84 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
August.  4,  1898. 
Spraying  should  be  carried  out  before  the  foliage  has  become  thick 
and  strong.  It  will  be  necessary  to  repeat  this  operation,  and  it  would 
be  effective  against  both  beetles  and  larvae. 
It  would  be  desirable  to  examine  the  roots  of  Asparagus  obtained 
for  making  new7  beds,  as  the  pupae  may  be  conveyed  in  these.  In  the 
United  States  infestation  is  extended  in  this  way. — (. Leaflet  No.  47, 
Board  of  Agriculture .) 
THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SOILS  OF  THE 
BRITISH  ISLES. 
{Continued  from,  page  42.) 
Having  thus  noticed  the  soils  derived  directly  from  the  degradation 
of  the  chief  geological  formations  which,  for  distinction,  may  be 
classified  as  primitive  soils,  w7e  will  proceed  to  an  examination  of  that 
large  and  important  class  of  soils,  the  result  of  atmospheric  action; 
rain,  frost,  beat,  drought,  combining  with  these  the  agency  for  their 
conveyance  and  dispersal — water — which  has  been  and  is  the  vehicle  for 
transporting,  mingling  and  forming  in  its  passage  through  the  land  the 
earthy  matters  displaced  by  the  operation  of  the  agencies  already 
mentioned.  The  destruction  of  the  hardest  substances  exposed  to  the 
influence  of  the  weather  is  slow  but  continuous,  and  during  long 
periods  of  time  even  the  primitive  rocks  have  yielded  to  the  wearing 
action  of  air  and  v7ater.  The  waste  of  the  more  pervious  rocks  has 
been  in  proportion  rapid,  and  the  accumulations  derived  from  them 
more  extensive. 
It  will  be  seen  that  the  difference  betwreen  the  primitive  soils  and 
those  of  fluviatile  collection  that,  although  originally  equally  the 
result  of  a'mospheric  action,  the  disintegrated  matter  in  one  case 
remains  on  its  native  bed,  while  the  true  loam  is  composed  of  the 
matters  carried  from  its  parent  rocks  intermixed  with  other  mineral 
and  vegetable  matters  in  its  passage,  and  at  length  precipitated  on'  the 
bed  or  banks  of  the  river  to  be  mellowed  in  the  course  of  time,  and  to 
form  a  fertile  soil. 
To  the  gardener  an  acquaintance  with  the  origin  of  the  soil  he  has 
to  employ  in  plant  cultivation  is  a  matter  of  the  first  importance, 
and  failures  and  perplexities  are  sometimes  the  consequence  of  mis¬ 
apprehension.  Lhe  amateur  is  still  more  liable  to  suffer  from  error  in 
his  selection  of  soil.  He  is  instructed  to  employ  good  loam  for 
many  ot  his  conn  osts.  He  finds  what  he  considers  represents  that 
matter..  I  he  surface  soil  of  the  middle  lias,  for  example,  which, 
presenting  the  appearance  of  loam,  is  nevertheless  composed  chiefly 
of  disintegrated  ironstone  to  the  amount  of  18  per  cent,  of  that 
mineral.  The  same  disappointment  may  accrue  from  employing  soil 
from  the  rock  surfaces  of  other  formations  of  marked  mineral 
character. 
rJ  rue  loams  are,  perhaps,  the  most  valuable  of  our  soils.  The 
accumulated  matter  of  which  they  consist  has  been  the  work  of  rivers 
and  their  tributary  streamlets  with  which  this  country  is  intersected, 
from  the  time  when  these  avaters  first  forced  their  sinuous  way  through 
our  hills  and  vales  in  their  course  to  the  sea.  In  long  periods  of  time 
their  course  has  been  altered,  leaving  in  the  wide  valleys  through 
which  they  run  a  record  of  their  work  in  great  deposits  cf  gravel, 
sand,  and  the  rich  loams  which  have  enabled  many  cultivators  to 
achieve  great  horticultural  results.  The  elevation  or  depression  of 
certain  areas  even  in  a  slight  degree  have  altered  the  course  of  a  river, 
leaving  still  the  deposits  its  waters  have  collected. 
The  rich  loams  of  the  Slough  nurseries,  and  the  deposits  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  I  hames  on  which  the  Royal  Gardens  are 
situated,  are  alike  the  gifts  of  that  river  when  its  waters  were  at  a 
higher  level,  and  in  volume  and  expanse  far  exceeded  the  present 
stream. 
Ever)-  river,  large  or  small,  derives  contributions  of  soil  from  the 
various  geological  formations  through  which  it  passes,  and  the  matters 
thus  collected  give  their  special  character  to  the  loamy  deposits  of  the 
stream.  Ihus  the  loams  of  the  Thames  Valley  differ  from  those  of  the 
1  lent,  the  1  rent  from  the  Severn.  The  Ouse  of  Yorkshire  has  its  own 
peculiar  character,  the  Wye  and  Derwrent  theirs.  The  loams  of  the 
northern  streams  are  still  more  distinct,  and  have  each  in  sand  and 
gravel  and  soil  a  record  of  their  course  and  a  suggestion  of  their 
quality. 
The  waters,  too,  of  each  river  acquire  a  certain  character  from  the 
a  arious  rocks  over  which  they  flow.  Passing  through  some  of  the 
gypseous  beds  of  tbe  new  red  sandstone,  the  Trent  water  takes  up  a 
certain  quantity  of  sulphate  of  lime,  and  the  saline  properties  of  other 
divisions  of  the  formation  are  communicated  to  it.  The  stronger  limes 
of  the  lias  give  their  carbonates,  and  the  beds  of  pyiites  their  iron  and 
sulphur;  thus  the  loamy  deposits  of  a  river  may  be  strongly  impreg¬ 
nated  by  its  waters,  and  the  loams  of  each  river  may  have  a  chemical 
identity.— P.  T.  Ingram. 
(To  be  continued  ) 
THE  LONDON  PARKS. 
In  few  gardens  can  there  be  seen  so  much  diversity  in  the  associa¬ 
tion  of  beautiful  plants  as  in  the  various  parks  of  London.  Many 
lessons  may  be  learned  there  that  can  be  turned  to  account  in  private 
gardens.  It  is  not  by  any  means  suggested  that  everything  to  be 
seen  in  the  furnishing  of  beds  and  borders  is  worthy  of  adoption. 
This  is  a  question  on  which  tastes  vary ;  and  besides,  the  several 
park  managers,  however  skilful,  are  not,  in  the  very  nature  of 
things,  infallible.  That  they  maintain  the  fame  of  the  parks  for 
floral  beauty  is  very  much  to  their  credit,  seeing  that  this  involves 
changes  in  planting,  as  thousands  of  the  same  visitors  year  after  year 
would  not  be  satisfied  with  exactly  the  same  methods  of  furnishing 
the  beds. 
More  attention  appears  to  be  paid  to  the  variety  of  plants  employed 
than  was  the  case  a  few  years  ago.  There  was  a  time  when  a  great 
number  of  plants  of  a  very  few  kinds  was  the  rule,  and  these  employed 
for  producing  smooth  formal  masses  of  colour.  Then  followed  the 
most  artificial  of  all  methods,  of  “  arrangement  for  effect,”  known  as 
carpet  bedding,  but  it  has  to  be  a  very  fine  “carpet  bed”  now  to 
meet  with  anything  like  general  admiration.  Though  the  writer  has 
only  seen  one  of  th  •  parks  this  season,  and  may  not  have  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  visiting  another,  he  has  observed  from  time  to  time  in  past 
years  that  the  managers  very  laudably  abstain  from  copying  each 
other. 
It  has  been  said,  but  with  what  degree  o?  truth  is  not  known,  that 
they  do  not  even  visit  the  different  parks,  lest  they  should  be,  so  to 
say,  unconsciously  led  into  habits  of  imitation.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it 
may  be  suspected  that  in  some  way  or  other  they  get  to  know  what  is 
“going  on”  in  most  of  the  enclosures,  ar.d  shape  their  course  accord¬ 
ingly.  They  are,  like  other  people,  entirely  justified  in  gathering 
fresh  ideas  where  they  can,  yet  it  is  an  advantage  that  each  park 
should,  as  far  as  possible,  preserve  its  individuality.  When  visitors  to 
the  metropolis  are  on  a  tour  of  park  inspection  they  then  find  some¬ 
thing  of  interest  in  every  enclosure;  it  is  well,  therefore,  for  them  to 
have  a  look  round  as  many  as  they  can,  and  the  present  time  onwards 
for  a  few  weeks  the  parks  will  be  found  in  attractive  condition. 
Victoria  Park. 
As  the  largest  park  of  the  London  County  Council,  and  reputedly 
one  of  the  most  difficult  to  manage,  because  of  the  smoke  and  sulphur¬ 
laden  atmosphere  of  the  busy  and  densely  populated  “  East  End,”  a 
desire  was  felt  to  see  what  was  being  done  there  by  Mr.  Moorman.  A 
mistake  in  the  route,  not  infrequently  made,  has  at  least  one 
advantage,  though  it  may  not  be  particularly  enjoyable  to  a  tired 
visitor  pushed  tor  time.  The  advantage  is  in  his  opportunity  for  com¬ 
prehending  the  sizo  of  the  park.  You  turn  to  “  Bradshaw,”  and  see 
“Victoria  Park”  Station,  then  go  to  Broad  Stfeet  and  “book” 
accordingly.  In  less  than  twenty  minutes  you  are  at  your  journey’s 
end,  and  as  you  see  a  park  entrance  opposite  the  station,  feel  fortunate 
in  arriving  so  easily.  You  enter,  but  perceiving  no  flowers  ask  where 
they  are,  to  be  quietly  told  “  at  the  other  end,”  and  you  have  a  mile 
or  two  to  walk  to  find  them.  It  may  be  more,  as  all  depends  on  the 
road  you  take.  This  may  not  be  the  most  agreeable  route  to  a  foot¬ 
sore  man  in  a  hurry  on  a  hot  day,  who  finds  he  has  gone  about  six 
miles  round  to  reach  his  destination.  If,  however,  he  is  a  man  of 
leisure,  on  a  pleasant  Saturday  afternoon  he  may  find  the  walk 
interesting.  He  may  see,  for  instance,  thirty  cricket  matches  in¬ 
operation  at  the  same  time,  the  men  in  the  distance  as  if  jostling  against 
each  other,  and  balls  flying  in  all  directions.  A  dangerous  form  of 
recreation  it  indeed  seems,  though  accidents  are  said  to  be  rare.  On  tbe 
other  side  of  the  road  he  may  see  as  many  lawn  tennis  matches,  but  these 
will  not  make  him  shudder.  The  ground  for  both  has  to  be  kept  in 
the  best  possible  condition  by  the  superintendent,  who  deputes  a  staff 
of  men  for  the  purpose.  All  the  marking  out  is  done  for  the  hundreds 
of  players,  who  are  gaining  healthy  exercise  and  wholesome  relaxation, 
also  training  to  keep  their  eyes  open  and  active,  to  save  their  heads. 
This  busy  scene  is  in  itself  interesting.  In  addition,  if  the  visiter 
should  call  at  the  bathing  lake  at  a  fortunate  moment,  he  would  see 
something  that  cannot  be  seen  elsewhere,  and  which  he  would  not  be 
likely  to  forget  for  many  a  day. 
The  lake  is  of  great  length  ;  it  looks  something  like  I  mile,  smoothly 
cemented,  varying  from  about  3  feet  deep  at  one  end,  to  6  or  7  feet  at 
the  other,  with  a  broad  tiled  or  cement  promenade  all  round  sloping  to 
the  margin.  Its  area  cannot  be  stated,  but  when  emptied  for  cleansing 
a  continuous  run  of  water  day  and  night  for  a  month  through  the 
large  supply  pipe  is  necessary  for  filling  it.  The  lake  is  enclosed  by 
tree  and  shrub-clad  banks,  and  quite  invisible  from  the  park.  It  is 
open  for  bathing  from  six  o’clock  till  nine  in  the  morning,  and  there 
are  always  people  waiting  for  their  “dip,”  even  during  the  coldest 
weather  in  winter,  when  the  ice  is  breakable.  It  is  again  open  for  use 
at  5  p.m.,  and  about  five  minutes  before  that  hour  on  a  sultry  after¬ 
noon  is  the  time  for  a  visit.  You  then  see  closely  squatted  round  the 
edge  thousands  of  east-end  urchins,  more  or  less  dressed,  waiting  for 
