November 18. 1905 



HORTI CULTURE 



P. Wriglit, tlie Seeretai7 of the Society, gave an inter- 

 esting lecture on potato topics before the members of 

 the Royal Horticultural Society. At the outset he ad- 

 vocated flavor and not size as the chief essential in a 

 ])otato. Six varieties answering this condition were 

 Factor. Golden Wonder, Peacemaker, Windsor Castle, 

 Up-to-Date, and Langworthy. As regards successful 

 cropping, Mr. Wright advocated seed which was 

 "greened" and boxed. If they put all the potatoes in the 

 summer or autumn in a hoai), the large and small, the 

 sound and unsound together, and leave them to the 

 spring they could not escape a certain amount of de- 

 terioration. The boxing of seed was by no means 

 troublesome or expensive, and it was now largely adopt- 

 ed by many of the leading growers. At the show next 

 month there will undoubtedly be a falling off in the 

 number of new varieties, compared with last year, when 

 they totalled nearly 200. The Society is performing a 

 useful and necessary work in endeavoring to classify 

 the synonyms. There are undoubtedly several varieties 

 which are masquerading under various aliases, and this 

 has caused great confusion. In connection with the 

 show it is proposed to hold a conference of potato grow- 

 ers at which the question of diseases affecting tlie tubers 

 will be discussed. 



yy^^. aM«xr, 



London, Eng., Oct. 26, '05. 



Hints on Boilers and Heating 



In the last issue I drew your attention to the prin-t 

 cipal features to be considered in selecting a boiler — 

 viz., economy of fuel consumption, simplicity of con- 

 struction, easily cleaned, and durable. There are, how- 

 ever, other matters to consider. The ash pit should be 

 large enough to hold ashes for at least one day's firing, 

 and some space to spare, so that the heat from same 

 will not warp and destroy the grates. In most makes 

 of boilers grates are so arranged and fitted that they 

 require an experienced mechanic to remove and replace 

 them. This method is not only expensive, but causes 

 unnecessary delay. They should be so arranged that 

 any ordinary workman or fireman could perform the 

 work; they should also be fitted to work easily — and 

 shake and dump. 



The several sections making up the boiler should be 

 placed so as to leave a space between each section of at 

 least 3-8 of an inch to provide for construction and 

 expansion, and as the nipples connecting the sections 

 are tapering and supposed to be closely fitted, these 

 spaces can be left without any danger of the boiler leak- 

 ing. The spaces can be filled with asbestos and cement. 

 The flow and return outlets to the boiler should be of 

 sufficient size to admit of a free circulation, for if the 

 water is retarded in its flow it will require an excess of 

 fuel. A boiler rated to take care of 1000 square feet 

 of radiating surface, for instance, should be provided 

 with flow and return outlets equivalent to at least the 

 area of a four-inch internal diameter pipe for each 

 outlet. 



My next article will suggest methods of placing and 

 connecting boilers. 



X. 



A Boon to Catalogue Writers, 



Editor HoRTicuLTUKK : 



Dear Sir: — I have been greatly interested in the notes 

 that have recently appeared in Horticulture regard- 

 ing the new color-plates issued under the auspices of 

 the French National Chrysanthemum Society. I 

 secured a set early in the past summer and have used 

 the plates a good deal in recording the results of my 

 amateur gardening, and I have been surprised at the 

 success with which they have done the descriptive part 

 of the work. 



It seems to me that this color-scheme presents an 

 opportunity to the professional horticulturist that should 

 not pass unnoticed. The number of colors and tones 

 represented in the work, as well as the thoroughly prac- 

 tical nature of the plan, should make this an invaluable 

 means of reducing the vagaries of catalogue description 

 to a highly efficient standard. If such a color-scheme 

 might be generally adopted, and descriptive lists made 

 to conform to it, the advantages to the trade would, I 

 believe, more than offset the objection that all cata- 

 logues would read alike and no one have something that 

 the other fellow did not list. 



I have always been interested to note in the English 

 or French catalogues the number of colors mentioned 

 in the descriptions, and to compare this accuracy with 

 the simple "red" or "yellow" of the American lists; 

 words that may mean much or little to the prospective 

 buyer. In this respect the new scheme should be of 

 great service to the trade; for even the novice in the 

 study of -color should find little trouble in determining 

 the likeness of any flower to one of the forty-two shades 

 of red, or the sixty shades of yellow and orange, rep- 

 resented in the two volumes of plates. These colors, too, 

 do not lack the life and brilliancy of tone that is neces- 

 sary. In only a few instances have I failed because 

 the colors were dull ; such brilliant tones as the phloxes 

 have, or the clear-cut colors of the delphinium, can be 

 matched quite readily. 



If the series of plates were to be officially adopted, 

 some changes might be advisable ; but even as they are, 

 the plates are quite able to stand any test, however 

 exacting it may be, that they can be submitted to. I 

 should like very much to see them adopted as a means 

 toward making the catalogue maker's task not only 

 easier, but more satisfactory to himself and those who 

 read what he has written. My copy was purchased 

 through a New York house and cost, not ten dollars as 

 was stated in the issue of Horticulture for October 

 14th, but seven dollars, a low price considering what 

 must have lioen tlie enormous cost of publishing the 

 plates. 



y^s/voocyK — 



Monirlair, N. ./. 



