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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  9,  1897. 
The  full  heat  of  summer  sun  they  cannot  endure,  nor  do  they  require 
the  incessant  cold  and  shade  that  a  9-inch  wall  affords.  The  shelter  and 
shade  they  need  is  only  partial,  and  should  l)e  afforded  them  by  evergreen 
hedges  wherever  possible.  This  kind  of  protection  is  of  great  Itenefit, 
and  in  many  instances  the  plants  which  are  nearest  the  hedge,  in  spite  of 
the  latter  robbing  the  soil  by  its  mass  of  roots,  as  well  as  keeping  off  the 
rain,  are  decidedly  more  vigorous  and  the  foliage  more  abundant  than 
are  those  plants  5  feet  away,  and  which  have  in  consequence  a  far  greater 
share  of  summer  sun  than  those  nestling  at  the  foot  of  the  hedge. 
From  these  facts,  then,  it  may  be  gleaned  that  a  partially  shaded  spot 
is  what  they  thoroughly  enjoy,  and  such  a  one  could,  if  sought  after,  be 
found  in  almost  any  garden  ;  for  a  couple  or  three  shrubs  or  Conifers 
would  supply  the  need  if  properly  placed,  and  what  more  beautiful  and 
useful  than  large  handsome  patches  of  these  old-fashioned  perennials? 
Not  only  does  the  foliage  appreciate  protection  from  sun  and  heat,  for 
the  roots  also  are  equally  fond  of  moisture,  or,  more  correctly,  of  being 
continually  cool,  to  insure  which  some  amateur  growers  bury  blocks  of 
sandstone  in  the  soil.  But  while  admitting  the  great  benefit  accruing 
from  such  treatment,  I  fear  it  is  too  elaborate  for  the  majority  of  those 
who  grow  Christmas  Roses.  Three  feet  depth  of  well  enriched  soil  thej' 
fully  value,  and  for  dry,  hot,  much-drained  soils,  cow  manure  may  be 
employed  freely,  keeping  it  a  few  inches  below  the  roots  at  planting 
time. 
No  period  is  equal  to  the  early  autumn  months  for  planting,  and  the 
earlier  the  better,  thereby  insuring  as  many  newly  formed  roots  as 
possible.  When  well  established,  these  plants  are  much  benefited  by 
bountiful  supplies  of  liquid  manure  iu  autumn  and  winter.  I  much  prefer 
giving  it  to  them  at  this  time  when  the  soil  generally  is  well  charged  with 
moisture,  for  then  it  lies  about  the  surface  and  descends  gradually  to  the 
roots  below  ;  while,  if  given  in  the  summer  time,  it  quickly  passes  through 
the  soil,  and  affords  little  or  no  help  to  the  jdants  themselves. 
It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  varieties  of  Helleborus  orientalis,  as  also 
H.  colchicus,  H.  antiquorum,  II.  guttatus,  and  H.  purpurascens,  do  not 
suffer  in  the  same  degree  either  from  the  effects  of  sun  or  spring  planting 
as  the  varieties  of  Christmas  Rose,  and  may  therefore  be  planted  in  more 
open  positions,  and  over  a  more  extended  period,  without  incurring  any 
risk.  Many  of  this  last  named  section  have  very  handsome  foliage,  which, 
coupled  with  their  more  or  less  beautiful  and  curious  flowers,  are  always 
productive  of  good  effect  in  the  herbaceous  border,  the  rockery,  or  the 
shrubbery. — H.  E. 
THE  CHIEF  ELEMENTS  OF  PLANTS. 
The  generality  of  vegetable  products  are  found  on  analysis  to  be 
composed  of  one-half  carbon  and  one-half  of  the  constituents  of  water — 
oxygen  and  hydrogen.  Thus  an  ordinary  sized  Oak  tree,  weighing  about 
60  tons,  contains  some  30  tons  of  carbon.  So  also  the  immense  quantity 
of  sugar  used  is  composed  half  of  the  same  constituents. 
The  first  idea  that  presents  itself  to  the  mind  is  that  the  enormous 
proportion  of  a  solid  element  must  be  derived  from  the' earth  ;  but 
chemistry  demonstrates  that  the  earth  loses  but  little  weight  through  the 
growth  of  plants.  The  following  experiment,  made  nearly  a  century  ago, 
is  conclusive  on  this  point : — Two  hundred  pounds  of  earth  were  dried  in 
an  oven  and  put  in  a  large  earthenware  vessel,  the  surface  moistened 
with  rain  water,  and  a  Willow  tree,  weighing  some  5  lbs.,  planted  in  it. 
For  five  years  this  was  daily  watered  ;  the  Willow  grew  and  flourished, 
and  to  prevent  the  earth  from  becoming  mixed  with  the  dust  blown  by  the 
winds,  the  surface  was  covered  with  a  perforated  metal  plate,  suitable  for 
the  admission  of  air  only.  At  the  expiration  of  the  five  years  the  Willow 
tree  was  removed,  and  found  to  weigh  over  a  hundredweight  and  a  half, 
exclusive  of  the  leaves  which  had  annually  fallen.  The  earth  was  taken 
out  of  the  pan,  again  dried  in  the  oven  and  reweighed.  It  had  lost  2  ozs. 
only. 
Thus  a  great  substance  had  been  produced,  but  from  what  source  ? 
It  was  concluded  as  a  matter  of  course  that  the  tree  derived  its  increase 
in  its  contents  from  water,  and  it  was  left  to  later  scientists  to  show 
that  it  is  from  the  air  we  breathe  that  the  solid  element  is  obtained 
which  enters  so  largely  into  the  structure  of  the  vegetable  kingdom. 
The  chemist  can  decompose  the  carbonic  acid  in  the  atmosphere,  and 
produce  solid  carbon,  but  he  is  compelled  to  admit  that  the  same 
process  is  performed  by  the  leaves  of  trees  in  so  perfect  a  manner  as  to 
put  into  the  shade  his  skill. 
The  volume  of  carbonic  acid  produced  by  a  healthy  adult  is  so  great 
that  it  is  computed  a  million  people  exhale  165  tons  of  it  every  twenty- 
four  hours.  In  the  state  of  e.xhalation  this  gas  is  poisonous,  but  its 
deleterious  effects  are  neutralised  in  a  great  degree  by  its  diffusion 
through  the  air,  and  being  continually  decomposed  by  plants,  which 
absorb  it  into  their  system  as  food,  retaining  the  carbon,  and  emitting  the 
oxygen,  and  so  purifying  the  air  whilst  sustaining  themselves. 
Thus  it  appears  to  be  the  task  of  the  vegetable  kingdom  to  sustain  the 
uniform  balance  of  the  constituents  of  the  atmosphere.  For  we  see  no 
vegetable  grows  in  vain  ;  from  the  stately  Oak  to  the  grass  in  the  fields 
every  individual  plant  is  serviceable  to  man.  If  not  always  distinguished 
for  some  special  virtue,  yet  ever  taking  part  in  the  process  of  cleansing 
and  purifying  the  atmosphere.  In  this  connection  such  opposite  plants 
as  the  fragrant  Rose  and  the  Deadly  Nightshade  alike  co-operate.  Nor 
even  is  the  herbage  nor  the  woods  that  flourish  in  the  most  remote  and 
unpeopled  regions  unprofitable  to  us,  nor  we  to  them  ;  for  the  winds  are 
constantly  conveying  to  them  our  vitiated  air,  effecting  a  twofold  purpose 
—relief  to  us  and  nourishment  to  them. — Wm.  Norman  Brown. 
Weather  in  London. —  Since  our  last  issue  went  to  press  we 
have  had  a  small  taste  of  winter  in  the  form  of  a  very  sharp  frost.  This 
occurred  on  Friday  morning,  and  continued  over  the  greater  portion  of 
the  day.  Saturday  was  also  cold,  but  changing  ;  rain  fell  in  the  evening. 
There  was  a  suspicion  of  snow  in  the  morning,  but  it  was  vpry  slight. 
Sunday  was  fine  but  not  particularly  bright.  There  was  a  heavy  rain 
and  wind  storm  on  Tuesday  night.  Wednesday  opened  wet,  but  was  fine 
later. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. -From  the  1st  to  the  4th  inst. 
frosts  averaging  about  6°  were  a  welcome  change  from  the  dull  and 
wet  weather  preceding,  and  these  days  were  generally  bright  and  fine. 
Since  then  there  has  been  a  recurrence  to  former  conditions.  Monday 
was  fair,  but  in  the  evening  a  good  deal  of  rain  fell ;  the  night  was  stormy, 
and  Tuesday  morning  boisterous  and  wet.— B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The  last  meeting  this 
year  of  the  above  Society  will  take  place  next  Tuesday,  the  14th,  in  the 
Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  1-4  p.m.  The 
Fruit,  Floral,  and  Orchid  Committees  will  meet  as  usual  at  twelve  o’clock. 
A  lecture  on  “Sporting  in  Chrysanthemums”  will  be  given  at  three 
o’clock  by  the  Rev.  Geo.  Henslow,  M.A.,  V.M.H. 
-  National  Rose  Society.— The  twenty-first  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  National  Rose  Society  will  take  place  at  the  rooms  of  the 
Horticultural  Club,  Hotel  Windsor,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  on 
Thursday,  at  3.30  p.m.  to  receive  the  report  of  the  Committee,  to  pass 
the  accounts,  to  elect  the  Committee  and  officers  for  the  ensuing  year, 
and  for  the  transaction  of  other  general  business. 
-  Mr.  James  Bateman. — We  regret  to  have  to  record  the  death 
of  this  talented  botanist  and  horticulturist,  which  occurred  at  Worthing, 
on  November  27th.  His  interest  in  orchidaceous  plants  was  intense,  and 
besides  inducing  friends  to  send  him  plants,  he  sent  out  collectors  at  his 
own  expense.  The  deceased  produced  a  work  entitled  “  Orchidacem  of  ■ 
Guatemala,”  which  was  superbly  illustrated  with  coloured  plates,  and  also 
a  “  Monograph  of  Odontoglossums.”  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  advocate 
a  more  rational  system  of  growing  Orchids,  and  thus  did  much  for  their 
popularisation.  Mr.  Bateman  had  attained  to  the  age  of  eighty-six  when 
he  died. 
-  Isle  op  Wight.— The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight 
Horticultural  Improvement  Association  was  held  at  Newport  on  Saturday 
last.  Dr.  J.  Groves  presided  over  a  large  attendance  of  members.  Mr. 
C.  Martin,  Clarence  House  Gardens,  East  Cowes,  read  a  thoroughly 
practical  paper  on  the  “  Cultivation  of  Crotons,  Caladiums,  and 
Draemnas.”  The  lecturer  dealt  in  detail  with  every  phase  of  culture. 
Mr.  W.  W.  Sheath,  Macrocarpa,  Ventnor,  greatly  added  to  the  interest 
of  the  paper  by  staging  specimen  leaves  of  Crotons  and  Dracaenas  ;  he 
also  gave  his  experience  as  a  grower  of  these  useful  plants.  The  subse¬ 
quent  discussion  was  entered  into  by  many  of  the  members  present.  Mr 
J.  H.  Silsbury,  Shanklin,  staged  a  fine  bloom  of  the  new  Chrysanthemum 
Julia  Scaramanga,  which  was  greatly  admired.  The  Association  is 
developing  latent  talent  in  horticultural  subjects,  and  continues  to  increase 
numerically.  The  annual  meeting  will  be  held  on  January  8th.— S.  H. 
-  Baedney  Manor  House.  —  This  is  the  residence  of  John 
Sharpe,  Esq.  A  large  garden  adjoins  the  house,  where  many  good 
hardy  herbaceous  plants  find  a  congenial  home.  Apples  and  Pears  are 
largely  grown,  and  the  vegetables  show  the  result  of  careful  selection. 
A  conservatory  is  gay  with  Chrysanthemums.  Other  things  are  grown 
here,  both  for  affording  pleasure  and  profit  combined,  notably  Grapes, 
Peaches,  Tomatoes,  and  Tea  Roses,  Of  the  former  large  quantities  are 
grown,  the  varieties  hanging  now  being  Gros  Colman,  Alicante,  IMrs. 
Pince,  Madresfield  Court,  Muscats,  and  Lady  Downe’s.  A  large  dry 
loft  serves  the  purpose  of  a  Grape  room.  Racks  are  arranged  to  the  roof 
as  well  as  in  the  centre,  for  bottles,  and  in  these  many  hundreds  of 
bunches  will  be  preserved  in  good  condition  till  the  spring.  A  large 
house  is  devoted  to  Tomato  culture,  and  for  testing  the  merits  of 
numerous  varieties,  one  of  the  best  being  Sharpe’s  Plentiful,  a  cross 
between  Perfection  and  Glenhurst  Favourite,- A  Visitor, 
