74 
jr)TTTtj,TAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
.faiui;;ry  23,  1£02. 
the  sweetening  and  mellowing  influences  of  rain,  frost,  and 
snow  and  biting  winds  lend  their  aid  in  preparing  this  pantry 
of  life  for  the  rush  and  stir  of  another  season.  We  delve 
deeply  perhaps  in  our  efforts  at  soil  amelioration,  taking 
time-honoured  methods  of  “  three  spits  and  the  crumbs  ” 
into  our  practice.  Alack  !  it  is  more  often  a  hurried  attempt 
at  *'  double  digging  ”  with  some  of  us  in  these  high  pressure 
days  that  has  to  take  the  place  of  the  more  thoroughgoing 
ways  of  our  forbears. 
With  this  mere  double  digging,  however,  I  have  seen 
almost  miraculous  effects  produced  on  land  that  has  been 
scamped  for  some  years,  having  been  merely  turned  over 
a  few  inches  in  depth  and  given  the  smallest  modicum  of 
manure  for  crop  sustenance.  Ground,  which  before  pro¬ 
duced  scarcely  a  single  crop  in  perfection,  was  made  to 
yield  a  greatly  increased  bulk  of  much  higher  quality.  The 
means  taken  for  this  were  simply  to  thoroughly  stir  the 
land  two  spits  deep,  incorporating  with  the  bottom  spit 
a  good  dressing  of  manure,  and  keeping  the  poorest  or 
lower  soil  in  its  original  position.  A  heavy  layer  of  manure 
was  placed  above  this,  and  the  top  spit  of  earth  dressed 
with  ashes  from  rubbish  fires,  turned  over  and  kept,  of 
course,  uppermost. 
The  old  theory  of  fallowing  land  for  the  sake  of  resting 
the  soil  is  happily  exploded.  That  where  land  has  become 
through  neglect  a  mere  rubbish  producer,  summer  fallowing 
may  be  of  benefit  for  the  sake  of  clearing  off  weeds, 
especially  twitch  and  those  of  a  deep-rooting  natiue  ;  but 
I  fear  very  little  proof  has  ever  been  brought  forward  to 
show  us  really  that,  apart  from  cleansing,  any  benefit  can 
by  this  so-called  resting  accrue.  And,  at  any  rate,  I  know 
of  no  garden  at  the  present  time  where  plots  can  be  set 
apaid  for  sirch  treatment. 
By  continuous  cropping  inuch  may  be  done  in  keeping 
down  weeds.  Potatoes,  as  is  well  known,  make  a  fine  weed- 
destroying  crop.  Lifted  in  time  for  a  crop  of  green-stuff 
to  be  planted  on  the  same  site,  there  will  be  a  massacre 
of  many  weeds,  and  the  greens  ultimately  covering  the 
ground  practically  ensure  cleanliness  with  scarcely  any 
laborrr  after  a  tiirre.  The  aim  of  every  good  gardener  is 
to  so  nranage  the  land  under  his  care  that  there  shall 
follow  an  increase  in  fertility  and  productiveness  ;  not 
aiming  solely  at  one  standard  of  excellence,  but,  despite 
all  that  is  taken  out  of  the  ground,  to  improve  its  staple 
and  increase  its  food  producing  qualities. 
Here  is  a  wide  field  for  the  exercise  of  skill,  and  bringing 
into  operation  methods  gained  by  practical  experience 
and  study.  We  owe  much  in  this  respect  to  scientists, 
who  of  late  years  have  taught  that  if  the  best  is  to  be  nrade 
of  the  land  in  a  marrurial  sense,  certain  constituents  must 
be  in  combination  for  certain  crops,  otherwise  all  our  efforts 
carr  but  result  in  partial  success,  or  possibly  total  failure. 
It  is  well  known  that  on  all  soils  of  a  holding  sature, 
manure  may  be  applied  to  such  excess  that  after  a  time 
land  so  treated  becomes  sour  and  unprofitable,  unless  a 
corrective,  in  the  shape  of  lime  or  some  similar  substance, 
be  given. 
Thus  we  see  that  Nature’s  store-house  for  the  food  of 
plants  needs  rrot  only  to  be  replenished  with  needful  elements, 
but  it  rrrust  also  be  kept  sweet  and  clean,  so  that  the  food 
may  be  presented  in  the  best  possible  manner,  quickly 
taken  up  by  foraging  rootlets,  and  easy  of  assimilation  hr 
the  plants’  system  when  introduced.  Nitrogen,  phos¬ 
phates,  and  potash  rrrust  be  present  in  the  soil,  as  has 
been  told  over  and  over  again.  Sometimes  one  or  more 
rrray  be  contained  in  land  in  srrfircient  qirantity  ;  or  in  very 
poor  ground  there  will  perhaps  be  a  deficiency  of  all  three. 
In  arry  case,  it  is  the  gardener’s  duty  to  see  there  is  no 
lack  of  either  of  these  elements,  so  far  as  his  means  will 
allow. 
Fai’myard  manure,  though  of  many  different  qualities, 
we  feel  must  ever  be  our  great  standby,  if  only  for  its  power 
of  mechanical  amelioration.  Sirperphosphate  has  proved 
many  times  of  value  in  assisting  ;  the  same  may  be  said  of 
nitrate  of  soda  and  sulphate  of  ammonia,  both  so  different 
in  action  from  the  first-named.  Sulphate  of  potash  and 
muriate  of  potash  have  proved  serviceable  for  many  crops, 
especially  in  fruit  growing.  Kainit,  though  of  benefit  in 
growing  Potatoes,  I  have  not  fallen  in  love  with  ;  it  may 
perhaps  vary  in  quality  too  much,  it  certainly  has  given 
widely  varying  results. 
After  all  we  can  do  in  digging  and  manuring,  ridgina-. 
trenching,  &c.,  unless  help  comes  to  us  in  spring  time,  in  the 
shape  of  the  genial  influence  of  sun-warmed  air  and  earth,., 
our  efforts  will  be  unavailing.  We  can  but  prepare  the 
larder  of  good  things,  trusting  to  a  higher  Providence  to- 
set  the  wheels  of  life  in  motion,  or  to  keep  them  slowly  re¬ 
volving  through  the  cold  of  -winter  to  be  quickened  into  a 
free  and  fuller  action  at  the  proper  moment. — J.  W. 
Dinner-table  Decorations. 
(Concluded  from  vaeje  31.) 
Tlie  practice  of  placing  coloured  sirs:  along  the  centre  of  a 
table  is  not  nearly  so  much  in  vogue  as  formerly,  but  wheni 
parties  take  place  during  many  successive  nights  its  occasional 
use  provides  a  means  of  securing  variety,  and  also  of  economising 
flowers.  Each  of  these  matters  is  at  times  of  considerable  im¬ 
portance.  The  effective  arrangement  of  the- silk  would  perhaps- 
by  some  be  considered  a  matter  outside  the  gardener’s  art;  never¬ 
theless,  it  is  one  which  is  sometimes  included  among  his  multi¬ 
tudinous  duties,  and  to  his  credit  be  it  .said  that  he  is  not 
slow  in  discovering' methods  of  disposing  it  in  an  artistic  manner. 
In  the  case  of  thin  material,  the  great  point  is  to  have  it  a  yard 
or  two  longer  than  the  table ;  the  length  of  its  spread  is  then 
easily  reduced  by  forming  it  into  an  undulating  surface  resem¬ 
bling  miniature  waves  of  the  ocean,  a  little  extra  fulness  being 
given  here  and  there  by  pushing  the  silk  to  such  points  with  the' 
hand.  Sets  of  china,  glass,  silver,  gilded  baskets,  or  rustic- 
ornaments  are  suitable  for  arranging  the  flowers  and  plants  in  on 
such  occasions,  as  they  can  be  dressed  in  the  flower  room,  and" 
after  being  i^laced  in  position  the  finishing  touches  given.  Manu¬ 
facturers  have  during  recent  years  placed  so  many  pretty  sets- 
of  various  descriptions  on  the  market  that  some  of  them  arc  cer¬ 
tainly  within  the  reach  of  all  interested  in  such  matters.  When 
gold,  silver,  or  rare  china  receptacles  are  used,  the  decorator 
should,  of  course,  take  care  not  to  hide  them  by  a  too  lavish  use 
of  materials,  although  a  light  touch  of  greenei'y  here  and  there- 
will  often  enhance  their  beauty. 
When  baskets  are  employed  a  good  effect  may  be  produced  by 
forming  a  groundwork  of  small  Ferns  and  a  few  light  Grasses,, 
and  then  inserting  flowers  to  give  the  necessary  colour.  Tulips- 
are  splendidly  adapted  for  this  kind  of  work.  Smilax  and  any 
trailing  variety  of  Asparagus  forms  suitable  greenery  for  placing 
at  various  points  on  the  silk  ;  a  few  trails  following  the  undula¬ 
tions  are  very  effective,  and  when  Tulips  have  the  bulbs  attached' 
some  may  be  arranged  in  a  very  natural  manner — springing  from 
the  cloth — by  hiding  the  bulbs  in  the  folds  of  the  silk.  When 
yellow  flowers  are  employed  a  few  Violets  scattered  on  the  silkr. 
emit  a  delicious  perfume,  and  look  particularly  pleasing.  Yellow 
silk  with  yellow  flowers  and  rather  pale  greenery  forms  a  com¬ 
bination  generally  admired.  Silk  of  a  sage  green  colour  withi 
pink  or  rose-coloured  Tulips  or  Roses,  form  delightful  combina¬ 
tions,  calculated  to  enrapture  many  having  a  “  specialised  ”  taste- 
in  regard  to  colour.  Sage  green  may  also  be  associated  rvitli 
yellow  flowers ;  in  that  case  the  folds  of  the  silk  should  be  freely- 
interspersed  with  flowers.  Pink  or  scarlet  silk  answers  well  when- 
white  flowers  are  used.  When  white  flowers  and  a  white  clotfi 
are  employed  plenty  of  greenery  may  with  advantage  be  used  as- 
a  groundwork,  both  on  the  cloth  and  in  the  receptacles  in  whiclr 
the  flowers  are  arranged. 
Everyone  engaged  in  decorative  work  of  the  above  descrip¬ 
tion  should  endeavour  to  strike  out  from  the  “  beaten  track 
occasionally,  and  introduce  a  novelty.  Here  is  one  which  I  have- 
successfully  carried  out  more  than  once.  It  might  be  termed  a. 
“  nook  from  the  wild  garden.”  Cover  the  centre  of  the  table- 
with  sheets  of  thick  brown  paper ;  cut  the  edges  to  secure  an. 
irregular  shaped  outline  Obtain  from  a  hedgerow  or  woodland; 
bank  tufts  or  sods  of  grass  of  various  sizes.  It  is  easy  to  cut 
them  up  with  a  strong  knife  with  very  little  earth  attached.. 
Place  these  thinly  all  over  the  table,  raising  them  at  some  points; 
to  form  mounds.  Fill  up  the  small  spaces  between  the  tufts  of; 
grass  with  moss,  and  lay  a  mossy  stone  here  and  there.  Next 
procure  a  few  tufts  of  the  small  round  Ruslr  and  arrange  at  well; 
chosen  points  to  give  iiehtness  of  surface.  Daffodils,  Tulips,  or 
Iris  are  suitable  flowers  to  use.  If  the  former,  retain  the  bulbs,, 
and  arrange  them  between  the  tufts  of  grass  in  thin  masses  and^ 
irregular  lines,  just  as  they  may  be  seen  growing  in  many  a  wildl 
garden  in  spring.  A  little  moss  packed  tightly  around  the  bulbs? 
will  hold  them  in  position,  and  the  whole  may  be  made  to  look: 
perfectly  natural.  When  Daffodils  or  Iris  are  employed  it  is 
usually  necessary  to  wire  the  stems  and  leaves  at  the  base,  and 
before  fixing  them  in  position  fasten  a  small  coil  of  lead  at  the- 
bottom,  which  will  hold  them  in  position.  Those  who  have  never 
attempted  any  arrangement  of  the  lattet  description  should  cer¬ 
tainly  take  the  first  opportunity  of  doing  so,  as  when  well  carried 
out  it  cannot  fail  to  please.  By  testing  the  plan  on  a  table  in 
the  flower  room,  or  in  the  garden,  the  possibilities  of  the  idea 
mav  be  easily  conceived. — H.  Dijnkin. 
