January  14,  19C4. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
43 
MANUFACTURING  BLOOD  MANURE  tW.  M.).— Wo  are 
not  aware  ot  blood  bein.o;  treated  with  sidpliuric  acid,  and  to 
do  so  we  do  not  think  would  he  advisable.  AI.  Paid  Margnerito- 
Delachaolonny,  however,  ha',  by  means  of  acid  sulphate  of  iron, 
transformed  blood  into  a  solid  and  inodorous  manure;  hut.  we 
have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the  exact  formula.  Probabl.y 
the  highest  manurial  value  is  had  from  blood  by  drying  it  and 
then  grinding  to  powder,  the  article  being  known  as  dried 
blood.  Practically  the  dried  blood  of  commerce  is  a  mixtiue 
with  other  animal  remains  reduced  to  powder.  When  of  good 
([Uality  it  contains  about  twelve  to  fifteen  per  cent,  of  moisture, 
ten  to  eleven  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  one  to  one  and  a  half  per 
cent,  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  about  three-quarters  per  cent,  each 
of  potash  and  lime.  Perhaps  the  best  treatment  for  home 
supplies  of  blood  manure  is  to  compost  the  blood  with  wood  or 
peat  ashes  and  charcoal  powder,  using  about  one  bushel  of  ashes 
and  charcoal  powder  to  (Uigal  of  blood.  The  blood  and  Avood 
ashes  are  someAvhat  difficult  to  mix,  but  if  the  blood  is  stirred 
so  as  to  prevent  coagulation,  there  is  little  difficulty,  and  enough 
wood  ashes  being  used  to  form  a  stiffish  mortar-like  consistence, 
a  fertiliser  is  formed  of  great  value  for  Vines  and  other  fruits, 
it  crumbling  readily  Avhen  sufficient l.y  dried,  applying  4oz  of  the 
manure  per  square  yard  three  times  during  the  season,  (1)  at 
starting  the  Vines',  (2)  at  thinning  time,  and  (3)  when  thc' 
stoning  is  about  completed,  -  pointing  emry  lightly  into  the 
border.  Another  plan  is  to  thoroughly  mix  the  blood  with 
about  five  per  cent,  of  its  Aveight  of  dry,  freshly  slaked  lime,  in 
a  trough  or  shalloAV  box,  and  coA'er  the  mixture  Avith  a  thin  layer 
of  lime.  This  mixture,  Avhen  dry,  can  be  kept  for  a  long  time 
Avithout  appreciable  change,  and  may  be  applied  to  the  land  as 
desired. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS.  —  Correspondents  loliose  queries  are 
unanswered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult 
the  folloiving  number.  (A.). — Acacia  dealbata  or  Mimosa.  (J.  F.). — 
1.  Abies  balsamea;  2,  A.  Brunoniana  ;  3,  A.  coneolor.  (F.  T.). — 1, 
Mai’anta  conspieua  ;  2,  Cypripedium  villosum  ;  3,  C.  Lathamiaiuun  ;  4, 
Dendrobium  aureum.  (.J.  P.'. —  1,  Oneidium  carthaginense ;  2, 
Habenaria  earnea  ;  3,  Selaginella  delieatissima. 
- .  •  - 
The  Weather. 
December  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle,  1903. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  Avind  aa’us  south,  total 
thirteen  days.  The  total  rainfall  aauis  l.OIin,  this  fell  on  nine¬ 
teen  days,  and  is  1.04in  beloAV  the  average  for  the  month;  the 
greatest  daily  fall  Avas  0.32in  on  the  8th.  Barometer  (corrected 
and  I'educed) :  highest  reading,  30.2.51in  on  the  21st  at  9  a.m.  ; 
loAvest  reading,  29.082in  on  the  10th  at  9  p.m.  Thermometers: 
highest  in  the  .shade,  49deg  on  the  9th  and  22nd ;  loAvest,  21deg 
on  the  30th  ;  mean  of  daily  maxima,  40.77deg  ;  mean  of  daily 
minima,  32.80deg;  mean  temperature  of  the  month,  3G.78deg  ; 
loAvest  on  the  grass,  17deg  on  the  2nd  and  30th  ;  highest  in  the 
sun,  75deg  on  the  14th  ;  mean  temperature  of  "the  earth  at  3ft, 
42.2.5deg.  Total  sun.shine,  41  hours  55  minutes,  Avhich  is  5  hours 
8  minutes  beloAv  the  average  for  the  montJi ;  there  Avere  sixteen 
sunless  days.  The  mean  air  temperatures  are  much  beloAV  the 
averages  for  the  month. — W.  H.  Dia’ers. 
Observation  of  Rainfall  fc  r  1903,  at  The  Gardens,  Camp  Hill, 
Woolton,  Lancashire. 
I  think  you  do  not  get  a  report  of  tlie  rainfall  in  this  neigh- 
bourhod  for  our  good  old  .Journal,  of  Avhich  I  have  been  a  reader 
noAV  for  nearly  thirty  years.  It  may  be  of  some  interest 
to  .some  of  your  numerous  readers  to  knoAV  the  amount  of  rain 
Avhich  has  fallen  in  this  district  during  the  past  year  and  the 
number  of  days  Avithout  rain  for  each  month.  The  nine  Avettest 
days  consecutively  during  the  year,  the  rain  gauge  registering 
for  October  27,  1.42;  July  21,  1.10;  September  10,  0.97; 
November  2,  0.G8;  Alarch  l7,  0.C8;  November  27,  0.G7 ;  Sep¬ 
tember  3,  0.C6  ;  May  5,  O.Go ;  October  7,  0.60.  The  seAmn  coldest 
nights  during  the  year:  January  14,  12deg  of  frost;  .January  13, 
lOdeg ;  December  29,  9deg ;  December  30,  9deg ; -January  11, 
9deg  ;  .Tanuary  IG,  8deg ;  January  10,  8de.g. 
RaINFAT  I.  FOR  1303. 
INCIIF,-:. 
Days  AVithou 
.laniiary  . . 
2.11 
14 
February.. 
2.09 
11 
March 
3.47 
9 
April 
1.70 
17 
May 
3.48 
11 
■lime 
l.Tt) 
22 
■Tuly 
3.30 
16 
August  . . 
4.16 
6 
September 
6.13 
10 
October  . . 
7.00 
2 
November 
.  3.48 
9 
December 
1.45 
13 
— Joseph  Stoney. 
39.2.6 
220  (lays  with  ra  n. 
139 
Rainfall  in  1903  at  Rood  Ashton,  Wilts. 
Rain  gauge:  Diameter  of  funnel,  8ii). ;  height  of  top,  above  gropr.d 
1ft.  Gin. ,  above  sea.  level  260ft.  . 
Month. 
Total  Depth. 
Greatest  Fall  in  24  Hours. 
Number  of  P.n.vs 
on  K  hich  o  '01  m- 
mote  fell. 
•Tanu.ary  .. 
Inches. 
...  3-7(l _ 
Depth. 
..  09)  .. 
Dale. 
..  4tli  .. 
.  18 
Feliruary . . 
....  2-Ul  ..  . 
.  .  O’oo  . . 
..  I4th  .. 
.  11 
March  .... 
. .  . .  '  \')0  . .  . 
..  0-71  .. 
211(1  .  . 
.  20 
Apri  . 
....  2- ,6  .... 
..  0-OJ  .. 
..  251  ll  .. 
.  11 
May  . .  . . 
_ f,-0?  .... 
. .  0-30  . . 
..  29th  .. 
.  17 
.1  une  .... 
.  . .  5'36  .... 
..  1-15  .. 
..  19th  .. 
.  ....  10 
July  .... 
. .... 
..  fif)  .. 
..  2.)th  .. 
-  12 
Augu.st. . . . 
_ 4-77  .... 
..  1-07  .. 
..  15th  .. 
.  IC 
Septembtr. 
- 
..  0-38  .. 
..  lOih  .. 
.....  17 
October  .. 
..  ..  '.-.o  ..  .. 
..  0-8)  .. 
..  ]2th  .. 
.  28 
November . 
.  ..  •2-j2  .... 
..  1.-38  .. 
. .  27t  h  .  . 
.  13 
December.. 
....  2-98  .... 
..  1-08  .. 
..  12-.h  .. 
.  15 
Total . 
....45-80  .. 
..  iU-UO  ... 
■ 
ISO 
— W.  Struunell. 
Rainfall  at  Edinburgh. 
At  the  Royal  Botanic  Garden,  Edinburgh,  situated  one  mile 
from  the  Forth  and  7Gft  above  .sea  level,  32.577in  rain  fell 
during  1903.  Raiit  Avas  present  in  the  gau.ge  218  mornings 
out  of  the  po.ssible  365.  licast  rain  fell  during  December  (1.015) 
and  April  (1.075),  Avhilst  January,  February,  and  Mart-h  Avere 
the  Avettest  months,  Avith  4.065,  4.465,  and  4.470  inches  re.spec- 
tively.  The  late  frosts  of  .spring,  the  lack  of  sunshine  during 
the  summer  months,  Avere  the  characteristics  of  1903  in  Edin¬ 
burgh,  as,  indeed,  el.seAvhere.  Only  one  hour  of  bright  sun¬ 
shine  occurred  from  December  7,  1903,  to  January  8,  1904. 
The  atmosphere  then  cleared,  2J  hours  sunshine  occurring  on 
the  latter  date. — D.  S.  Fish. 
Notes  from  Newton  Mearns,  N.B. 
The  iieAV  year  holidays  have  passed,  and  Ave  can  only  now 
reflect  on  the  joyous  time  Ave  have  had.  The  Aveather  during 
the  holidays  Avas  simply  delightful,  hard  frost  riding,  and  a  clear 
atmosphere.  Skating  and  curling  Avere  indulged  in  to  no  small 
pitch,  and  outdoor  labour  had  to  be_  entirely  suspended.  The 
frost  has  noAv  disappeared  after  a  heavy  day’s  rain  on  Thur.sday, 
but  to-day  the  atmosphere  is  genial — sun  shining  brightly. 
Should  the  present  climatic  conditons  remain  Ave  shall  be  able 
to  do  some  delayed  planting.  Roses,  shrubs,  and  fruit  trees 
Avhich  had  arrived  from  the  nursery  as  far  back  as  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  November  are  .still  requiring  to  be  planted.  We 
Avould  like  to  get  these  planted  noAv,  or  as  soon  as  possible,  as 
the  season  is  iioaa’  getting  on.  We  used  to  be  able  to  haA’e  a 
little  planting  done  in  November  or  December,  but  last  year’s 
atmospherical  conditions  Avould  not  permit.  Although  frost 
•seems  to  be  setting  in  again  to-night,  yet  the  barometer  is  Ioav, 
and  Ave  may  have  some  broken  Aveather  for  some  days  to  come. 
-  N.  R. 
Publications  Received. 
Missouri  Botanical  Garden :  Administrative  Reports  for 
1902.  St.  Louis,  U.S.A.,  Botanical  Garden  (an  illustrated  article 
reprinted  from  the  “Popular  Science  Monthly,”  January,  1903). 
Also  thirteenth  announcement  concerning  garden  pupils,  De¬ 
cember,  1903.  *  *  “  Agricultural  Economist,”  December,  con¬ 
taining  :  Motors,  and  their  Probable  Influence  in  Agriculture  ; 
Mr.  Darby  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  effect  of  the 
recent  Avet  autumn  on  agriculture;  there  is  also  a  sugge.stive 
article  on  reafforestation.  *  *  “  Le  Jardin,”  Avith  coloured 
plate  of  iieAv  Roses  (December  5,  1903).  *  *  “  Gartenffora,” 
December,  AAuth  coloured  plate  of  Cattleya  Mendeli  A^ar.  Lack- 
neri.  *  *  “  The  Land  of  the  Silver  River,”  price  6d.  ;  a  lecture 
delivered  by  Senor  Emilio  Olsson  in  the  RiA'er  Plate  House, 
London,  on' June  8,  1903,  with  illustrations,  map,  and  A'aluablo 
information  from  the  latest  official  data  on  the  Argentino  Re¬ 
public.  “  South  American  Journal,”  9,  NeAV  Broad  Street, 
London.  *  *  “  The  Picture  Po.stcard  and  Collectors’ 
Chronicle,”  Christmas  Number;  price  3d.,  December,  1903. 
Supplement:  The  Seven  Edwards  (1272-1901).  *  *  Board  of 
Agriculture  and  Fisheries  Leaflet:  Farmers’  Co-operativo 
Societies.  *  *  “  L’Etat  Actuel  de  I’Electroculture  ”  :  one 
franc,  Rainlot  et  Freres  et  Soeurs,  25,  Rue  Gretry,  Brinssels. 
*  *  “  Transactions  O'f  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society 
for  the  year  1903,”  Part  I.,  Boston.  *  *  “  Bulletin  of  Miscel¬ 
laneous 'information,  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kcav.”  Contents: 
List  of  Seeds  of  Hardy  Herbaceous  Plants  and  of  Trees  and 
Shmbs.  Price  fourpence.  *  *  “Manures,”  by  A.  B. 
Griffiths,  Ph.D.,  a  practical  handbook  for  the  agriculturist, 
manufacturer,  and  student,  London:  Whittaker  and  to.,  2, 
wiiite  Hart  Street.  ^ 
YOUNG  GARDENER’S  DOMAIN.  We  regret  that  owing 
to  pres.snre  of  other  matter,  the  articles  in  Young  Gardenei' s 
Domain  IniA'e  had  to  be  held  OA'er. — En. 
