ingredients) it is, in the common vernacular of the gardener, too rank to give good growth and results, whether it be in fruits, flowers, or foliage.  For example, in Henderson’s horticulture he recommends, as the best soil for potting, loam and hops.  He says, “Not the least simple of these operations is the preparation of our potting soil.  We have, we may say, only one heap—­a big one it is—­but it contains only two ingredients, rotted sods, from a loamy pasture, and rotted refuse hops from the breweries, in about the proportion of two of the sods to one of hop.  One-year-old rotted manure, if the hops cannot be obtained.”  It is evident upon its face that so large a proportion as one-third of a fresh manure or hops would be disastrous; but well rotted, and with care otherwise in temperature and other desiderata, it would be a highly stimulating soil.  This was in 1869.  We well recollect the commotion the hop business caused in the horticultural world at the time, as Henderson recommended it for plunging pots in, setting pots on mulching outdoors, and almost every purpose.  And did he not grow the best of stuff and himself practice what he preached.  Spent hops in this city were eagerly sought after and used, apparently with great success, in almost every florist’s establishment as well as market garden.  What before was a nuisance to the breweries was eagerly sought after; like most things, however, it had its day, and is now seldom seen again.  We might, however, say that its decline undoubtedly arose from its unpleasant features, as it drew myriads of insects in its train and often emitted a very unpleasant odor.  Its great value consists in that it is the seed of the hop plant, all seeds contributing by far the greatest value in manures.

In the green-house the object aimed at, is the greatest possible results from limited area.  Of the atmosphere the gardener has almost absolute control—­no siroccos, biting frost, or destructive winds interfere.  He can beat nature all to pieces in growing plants faultless in shape and in quantity of flowers, but his soil is of limited extent for the roots to wander in.  To counteract this, he can give in other forms just as much and no more nutrition as is necessary to effect his purpose, and here comes in this artificial supply of manurial agents.

Mr. DeVrey, the successful superintendent of Lincoln Park, uses horn shavings.  This is the cleanest and most pleasant material that we ever recollect to have seen used for the purpose, it is the refuse in the factories where the horns from the slaughterhouse are steamed and manipulated into the numerous objects they are applied to, not the least being into knife and fork handles, and the like.  It is in the form of thin shaving of half an inch to an inch in length, quite dry and light, entirely free from odor.  He takes all they make, and this year has a ton of the material for which he pays at the rate of three cents per pound.  The method of using is simply