138 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



minister at Brussels having caused some inquiries 

 to be addressed to Mr. Tombelle Lomba, that 

 gentleman has returned a reply, from which the 

 following is an extract : 



" I can state in the most formal manner, thai 

 when the potato stems are cut off with a sickle 

 properly sharpened (avec une faucille dont le 

 iranchant est convenable) the tubers are not at 

 all interrupted in their growth ; that they remain 

 attached to the stem until they are ripe, just as if 

 the haulm had not been removed ; and that they 

 acquire as large a relative size as potatoes which 

 have not undergone the operation. I have so often 

 observed this continuation of growth that I can 

 speak positively to its going on without the 

 slightest interruption, and that the treament 

 which I have recommended is not attended by any 

 loss whatever of size or quality. I can offer the 

 most positive assurance as to this ; it is only ne- 

 cessary to take great care that the implement 

 employed in cutting off the haulm shall be so 

 sharp that the stems may be separated without 

 disturbing the roots (sans les soxdever, a fin de ne 

 pas les detacher des fruits.) It is also proper 

 that the stems should be removed from the ground 

 immediately after being cut off; and especially 

 that no time be lost in covering the surface of the 

 ground with a layer of earth at least half an inch 

 thick." 



We earnestly beg our friends in all parts of the 

 country to try the experiment in the manner so 

 clearly pointed out by this Belgian gentleman. 

 Should it prove, as he confidently predicts, that 

 the crop is thus to be saved, not only will a most 

 difficult problem in cultivation have been solved. 

 but some physiological questions will arise, to 

 which attention has never been sufficiently di- 

 rected. It is certain that potatoes cannot be per- 



fectly formed without the agency of leaves. Leafc 

 less abortions indeed will appear and feed upon 

 their parent tuber till they have exhausted it, but 

 they are mere abortions, and of no account. If 

 leaves are thus necessary to the production of po- 

 tatoes, it would seem at first sight that to remove 

 the branches can only result in the loss or great 

 injury of the crop. But it may be that potatoes, 

 after having arrived at a certain condition, possess 

 the power of continuing their grow'h by their own 

 proper and unassisted vitality; and this is render- 

 ed the more probable by the well known fact that 

 the Hour which gives them their principal value 

 does not descend directly from the leaves, as flour, 

 but is in the first instance of the nature of gum, or 

 some other fluid organisable matter, formed in the 

 leaves and sent downwards into the tubers. Having 

 reached the tubers it undergoes its final change, 

 and from a soluble substance is gradually con- 

 verted by their vital force into soluble flour. To 

 that final operation we have no reason to suppose 

 that the leaves contribute; all that they do is to 

 produce the matter out of which the tubers gene- 

 rate their flour. 



It must be observed that Mr. Tombelle Lomba 

 does not cut oft' the stems till after flowering. It 

 is possible that at that time the leaves of the po- 

 tato have done their work, so far as tubers are 

 concerned, and that their further duty is to nourish 

 the fruit. If so, we have an explanation of the 

 result of which that gentleman so positively 

 speaks. At all events, since we have a reasona- 

 ble assurance of his practice having proved suc- 

 cessful in Belgium, and as there is nothing in it at 

 variance with possibility, or even probability, it is 

 certainly one that has strong claims upon the 

 attention of practical men. Gardeners' Chroni- 

 cle. 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



National Convention of Fruit Growers. — 

 The second session of the American Congress of 

 Fruit Growers will be held at Castle Garden, in 

 the city of New York, on Tuesday, the second day 

 of October next, at ten o'clock, A. M. 



As it was, at the last session, resolved that all 

 pomological, horticultural and agricultural associ- 

 ations of North America, be invited to send dele- 

 gates to this Congress, the undersigned respect- 

 fully urge upon all such societies the immediate ap- 

 pointment of delegations composed of their most 

 experienced fruit growers and pomologists, so as to 

 make the coming assemblage the most interesting 

 one, on this subject, ever held in this country. 



The undersigned also respectfully invite all 

 pomologists, fruit growers, orchardists, and nurse- 

 ry men, and all others interested in the subject, to 

 attend the coming session. 



Among the objects of this Congress are the fol- 

 lowing, viz : To endeavor to ascertain by com- 

 parison of fruits, the relative value of varieties in 

 different parts of the country : 



To ascertain from the reports of the State Fruit 

 Committees, which are the best varieties for local 

 cultivation, and which are adapted to general cul- 

 tivation : 



To compare opinions respecting the value of 

 new varieties ; to discuss the diseases of fruit trees, 

 the best manures and methods of culture, unset- 

 tled points in pomology, and to elicit and dissemi- 

 nate information and maintain a cordial spirit of 

 intercourse among horticulturists. 



Essays and papers may be expected from dis- 

 tinguished scientific and practical cultivators, on 

 various interesting topics in pomology and horti- 

 culture. 



