  watering  these  plants  with  soluble  phenyie,  1  gallon 
in  1000  gallons,  “is  well  worth  its  cost  as  a  manure  alone.”  The  price 
being  6s.  per  gallon,  we  arrive  at  a  cost  of  £60  per  ton  for  this  novel 
fertiliser.  If  it  be  prepared  according  to  the  patent  specification  its 
manurial  value  to  ordinary  people  would  be  4s.  a  ton,  or  a  farthing  a 
gallon. 
I  repeat,  I  cannot  accept  this  statement  and  refuse  to  believe  in  the 
“manurial”  benefit  of  soluble  phenyie  until  it  is  supported  by  more  than 
the  evidence  brought  forward.  To  prove  such  a  point  as  this  some 
standard  of  reference  is  necessary.  Say,  ten  plants  watered  with  pure 
water,  compared  (by  careful  weighing  of  produce  and  leaf  and  stem 
development)  with  ten  plants  identically  treated  in  every  detail  except  the 
watering  with  phenyie. 
I  could  quote  dozens  of  statements  by  some  of  the  best  gardeners  in 
England  about  the  effect  of  patent  manures  to  show  how  fallacious  is  the 
plan  of  growing  crops  in  the  richest  and  best  soil,  and  then  applying  a 
particular  dressing  to  the  whole  extent  of  the  crop  without  leaving  a 
portion  undressed  for  guaging  the  effect  of  the  material  applied.  “The 
best  crop  of  so-and-so  I  ever  grew  received  such  and  such  a  substance, 
therefore  it  is  a  splendid  and  eff'ectual  material  for  producing  good  crops.” 
Let  us  have  some  checked  experiments  on  the  effect  of  phenyie,  and  place 
the  matter  beyond  the  present*  state  of  mere  opinion  in  which  it  rests. 
We  shall  then  get  a  clue  to  the  “  something  wrong.” — Halogen. 
AMPELOPSIS  VEITCHI  (TRICUSPIDATA). 
Probably  the  most  popular  and  widely  grown  hardy  wall  dinger  is 
the  J apanese  Ampelopsis  which  bears  the  above  name.  I ts  attractiveness  of 
foliage  and  neat  regular  habit  of  growth  place  it  far  above  any  other 
variety  of  Ampelopsis  for  furnishing  smooth  surfaces,  and  superior  to 
any  deciduous  climber  grown  simply  for  ornamental  foliage.  It  also  has 
the  merit  of  being  easily  cultivated  in  almost  any  position  or  aspect. 
Shady  and  sunny  walls  alike  seem  to  suit  it  when  once  it  has  become 
established,  and  obtained  a  good  start  in  moist  soil  of  a  fair  depth.  It  is 
most  vigorous  and  free,  making  frequently  many  square  feet  of  growth, 
which  not  only  covers,  but  effectually  clothes  the  space  furnished 
annually. 
The  best  time  for  planting  is  in  mild  weather  at  the  present  season, 
though  autumn  is  a  suitable  time.  Good  plants  may  be  procured  in  5-inch 
pots,  and  these  are  better  than  larger.  Those  which  will  cover  a  large 
space  at  once  are  difficult  to  establish  on  the  wall  space,  as  it  is  important 
that  the  growth  should  at  first  be  secured  until  the  young  shoots 
have  extended  and  put  forth  their  tendrils,  furnished  with  peculiar  sucker¬ 
like  claws,  whereby  the  shoots  attach  themselves  to  the  surface  of  stone, 
brick,  or  wood.  Being  so  plentifully  provided  with  these  suckers  is  the 
chief  reason  why  the  growths  so  closely  adhere  to  the  smoothest  surfaces 
without  constant  attention  in  fastening  with  nails  and  shreds.  Practically, 
then,  after  the  first  nailing  there  is  little  or  no  trouble  in  training,  and 
plants  may  be  left  to  themselves,  when  they  will  cover  the  available 
space  thickly,  but  gracefully,  spreading  in  all  directions. 
Ordinary  fertile  soil,  that  is  moist  but  well  drained,  forms  a  suitable 
medium  for  planting.  In  the  preparation  of  the  site  deep  digging  is  the 
best  means  of  bringing  the  soil  into  condition.  If  poor  add  well-decayed 
manure,  and  intermix  leaf  soil  and  loam  with  the  surface  to  further 
improve  it.  If  of  a  rather  heavy  and  clayey  character,  gritty  material 
and  old  potting  soil  prove  beneficial  in  assisting  the  roots  to  make  a  good 
start.  It  is  desirable  that  the  site  should  be  away  from  the  impoverishing 
influence  of  tree  roots.  It  is  difficult  to  establish  the  Ampelopsis  quickly 
where  the  roots  of  large  trees  abstract  moisture  from  the  soil,  while  the 
foliage  of  the  same  trees  may  prevent  rain  reaching  the  soil  in  summer. 
The  positions  chiefly  selected  are  at  the  base  of  buildings,  villa 
residences,  cottages,  gable  ends,  or  walls  of  any  height.  No  climber  is 
better  adapted  for  furnishing  lofty  walls  luxuriantly  and  drooping 
gracefully  round  windows,  over  porches  and  doorways  in  the  summer 
Fig.  17. — SaCCOLABIUM  MINIATUM.  (See  T)age  104.) 
months,  while  in  winter  the  outlines  of  the  slender  stems  on  the  walls  are 
no  mean  ornament. 
When  planting  turn  the  plants  out  of  the  pots,  keeping  the  ball  of 
soil  intact  with  the  exception  of  just  loosening  some  of  the  matted  roots 
round  the  bottom  and  sides.  Spread  out  the  loose  roots  to  their  full 
extent,  and  work  among  them  some  fine  loamy  compost.  The  rest  of  the 
soil  may  be  filled  in  and  made  firm.  A  mulching  of  manure  in  a  half- 
decayed  condition  will  keep  the  soil  moist  for  a  considerable  time. 
During  the  driest  weather  copious  supplies  of  water  may  be  given  to 
promote  growth  during  the  first  season,  but  little  assistance  ought 
subsequently  to  be  needed.  The  roots  ramble  a  long  way  in  search  of 
sustenance. 
The  vivid  colouring  of  the  leaves  in  the  autumn  is  a 
characteristic  which  further  recommends  this  Ampelopsis.  Shortly 
before  the  leaves  fall  they  assume  various  tints  of  colour,  beginning 
with  coppery  brown,  and  ending  in  vivid  crimson. — E.  D.  S. 
