1869.] MONTHLY CHRONICLE. 95 



blessings that were not enjoyed by its predecessors, and if it neglects to avail 

 itself thereof, this must be its own fault. By taking advantage of these oppor- 

 tunities, our younger florists may, however, benefit themselves, and improve the 

 character of our floral information at the same time. 



Winton. John "Walker. 



MONTHLY CHRONICLE. 



; HERE has recently been some discussion in the Gardening papers on the 

 very curious subject of Potato-grafting, with the object of producing 

 graft hybrids. Mr. Taylor, of Fencote, states that the variety called 

 Yorkshire Hero was raised by Mr. Almond, by grafting eyes of the 



Lapstone kidney into an Ashtop kidney, and that he himself has raised Yorkshire Hybrid 

 and others by a similar process. The following is his mode of operation : — Two sound 

 potatoes of different varieties, whose good qualities it is desired to blend, are selected. From 

 one of them all the eyes are first to be cut out with a sharp knife, and then a piece of the 

 tuber in the form of a wedge or some other convenient shape, this being replaced by a scion 

 of similar shape from the other tuber ; the scion should have a good eye or two, nicely 

 aprouted, about half an inch long. The two must be tied firmly together with a piece of bast 

 or string, a couple of lady's hairpins being first run clean through both potatoes to' prevent 

 the tie from slipping off, as well as assist in holding them together. The fit must be a good 

 one, and the rinds of each must meet, as in grafting other plants. The operation must be 

 performed quickly, and the grafted set must be planted as soon as possible. It is best to have 

 the trench opened and manured ready to receive the grafted tubers, and to place them therein 

 and cover them with soil as quickly as possible. Some of the grafts may fail, so that it is 

 best to graft a dozen or more. They will produce rounds and kidneys, pink-eyed and 

 mottled, purples and reds, of various shapes and sizes, some early, some late, some large, some 

 small, according to the kinds which are grafted. All the produce, large and small, must be 

 planted the following year, for until the tubers have been grown it cannot be told whether the 

 varieties are early or late. The early ones are easily discovered by the early decay of the 

 foliage. The produce of such as look promising by their shape and general appearance, 

 should be put into separata bags or boxes, so that they may be further grown and proved. 

 Mr. Taylor states that the greatest number of varieties are produced from a kidney grafted 

 with a round, or a round with a kidney. The operation should be performed early in April. 



I^ever, except in the bulb-fields of Haarlem, has there been such a 



brilliant display of Hyacinths as that at the first Spring Show at Kensington on 

 the loth ult. Even in that favoured bulb-growing region, as we learn from the 

 Dutch growers who came over to witness the competition here, — and who did much towards 

 giving it importance, by subscribing several handsome prizes which led to a spirited competi- 

 tion — even there, such splendid cultivation, and such noble specimens, as those displayed by 

 our champion growers, Paul and Cutbush, are not to be met with. For the chief honours it 

 was, with these growers, a neck-and-neck race throughout. 



Sphere is to be an International Exhibition of Gladioli at the Crystal 



Palace, in the last week of August next. The Crystal Palace Company will, it is 

 announced, contribute £50 towards the prize fund, to which also most of the 



principal growers, professional and amateur, will subscribe. Some of the French growers 

 have intimated their intention to exhibit. 



5Jhe shoots of the Black Currant have in some localities been affected 



by a disease resulting in the destruction of the buds, and which is caused by a 

 species of Acarus so extremely minute as, when present in quantities, to produce 

 the appearance of white powder. Under a lens of tolerable power they appear like a number 

 of inactive worms or maggots, but under a high power they are found to be accompanied 

 by eggs ; and Mr. Berkeley believes that he has also 3een within the body of the mite an 



