162 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  25,  19C4. 
lively  undisturbed,  with  corresponding  advantages  in  the  matter 
of  purity. 
Wlien  a  catchment  area  is  covered  with  trees,  and  with  the 
vegetable  matter  that  accumulates  on  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
the  water  that  readies  the  soil  as  rain  is  impeded  in  its  flow,  and 
its  evaporation  is  hindered,  so  that  the  general  effect  is  equi¬ 
valent  to  an  increase  in  the  size  of  the  reservoir.  It  is  also 
important  to  note  that  snow  melts  more  slowly  underneath  trees 
than  in  the  open  country,  so  that  at  a  time  of  thaw  the  snow¬ 
water  is  yielded  up  more  gradually.  Nor  must  the  fact  be  over¬ 
looked  that  when  snow  in  a  forest  melts,  the  ground  absorbs  the 
water  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  happens  in  the  open  country. 
In  the  latter  case  the  ground  is  probably  frostbound,  so  that  the 
snow-water  cannot  be  absorbed  by  the  soil,  wherea,s  forest  soil, 
being  protected  by  trees,  never  freezes  to  the  same  extent,  and 
is  consequently  in  a  better  position  to  ab.sorb  snow-water.  The 
result  is  that  not  only  does  a  forest  mitigate  the  violence  of  floods, 
but  the  snow-water  that  flows  fiom  its  area  is  less  muddy  than 
would  otherwise  be  the  case. 
Forests  not  only  affect  the  degree  of  moisture  in  soil,  but  they 
also  exert  considerable  influence  on  the  soil  temperature. 
Although  this  influence  is  greate.st  at  the  surface  of  the  gi'ound, 
it  is  also  perceptible  to  a  depth  of  several  feet.  On  the  average 
of  a  large  number  of  continental  stations  it  was  found  that  woods 
of  various  species  and  ages  depressed  the  mean  annual  tempera¬ 
ture  at  the  surface  of  the  ground  by  about  2.6deg  Fahr.,  while 
even  at  the  depth  of  4ft  the  reduction  of  temperature  was  2deg. 
This  general  cooling  influence  is  due  to  a  variety  of  causes. 
The  foliage  of  the  trees  excludes  the  sun’.s  rays,  the  decaying 
vegetable  matter  that  covers  the  ground  prevents  the  free 
exchange  of  air  between  the  soil  and  the  atmosphere,  while  the 
Avater  in  the  soil  absorbs  much  heat  Avithout  its  temperature  being 
affected. 
While  Avoods  have  a  depressing  influence  on  the  mean  annual 
temperature,  it  is  found  that  this  effect  is  much  greater  in 
s'ummer  than  in  AA’inter.  On  the  average  of  eleAmn  German 
stations  the  July  temperature  of  the  surface  soil  in  the  forest  Avas 
found  to  be  7deg  Fahr.  loAver  than  that  in  the  open  field,  Avhereas 
in  December  the  former  Avas  rather  Avarmer  than  the  latter. 
Forests,  therefore,  tend  to  equalise  the  temperature  of  Avater 
collected  in  them,  the  temperature  being  slightly  raised  in  winter, 
and  markedly  reduced  in  summer.  Idiis  result  would  appear 
to  be  of  considerable  practical  and  hygienic  importance  Avhere  a 
supply  of  Avater  for  domestic  purposes  is  concerned. 
To  the  credit  of  forests  is  also  to  be  placed  the  fact  that  they 
exercise  a  purifying  influence  both  on  the  air  and  on  the  soil, 
germs  of  all  kinds  being  markedly  scarcer  in  a  Avell-Avooded  dis¬ 
trict  than  in  a  similar  extent  of  treeless  country. — Board  of 
Agriculture  (Leaflet),  4,  Whitehall  Place,  London,  S.W., 
January,  1904. 
Observations  on  Using  Lime. 
No  matter  in  Avhat  direction  one  goes,  the  Aveather  (and  the 
Avar)  form  comstant  topics  of  conversation.  The  cultural 
difficulties  of  farmers  and  gardeners  are  at  this  season  greatly 
intensified  in  consequence  of  the  almost  continuous  doAvnpour  of 
rain.  The  outlook  at  present  is  serious  indeed,  and  unless 
improved  conditions  soon  prcA'ail  the  effect  on  the  condition  of 
crops  at  harvest-time  Avill  be  disastrous.  Not  only  is  the  soil 
so  sodden  Avith  rain  as  to  prevent  the  soAving  and  planting  cf 
crops  at  the  usual  times,  but  there  must  also  be  a  serious  lo,ss 
of  nitrogen  in  the  soil,  Avhich  means  a  loss  of  its  capacity  to 
produce  full  crops  without  extra  expense  in  manuring. 
It  is  quite  probable,  too. 'that  the  continuous  rains  Avill  con¬ 
siderably  lessen  the  reserve  of  lime  in  soils,  as  under  such  con¬ 
ditions  both  lime  and  chalk  dissoh^e  quickly,  and  are  Avashed  into 
the  subsoil.  The  ab.sence  of  the  necessary  amount  of  lime  in 
t.he  soil  is  uoav  considered  a  much  more  serious  matter  than 
formerly,  because  Ave  have  learned  to  understand  something  of  its 
importifeice,  and  the  A’arious  Avays  in  Avhich  it  affects  the  soil.  Its 
action  may  be  termed  fourfold,  causing,  ats  it  does,  the  rapid 
decomposition  of  humus,  thus  setting  free,  plant  food  ;  it  has  a 
iiiechanical  effect  by  rendering  .stiff  soil  more  open  and  porous, 
it  is  a  plant  food  in  itself,  and  also  a  food  for  the  busy  bacteria, 
which  perform  such  Avonders  in  mother  earth. 
For  the  above  reasons  a  little  extra  attention  by  the  applica¬ 
tion  of  lime  in  moderate  (luantitie.s  Avhen  the  soil  is  being  forked 
only,  before  soAving  and  planting  commence,  Avill  be  labour  and 
material  Avell  spent.  A  surface  application  to  young  crops  before 
hoeing  commences  Avill  undoubtedly  be  of  A'ahie  on  many  soils, 
and  at  the  present  time  Plums  and  other  stone  fruits  Avhich  have 
not  been  recently  limed,  should  receive  a  dressing  on  the  surface 
of  the  soil,  at  the  rate  of  half  a  pound  per  square  vard.  I  am 
convinced  that  Plums,  as  a  rule,  do  not  har-e  enough  lime.— 
OXAVAUD. 
I 
OTICES 
Reading  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
There  AA-as  a  large  attendance  at  the  last  fortnightly  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  above  association,  Avhen  Mr.  Winsor,  foreman.  Bear 
Wood  Gardens,  gave  one  of  those  practical  demonstrations 
Avhich  have  become  A’ery  popular  AA’ith  the  members.  On  this 
occasion  Avreath  making  Avas  the  subject,  and  tAvo  Avreaths  Avere 
made  during  the  evening.  The  first  Avas  done  to  show  the 
quickest,  the  other  to  illustrate  the  making  Avhen  more  time  is 
available.  The  principal  floAvers  used  Avere  Arums,  Carnations, 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  E/oman  Hjmeinths,  orchids,  and  Chrys¬ 
anthemums.  A  very  useful  discussion  folloAved,  in  Avhich  many 
useful  hints  Avere  thrown  out  by  Mr.  PoAvell,  of  Park  Place. 
The  only  exhibit  Avas  some  .splendidly-groAvn  plants  of  Primula 
sinensis,  staged  b.y  Mr.  T.  Butcher,  The  Gardens,  Greenbank, 
Reading.  Eight  ncAv  inembers  Avere  elected. 
Annual  Report  of  the  Scottish  Horticultural  Association. 
The  secretary  of  this  society,  Mr.  P.  Loney,  6,  Carltoir  Street, 
Edinburgh,  has  sent  us  the  Report  of  Session  1903.  The  member¬ 
ship  numbers  1,295  (the  largest,  we  believe,  of  any  horticultural 
asssociation  out  of  London),  and  is  constantly  increasing.  A 
very  progressive  year’s  Avork  is  recorded ;  and  an  admirably 
varied  syllabus  of  addresses  and  programme  of  outings  for  1904 
is  provided.  A  feature  of  special  interest  is  the  as.sociation’s 
address  to  Their  Majesties  the  King  and  Queen  on  their  Ausit  to 
Edinburgh  last  year,  and  the  King’s  gracious  reply.  At  the 
Chrysanthemum  ShoAv  there  were  800  entries.  A  mere  reference 
is  made  to  the  Queen  Alexandra  prize.  The  show  this  year  will 
be  held  on  November  19,  20,  and  21.  The  invested  funds  at  the 
end  of  December,  1903,  amounted  to  £1,104  os.  Gd.,  an  increase 
of  £125  13s.  4d.  over  1902.  The  digest  of  the  papers  read  at  the 
monthly  meetings  makes  tliis  little  publication  most  valuable. 
Old  Mile  End  Nursery. 
When  .strolling  about  modern  Mile  End,  by  no  means  an 
attractive  suburb  of  London,  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  this  place 
as  the  locality  of  a  famous  nursery,  but  the  exact  spot  remains 
doubtful.  It  Avas  closed  early  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Victoria. 
In  1835  Loudon  visited  it.  and  found  it  Avas  much  smaller  than 
at  the  time  of  its  prosperity.  There  still  remained  a  Salisburia, 
said  to  be  the  oldest  in  England ;  a  venerable  Magnolia,  a 
Sassafras,  some  Liquidambars,  a  variety  of  Oaks,  and  several 
remarkably  fine  Green  Tea  plants,  flourishing  in  the  open  air.  The 
nursery  had  its  origin  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
the  proprietor  being  James  Gordon  (presumably  a  Scotsman), 
Avho  had  been  gardener  to  Dr.  Sherrard,  of  Eltham,  Avho  Avas  a 
cultiAmtor  of  exotics,  and  obtained  several  species  previously 
unknown  to  Britain.  In  177G  his  tAvo  sons  took  over  the  nursery, 
subsequently'  one  retired,  and  the  other  took  tAvo  partners.  The 
last  possessor  Avhose  name  is  recorded  Avas  Archibald  Thompson. 
A  good  many  A’arieties  were  distributed  from  this  establish¬ 
ment. — C. 
Barnsley  Paxton  Gardeners'  Dinner. 
The  tAventieth  annual  dinner  of  the  members  of  the  Barnsley 
Paxton  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Society  Avas  held  at 
the  Queen’s  Hotel,  on  Thursday,  February  18,  190'4.  There  Avere 
about  eighty  members  present,  and  enjoyed  an  excellent  dinner. 
After  dinner  there  Avere  many  speeches.  The  meeting  Avas 
presided  over  by  the  president,  Mr.  Henshall.  Among  the 
speakers  Avere  Mr.  W.  Hoey,  Mr.  J.  Parker.  Mr.  S.  ShaAv,  Mr. 
W.  Winter,  Mr.  Weatherhall,  Mr.  Dunsmore  (Rotherham),  and 
others.  A  pre-sentation  of  a  gold  Avatfh  and  chain  Avas  made  to 
the  president  by  the  members  of  the  society  as  a  token  of  respect 
for  his  tAventy  years  of  office.  Mr.  Ballanger  said  the  society 
Avas  fortunate  to  have  such  a  chairman  as  Mr.  Henshall,  avIio  has 
been  Avith  the  society  since  it  was  formed,  aird  had  interested 
himself  in  the  AAork  on  its  behalf.  He  handed  to  him  the  testi¬ 
monial  in  recognition  of  his  sendees.  In  response,  the  president 
in  a  very  able  speech,  thanked  them  for  the  honour  they  bestoAved 
on  him,  after  AA'hich  the  meeting  came  to  a  close. 
NOTES 
K 
