i8 7 o.] ABOUT POTATOES. 451 



pansion of root-fibres is pretty much regulated by haulm -growths. Hitherto, 

 also, the grafting process had found in Mr Fenn a stanch believer — not neces- 

 sarily, however, in its capacity to produce great or beneficial results, but rather 

 in its capacity to produce changes ; and as I have not previously scrupled to ex- 

 press my doubts as to results of any kind being obtained, the first thing to be 

 done was to lift some roots of grafted samples, starting with Milky White, to show 

 its natural character. We next lifted a root of the same variety grafted into a 

 Fluke, and found the produce to be more rounded in form ; there was a decided 

 deviation both in shape and colour, the foliage also distinctly altered. Then 

 followed Milky White grafted into Yorkshire Hero. Here the foliage presented 

 a combination of both these kinds, but the tuber was decidedly indifferent. 



Onwards, a handsome second early round of good quality was next raised, and 

 was followed by the same variety grafted into Yorkshire Hero ; that developed a 

 later growth of foliage that was still green, and the tuber rather rougher and of 

 coarser appearance, and showing no improvement. Yorkshire Hero grafted into 

 Onwards exhibited no change whatever. 



Here we held a conference to discuss and compare notes ; and this was the re- 

 sult of our conclusions : He to retain his belief in grafting, but that it produced 

 in the Potato no beneficial results ; I to forego my hitherto utter incredulity, and 

 to recognise the principle of Potato-grafting, but with the belief that for the pro- 

 duction of improvement in sorts thereby it was worthless. 



Thus far w T e had cleared out of our way two important points of difference, and 

 now turned to the more congenial, but not less interesting, duty of lifting and 

 taking notes of the seedlings and more recent kinds. I think we started with the 

 Old Lapstone, the parent of a numerous progeny. Why, I was quite startled this 

 year to note in my large collection how many of the sorts developed the Lapstone 

 foliage, a growth that, once seen, can at all times be recognised — upright, stiff, 

 with rounded incurved leaves — a most desirable sort of haulm to get to a good 

 variety; but I fear that betwixt the sorts that now yield this form of foliage there 

 is rather too much of the tweedledum and tweedledee difference. Here are a few 

 of them : Lapstone, Haigh's do., Huntingdon Kidney, Rixton Pippin, Lady 

 Paget, Pebble White, Crystal Palace, Ashtop Fluke (how Ashtop ?), Daintree's 

 Kidney, Yorkshire Hero, and Beaconsfield Kidney, which latter Mr Fenn thinks, 

 as I do, is just the old Pebble White, but having a rougher skin than the 

 Lapstone. Mr Turner's other new variety, Union, is an early round that closely 

 resembles Walker's seedling round in general features. The Waterloo Kidney as 

 usual lifted a fine sample, and it is without exception one of the handsomest and 

 best bred of the White Kidneys that we have. 



Now we come to one of Mr Fenn's newest and choicest productions, the Rector 

 of Woodstock, which is decidedly a good stock. It ranks as a second early, haulm 

 of moderate growth, and turns out such handsome white round tubers, and (for 

 we tasted them) of such excellent quality, that it must be pronounced in Potato 

 circles a real acquisition. This Potato has been the result of most careful selec- 

 tion, as some dozens of seedlings, all of the same family, were lifted, and all good, 

 but the Rector was the best ; and we were thus enabled to sign and seal Mr Fenn's 

 judgment, as well as that of the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society, who last year awarded this variety a first-class certificate of merit. A 

 fine seedling round, pink in colour, of handsome appearance and good cropper, 

 is approved, and so is a handsome Red Kidney that is very promising. Then we 

 come upon a batch of seedlings raised from that capital round variety Early Em- 

 peror, the pollen parent being Onwards, and lift a red round, much like the 



