April  6,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
271 
Foreign  Experimental  Work. 
The  nece.sfity  for  such  work  in  connection  with  ngriculture  haw 
long  been  recognised,  and  in  some  cases  horticulture  is  now  included. 
In  the  United  States  of  America  an  excellent  system  has  been 
developed,  chiefly  at  the  national  expense.  No  less  than  fifty-five 
experimental  stations  are  now  in  operation  there,  in  the  majority  of 
which  are  departments  for  agricultural  and  horticultural  research, 
and  reports  of  the  work  done  are  prepared  for  general  distribution. 
Then  there  is  a  head-quarters,  the  office  of  experiment  stations, 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  A.  C.  True,  and  there  a  digest  is  pn  duced 
of  all  the  work,  and  issued  monthly  in  the  Experimental  Station 
Kecord.  One  of  the  recent  annual  volumes  of  this  useful  work  com¬ 
prises  over  1000  pages,  giving  abstracts  of  267  bulletins  and  forty- 
three  annual  reports,  besides  227  abstracts  of  reports  from  foreign 
investigations,  special  articles  of  importance  by  foreign  workers 
being  translated  and  published  entire  in  the  llecord.  The  whole  of 
the  information  is  most  laboriously  classified  and  indexed,  so  that  it 
is  readily  accessible  to  all.  Besides  this  the  Record  is  distributed 
gratuitously  to  workers  both  in  the  United  States  and  elsewhere,  the 
nation  defraying  the  postage.  Our  American  cousins  believe  in  dt'ing 
things  on  a  colossal  scale,  and  certainly  their  organisation  in  connection 
with  experiment.al  work  is  highly  creditable  to  them  as  a  nation  and 
an  example  for  the  whole  world. 
After  an  examination  of  the  stations  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture' 
reported  as  follows: — '‘In  a  general  way  it  may  be  .sa’d  that  the 
investigation  of  the  work  tdearly  indicates  that  even  the  poorest  of  our 
stations  have  done  scentific  woik  of  practical  benefit  to  their  com¬ 
munities,  and  that  in  many  c.ases  the  services  the  stations  have  alre.ady 
rendered  have  been  of  great  value,  far  surpassing  in  the  aggregate  the 
total  amount  of  expenditure  made  for  them  by  the  National  Govern¬ 
ment.  The  greatest  hindrances  to  successful  work  have  arisen  in  those 
communities  which  have  failed  to  ai)preciate  the  fact  that  the  stations 
are  primarily  scientific  institutions,  and  that  while  they  should  always 
keep  steadily  in  view  the  practical  results  to  be  obtained,  they  render 
the  most  permanent  benefits  when  they  make  thorough  scientific 
investigations  of  problems  underlying  successful  agriculture  and 
horticulture.”  In  concluding,  the  same  writer  draws  attention  to  a 
matter  of  great  consequence.  “  The  importance  of  adopting  definite 
lines  of  work  and  sticking  to  them  until  definite  results  have  been 
obtained  is  strongly  urged.” 
I  will  next  refer  to  experimental  .stations  in  Germany,  France,  and 
Britain. — K.  Lewis  Castle. 
CULTURE  OF  ADIANTUM  CUNEATUM. 
Few,  if  any.  Ferns  enjoy  more  popularity  than  the  Maidenhair 
(Adiantum  cuneatum).  It  is  a  Fern  which  is  easily  grown,  and 
succeeds  in  structures  of  different  temperatures,  though  it  grows  best 
<and  makes  the  finest  specimens  in  a  stove  or  intermediate  temperature. 
It  grows  well  in  a  greenhouse  in  summer,  and  lasts  well  throughout 
the  autumn  and  winter,  but  as  a  rule  the  plants  are  shabby  in  spring, 
and  late  in  starting  into  growth.  The  system  of  culture  adapted  for  a 
stove  could  not  be  carried  out  with  the  greenhouse  plants,  because  it 
would  be  too  early  to  divide  and  repot  plants  to  be  grown.  However, 
the  compost,  method  of  dividing  and  repotting,  shading,  and  watering, 
are  the  same,  but  carried  out  at  different  periods.  Stove  plants  may 
be  repotted,  divided,  and  potted  or  shifted  from  small  pots  into 
larger,  as  early  as  February.  In  an  intermediate  temperature  March 
is  early  enough,  while  for  those  grown  in  a  greenhouse  April  will  be 
more  suitab'e. 
Before  commencing  to  pot  these  Ferns  it  is  highly  desirable  that 
clem  dry  pots  be  in  readiness,  .and  compost  of  a  turfy  open  character 
employed.  A  mixture  of  turfy  peat  and  turfy  loam  in  equal  parts, 
with  a  free  admixture  of  leaf  soil,  sand,  and  charcoal  forms  admirable 
potting  material  for  all  siz“s  of  plants.  Small  thrifty  plants  in  3-inch 
pots  may  be  moved  into  5-inch  pots.  Good  plants  in  5-ioch  pots 
ought  to  have  a  shift  into  7  or  8-inch  pots.  Plants  ready  for  a  move 
from  the  latter  s'zes  wdll  require  10-inch  pots.  If  still  larger  specimens 
are  required  another  shift  may  be  made  into  14-inch  pots. 
Large  old  plants  which  have  not  been  repotted  for  ye.ars  ought  to 
be  turned  out  of  their  pots,  the  roots  cut  through  just  above  ihe 
drainage,  and  then  be  divided  into  two  or  four,  then  reduce  the 
divisions  until  they  can  be  comfortably  placed  in  pjots  of  suitable  size 
to  accommodate  them,  and  a  fair  quantity  of  compost  round  the  roots, 
neither  overpotting  nor  underpotting.  In  the  former  case  the  soil  will 
be  soured  before  roots  can  occupy  it,  and  in  the  latter  vigorous  growth 
will  not  Ije  encouraged.  The  pots  should  be  carefully  crocked,  and 
some  rough  parts  of  the  compost  placed  over  the  crocks  to  exclude  soil 
from  the  dnainage.  Make  the  compost  fairly  firm  round  the  roots, 
finishing  off  so  that  the  crowns  from  which  the  trends  spring  are  level 
with  the  surface  of  the  soil. 
A  moist,  warm  atmosphere  is  best  for  the  plants  after  potting,  for 
under  such  conditions  little  water  will  be  required  at  the  roots  until 
they  have  freely  pushed  afresh  into  the  new  compost.  Excessive 
light  will  be  trying  to  the  jdan-s  ;  not  only  so,  but  hot  sunshine  dries- 
uj)  the  soil,  rendering  frequent  watering  necessary.  Shade  will,  there¬ 
fore,  be  beneficial,  but  it  is  desir.ablo  to  afford  it  judiciously.  Heavy 
and  continuous  sb.ade  causes  the  fronds  to  develop  a  dark  green  bu  ;, 
but  they  are  much  deficient  in  lasting  qualities,  soon  withering  wheii 
cut.  Plants  grown  under  light  conditions  possess  more  substance, 
though  they  arc  of  a  less  dense  green.  Affording  rather  heavy  shade  at 
first  is  without  doubt  beneficial,  but  afterwards  all  the  light  the  plants 
will  endure  and  a  good  circulation  of  air  produce  the  best  results.  The 
l)ots  ought  alway.s  to  stand  on  a  moist  base,  which  tends  to  equalise 
the  atmosphere  about  the  plants. 
Water  will  be  needed  in  increasing  quantitj’’  as  growth  advances. 
When  the  pots  are  full  of  roots  weak  soot  water  given  occasionally  is 
of  assistance.  Syringing  is  not  needed  so  much  by  the  plants,  but  the 
humid  atmosphere  it  creates  is  decidedly  helpful  in  promoting  growth. 
The  sides  of  the  pots,  the  material  on  which  they  stand,  the  walls, 
staging,  and  other  available  surfaces  may  be  regularly  moistened  m 
hot  weather  with  advantage. 
When  growth  has  been  completed,  quite  cool  and  airy  conditions 
suit  the  plants,  which  maintain  a  healthy  appearance  throughout  the 
autumn  if  fronds  are  not  too  freely  cut.  Plants  well  grown  from 
spores  usually  ]>roduce  in  due  time  finer  fronds  than  those  which  residt 
from  clusters  of  weak  divided  crowns. — E.  1).  K. 
SOUGHT  AND  FOUND. 
{Contwued  from  page  212.) 
“Drainer?”  It  appears  to  me  that  ever  since  this  place  was 
breached  the  sewage  and  liquid  manure  have  been  allowed  to  escape  to 
the  river  through  the  agency  of  that  filthy  orchard  ditch.  Now,  1 
want  to  treat  with  you  for  the  utilisation  of  sewage  apart  from  nig.it 
soil.  To  do  so  wo  must  first  bay  an  underground  drain  to  lead  from 
the  farmyard  ;  next,  a  like  conveyance  from  the  back  kitchen  sink, 
not  forgetting  an  “odour  tr.ap”  insertion  for  the  latter;  and  lastly,  .a 
drain  leading  from  the  cemented  sewage  tank.  As  there  is  a  gentle 
incline  to  leul  into  the  orchard,  3-inch  diameter  iron  pipes  can  be 
inserted  to  convey  the  liquid  into  a  network  of  shallow  open  drains 
cut  in  the  turf,  and  by  its  own  specific  gravity  be  conveyed  to  any 
part,  or  tree,  in  the  orchard,  or  any  other  place  where  it  might  be 
required.  These  things  were  d' ne  ;  the  results  answere(l,  and  am 
adhered  to  to  this  day,  and  more, the  tiled  buildingswere  furnished  with 
gutters,  and  nothing  but  the  rain-water  caught  from  them  and  those, 
from  the  house  is  allowed  to  escape  down  the  ditch  into  the  river  from 
these  premises. 
“  Editeurs  ohligeT  I  haven’t  done  with  my  tale  of  the  waters 
yet.  In  a  yard  recess  at  Rushbrooko  Hall,  in  Suffolk,  an  old 
Elizibethan  mansion,  near  to  where  stood  a  force-pump,  when  a 
siripling  of  ten,  or  thereabouts,  it  was  mv  allotted  task  through  its 
agency  to  keep  a  special  cistern  supplied  with  water.  Alas  !  gaping 
cistern,  with  tap  drawn  dry,  and  a  too  frequent  wrathful  kitchenrnaid. 
In  the  centre  of  the  yard,  however,  there  happened  to  be  just  then  a 
hollow  into  and  out  of  which  to  jump  was  more  fascinating  than  to 
pump,  till  one  eventful  day,  when  I  was  exercising  my  bounding 
abilities,  and  had  alighted  on  to  the  opposite  brink,  down  went  the 
flagged  sinkage  into  a  deep,  gaping  well ;  and  my  jump  but  just  saved 
me  from  a  jumble  amongst  decayed  timber  and  stone  and  goodness 
knows  how  many  feet  of  water — a  fearful  chasm.  I  related  the  above 
circumstance  to  the  Drainer”  as  a  reason  for  what  I  wanted  him  to 
find,  adding,  I  think  I  can  observe  a  sinking  going  on  here  in  the 
Walnut  tree  yard,  and  I  don’t  want  a  repetition  of  what  happened  at 
Rushbrooke.  Let  us  know  the  reason  of  this  sinkage.  Dig  away,  but 
do  not  stand  on  the  opening  of  rotten  timber  slabs  that  had  given 
way  and  w'ere  resting  on  dehria  of  ^arth  and  very  old  jiattcrned  y/ell- 
bricks.  Now  the  question.  Did  you  ever  work  at  well-sinking  ? 
“  Yes,  many  a  one.”  Then  if  you  can  sink  a  well  you  certainly  can 
empty  one  that  has  been  filled  np;  this  may  prove  to  be  merely  a 
shallow  dry  one,  but  we  shall  see.  _ 
Soon  Tillen  alone  found  himself  insufficient.  Wooff  was  called  in 
to  assist,  and  when  both  were  unequal  to  the  work,  the  latter  s  son 
was  added  ;  then,  to  the  rescue,  I  was  included.  As  water  trickled 
in  it  was  necessary  to  be  quick,  and  not  until  a  depth  of  40  feet  was 
obtained  did  we  reach  the  bottom  of  the  bricks  resting  upon  the  blue 
clay.  “Shall  we  go  down  .any  further,”  said  Tillen.  “  No,  if  water 
comes,  of  which  there  seems  every  probability,  I  do  not  know  that 
we  shall  want  it.  It  might  be  no  one  knows  how  far  before  we  got 
through  the  clay  down  to  the  chalk  !  The  ohl  fellows  who  sank  the 
well  in  every  probability  knew  what  they  were  about,  but  we  shall 
never  know  why  it  was  filled  in;  at  any  rate,  wo  are  recompensed 
with  sufficient  soil  to  top-dress  the  homo  meadow.  You  know  how 
to  remove'  your  staging  paraphernalia,  and  how  to  rectify  the  brick¬ 
work,  Tillen,  and  then  we  will  leave  well  alone.”  i  i  ■  » 
Result:  I  was  happy  to  find  no  accident  occurred,  for  ‘  drainer 
twisted  himself  about  like  an  eel,  and  now  and  ever  since  some  20  feet 
depth  of  water,  a  little  more  or  less  according  to  the  seasons,  presents 
