September  15.  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
201 
Ashleaf,  Sutton’s  Ashleaf,  and  Rivers’  Royal  Ashleaf  are  all  excellent, 
but  to  grow  this  type  well,  fertile  and  friable  soil  is  necessary. 
Harbinger  is  a  fine  free-cropping  early  Potato  which  should  be  tried 
in  many  gardens.  Sharpe’s  Victor,  of  the  true  stock,  is  excellent,  and  has 
won  for  itself  a  prominent  position.  Duke  of  York  bids  fair  to  rank 
among  the  best  of  the  earlies,  and  the  finer  tubers  are  usefpl  for 
exhibition.  Coming  in  a  little  later  are  such  well-known  sorts  as 
Early  Puritan,  Webber’s  White  Beauty,  and  Beauty  of  Hebron,  which 
is  still  popular  as  an  exhibition  variety.  Notes  on  main  crop  Potatoes 
anust  be  deferred. — Grower  and  Judge. 
(To  be  continued.) 
THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SOILS  OF  THE 
BRITISH  ISLES. 
( Continued  from  page  167.) 
Peat. 
In  a  horticultural  point  of  view  there  exists  a  considerable  difference 
between  peat  and  the  organic  accumulations  known  as  bog,  or  peat 
bog,  although  they  are  often  confused.  The  one  is  the  result  of 
vegetable  growth  and  decay  on  dry  sandy  or  rocky  surface  soil; 
the  other  arises  from  vegetable  growth  and  decomposition  in  water¬ 
holding  hollows  or  choked  up  valleys  into  which  the  inflow  of  water 
keeps  the  lowland  in  a  state  of  semi-submergence  without  absolute 
flooding,  and  in  which  Sphagnum  Mosses,  Rushes,  Reeds,  and 
Equisetum  grow  and  decay,  forming  at  length  a  spongy  mass.  By 
the  arrest  of  vegetation  swamps  invade  and  destroy  forests,  the  trees 
of  which  perishing  add  to  the  mass  of  decaying  vegetation.  Extensive 
areas  are  occupied  in  Scotland,  and  in  England  to  a  less  extent;  their 
increase  has,  in  most  cases,  been  arrested  by  drainage  operations. 
In  Ireland  peat  bogs  prevail  in  the  widely  extended  depressions  of 
that  country,  the  heavy  rainfall  of  the  western  extremity  of  the  island 
having  promoted  their  expansion.  Cut  and  dried  and  employed  as 
fuel  the  bog  is  of  considerable  economic  importance,  and  its  upper  and 
more  fibrous  part  is  employed  in  the  cultivation  of  certain  classes  of 
Orchids,  but  its  use  is  restricted  to  few  horticultural  purposes  compared 
to  those  to  which  peat  is  applied. 
Instead  of  seeking  for  peat  in  the  moist  valleys  or  swamps  we 
must  go  to  the  mountains  or  dry  uplands  or  sandy  plains  where  the 
Bell  Heather  blooms  or  Gorse  and  Broom  thrive.  In  the  north  we 
must  go  to  where  the  slow  disintegration  of  the  granite  rock  has  left  a 
sparse  sprinkling  of  soil ;  there  will  be  found  a  dark  thin  covering  on 
the  hard  stone  beneath,  half  vegetable  soil  and  half  sharp  grit.  This  cut 
and  stacked  with  the  Heath  growing  upon  it  becomes  the  peat  desired 
by  gardeners ;  but  this  is  only  one  instance.  The  superficial  decay  of  the 
exposed  parts  of  Laurentian  rocks  with  vegetable  matter,  the  result  of  the 
growth  and  decay  of  the  low  forms  of  vegetable  life — Lichens,  Mosses, 
and  subsequently  Grasses  and  Heath — give  peaty  soils  of  equal  value. 
The  old  red  sandstone  in  its  less  fertile  divisions  gives  peaty  deposits. 
Millstone  grit  in  its  elevations  affords  a  desirable  peat  suitable 
alike  for  Heaths  and  American  plants.  Exposed  parts  of  the  Bunter 
conglomerate  are  also  productive  of  this  soil ;  the  greensand  of  Kent 
and  Bedford  give  some  of  the  best  kinds.  The  estuary  sands  and 
gravels  of  Lincolnshire  contribute  to  our  available  stores  of  this  earth. 
The  wide  reaching  Bagshot  sand  formation  affords  great  supplies  when 
decaying  vegetation  has  added  to  its  bulk  and  given  the  humus 
required  to  support  the  class  of  plants  grown  in  it. 
Differing  from  the  peat  bog  soil,  and  still  more  from  the  Heather- 
dad  peat  of  the  hill  and  sandy  pi  lin,  the  black  vegetable  soil  of 
the  Fens  still  bears  a  resemblance  to  the  former;  a  similarity 
resulting  from  each  being  the  result  of  the  growth  and  decay  of 
aquatic  and  semi-aquatic  vegetation,  Hypnum  fluitans  in  the  Fen 
replacing  sphagnum  in  the  peat  bogs.  But  the  circumstances  that 
promoted  accumulation  differed.  In  the  one  instance  the  bogs  were  fed 
by  the  lateral  filtration  of  water  and  rain;  in  the  case  of  the  Fens, 
their  vast  expans",  computed  as  averaging  576,000  acres,  was 
maintained  in  a  swampy  state  by  the  natural  drainage  of  the  upper 
country  reaching  its  lowest  level ;  and  by  the  flooding  of  the  several 
rivers  that  traversed  portions  of  its  extensive  area,  those  waters 
bearing  the  soluble  portions  of  the  soil  through  which  they  passed, 
and  carrying  the  finer  particles  of  mineral  matter  readily  taken  up  by 
running  water,  diffused  throughout  the  submerged  mass  of  vegetation 
a  certain  amount  of  sediment  which,  while  promoting  the  growth  of 
the  Fen  plants  in  ancient  times,  added  to  the  fertility  of  the  resulting 
bog  land  on  its  reclamation. 
The  reclaimed  Fen  land  of  the  present  day  is  chiefly  arable,  and  is 
excellent  alike  for  cereal  and  root  crops.  Not  possessing  within  its 
bounds  mansions  or  villages  of  importance,  its  horticultural  capa¬ 
bilities  have  not  been  extensively  tested  or  required.  Its  wide  treeless 
and  hedgeless  tracts  and  intersecting  dykes  give  it  a  cheerless 
character,  which  is  changed  in  the  autumn  season  to  one  of  interest, 
when  it  presents  a  rolling  billowy  sea  of  golden  grain.  The  history 
-of  Fen  land,  and  the  result  of  reclamation,  are  the  same  in  other  parts 
of  the  country  where  such  circumstances  exist,  but  nowhere  on  so 
extensive  a  scale.  The  rich  vegetable  soil  of  such  districts  is  not 
suitable  for  fruit  trees,  but  vegetables  and  certain  flowers  may  be 
very  successfully  cultivated. 
Alluvium. 
Loam,  as  we  have  already  explained,  is  an  inland  deposit  derived 
from  the  waste  of  the  land,  and  distributed  by  the  agency  of  river 
water.  Alluvium  is  a  combination  of  soils  of  which  water  has  been 
the  vehicle  of  transport,  and  to  which  rivers  have  largely  contributed, 
and  having  been  deposited  in  the  estuaries  or  bays  in  which  the 
streams  have  terminated,  has  been  further  amalgamated  with  the 
organic  remains  and  mineral  matters  elaborated  by  the  sea,  and  which 
as  the  deposits  increased  and  the  waters  receded  became  dry  land  of 
the  richest  character.  This  is  shortly  the  history  of  the  wide  alluvial 
tracts  on  our  coasts,  and  especially  that  adjoining  Fen  land  in  Lincoln¬ 
shire,  covering  about  384,000  acres.  The  process  of  reclamation  is 
still  going  on,  the  rate  of  accumulation  being  from  9  to  10  feet  a  year. 
It  has  been  computed  that  64,000  acres  have  been  added  to  land  since 
the  second  century.  Alluvial  pasture  land  is  of  the  richest  character. 
Cereals  are  grown  to  great  perfection;  fortunes  have  been  made  by 
crops  of  Potatoes  ;  garden  products  are  of  an  excellence  proportionate 
to  the  crops  of  the  farm;  bulbs  are  largely  cultivated.  In  alluvium 
Nature  has  provided  a  compost  of  perfect  fertility. 
Lacustrine. 
Although  lacustrine  deposits  are  less  extensive  and  more  isolated 
than  the  wide-reaching,  areas  of  black  boggy  land  characteristic  of  the 
Fens,  there  is,  nevertheless,  a  certain  similarity  of  character  in  each, 
both  being  rich  in  humus.  Like  the  soil  of  the  Fens,  the  lake  deposits 
become — when  exposed  and  aerated,  and  subjected  to  the  sweetening 
influences  of  the  atmosphere — fertile,  and  valuable  to  both  the  farmer 
and  gardener.  Sandy  soil  is  the  best  dressing  to  employ,  as  such 
soils  are  often  deficient  in  silica,  and  induce  a  too  succulent  growth. — 
P.  T.  Ingram. 
ONIONISM. 
It  is  perfectly  evident  that  there  is  a  new  cult  developing,  the 
name  of  which  is  Onionism.  It  is  a  sort  of  mania,  and  is  invariably 
attended  by  several  well-marked  symptoms,  prominent  amongst  which 
is  a  tendency  to  tall  talking.  Perhaps  the  climax  was  reached  by  a 
grower  who,  in  reply  to  a  commendation  of  a  bed  averaging  14  lb.  per 
bulb,  replied  nonchalantly,  “  Oh  !  those  are  my  picklers.” 
In  quite  a  number  of  unexpected  corners  of  the  country  one  finds 
these  onionists.  They  are  increasing  in  numbers  as  well  as  in 
conversational  powers  and  flights  of  imagination.  One  reacts  on 
another.  A  few  years  ago  the  average  gardener  never  troubled 
about  growing  big  Onions,  but  since  the  advent  of  Ailsa  Craig, 
Cranston’s  Excelsior,  Cocoa  Nut,  and  other  giant  sorts  there  has  been 
an  ever-increasing  tendency  to  grow  special  beds,  wherein  may  be  seen 
bulbs  as  big  as  the  balls  with  which  the  Sirdar  smashed  up  the 
Dervishes  at  Omdurman.  The  next  thing  will  be  the  formation  of  a 
National  Onion  Society,  perhaps  with  a  50-guinea  challenge  cup.  Or 
we  may  even  have  a  National  Onion  Hall,  at  which  exhibitions  will  be 
held,  and  in  which  minor  institutions,  like  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  and  the  National 
Rose  Society,  will  be  magnanimou-ly  accorded  corners. 
Un til  this  happy  consummation  be  arrived  at  Onionism  is  homeless, 
but  happy.  It  flourishes  apace,  and  new  adherents  roll  in.  Not  all 
of  them  are  tall  talkers  ;  on  the  contrary,  until  they  are  met  at  the 
tent  entrance  with  2-pounders  sticking  out  of  their  coat  pockets  their 
penchant  is  never  suspected.  This  is  the  case  with  my  latest  omonist 
find,  a  man  of  small  stature  and  quiet  speech,  but  of  irresistible 
energy.  This  desperate  man  goes  in  for  yearly  trenching,  and  the 
results  are  as'onishing.  On  the  top  of  one  of  the  many  tall  hills  which 
sprinkle  the  countryside  between  Ashtord  and  Canterbury,  where  the 
soil  is  light  and  water  an  unknown  quantity,  is  the  kitchen,  garden 
belonging  to  Mr.  Erle-Drax’s  pleasant  estate,  Olantigh.  It  is  there 
that  the  big  Onions  are  grown  by  the  small  yet  energetic  man  referred 
to,  whose  name  is  Bond.  He  is  a  soil-worker  of  the  most  pronounced 
type.  He  trenches  in  the  autumn,  and  leaves  the  surface  very  rough ; 
but  all  the  winter  he  is  at  it,  scuffling  it,  worrying  it,  working  in  soot, 
lime,  and  burnt  rubbish  of  all  kinds,  not  to  speak  of  a  coat  of  manure 
between  each  two  spits. 
The  first  year  Mr.  Bond  fell  a  victim  to  Onionism  he  grew  bulbs 
turning  the  scale  at  2  lbs.  Ihat  was  just  to  get  his  hand  in.  I  his 
year  he  had  a  splendid  bed  of  Ailsa  Craig,  ranging  from  2  to  2£  lbs. 
per  bulb,  besides  some  fine  specimens  of  Cranston’s  Excelsior,  Cocoa 
Nut,  and  Lord  Keeper.  From  the  time  these  plants  were  put  out  in 
April  until  they  were  harvested  in  September  they  had  not  a  drop  of 
water  except  what  fell  from  the  clouds,  which  is  a  pretty  good  proof 
that  the  rooting  area  was  of  the  right  kind.  It  may  be  noted, 
however,  as  a  singular  fact,  that  in.  the  first  year  of  trenching  this 
small  man  of  large  deeds  brought  his  subsoil  to  the  top,  and  instead 
