Angnst 28, 1873. ] 



JOUBNAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



151 



for the Potato than many previons seasons. — Alexander Cramb, 

 lortwortli. 



Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset. — The Potatoes here are very 

 Botmd — hardly a diseased tuber. I hear the coarse-growiug, 

 deep-eyed, late-ripening Potatoes are spearing-out. I dug-up 

 twelve plants of Prince of Wales a few days ago ; the new tubers 

 ■were like porcupines and not half ripe. I shall finish digging 

 all Potatoes to-day (.August 23rd), or on Monday, the 25th. 1 have 

 heard no complaints of unsoundness from my neighbours. — 

 W. F. Badcltffe, Okeford Fitzpainc, Shillingstone. 



p.g. — All my Potatoes are np to-day (August 25th), and in a 

 quarter of an acre there are not enough diseased ones to fill a 

 small handkerchief. 



SANDRiNGHiM, NORFOLK. — I am glad to say as yet our Potatoes 

 are but slightly affected. I found a Danish Potato here that 

 took the disease very much, all our English varieties only 



?artially.— Charles Penny, The Gardens, Sandringham, King's 

 lynn. 



Knctsford, Cheshire. — On Saturday last I lifted a quantity 

 of Paterson's Victoria, a fine splendid crop, but much affected. 

 The various species of Kidney, Old and Royal Ashleat, Glou- 

 cestershire, and Mona's Pride similarly attacked. From the 

 tubers failing after being hfted, I thought a washing might 

 arrest the progress of the disease, consequently I have taken 

 the trouble for these last two years to wash those sorts which 

 ■were of most value, then spreading them on a dry boarded 

 floor. This process is not labour lost ; ■n'hen the tubers are 

 thoroughly dry they may remain, if convenient, or be removed 

 to the pit. — Joseph Burgess. 



WvcosrBE, Bucks. — At the present time the Potato crop in 

 this vicinity, both on the bills and in the valleys, is most satis- 

 factory. Many of the earliest varieties are already lifted, and 

 with the best results both as regards quantity and quality, and 

 with scarcely any disease; in fact, none worthy of mention. 

 The haulm of the later kinds, which are not yet ripe, show in 

 some places indications of disease, but the tubers are not yet 

 affected. — Geo. Thos. Miles, Wi/comhe Abbey Gardens. 



Chiswick, Middlesex. — The present season has been ex- 

 ceptionally favourable for the growth of the Potato. On the 

 20th of May the tops of a great portion of the earlier-planted 

 varieties were much injured by frost, and some bore traces of 

 tliis all through the season. The greater portion, however, 

 soon recovered and grew with great strength and vigour. The 

 first appearance of the disease I noticed July 29th, on Early 

 Goodrich, Red Emperor, and some Dutch sorts. A few days 

 later the Lapstones were attacked, and the disease gradually 

 spread over most of the varieties. Although the tops have been 

 so far attacked that in some cases all the foliage has been de- 

 stroyed, there are but few of the tubers affected. The season 

 has been on the»(vhoIe dry, the Potato crop is large, and the 

 quality excellent. — A. F. Barron. 



Ledbury, Herefordshire. — The Potato crop in this district 

 ia the heaviest that has been known for some years, and the 

 tubers are unusually fine and clean. Disease — as is generally 

 the case when the atmosphere is hea-vily charged with electricity, 

 as it was in June and July — made its appearance earlier than 

 usual, affecting some kinds more than others. Lapstone Kidney, 

 one of the best Potatoes in cultivation, has suffered most ; and 

 although slightly touched, Paterson's Victoria is least affected. 

 Of early kinds, Veitch's Early Ashleaf and Stratton's Seedhng 

 have yielded fine crops free from disease. The red American 

 kinds are extensively grown in this neighbourhood, and are 

 gaining in favour ; the season having suited them, they cook drier 

 than in former years. — W. Colesian, Eastnor Castle, Ledhurrj. 



BowooD, Wiltshire. — I am pleased to be able to give a favour- 

 able account of the Potato crops in this neighbourhood, which 

 are very good — much better than X have known them for several 

 years past. The disease, which has made its appearance in the 

 haulm since the first week of the present mouth, has not shown 

 itself very much in the tuber up to the present time. I find 

 that where the crops are surroimded by trees, which prevents 

 their being fully exposed to the sun and air, the disease has 

 affected them most, the haulm having almost disappeared. In 

 BDch places a few diseased Potatoes are to be found. — William 



SCAMKELL, BoWOod. 



Chilwell, Nottinohamshbre. — I think the Potato crop is very 

 good here. The first and second earlies have turned out well, 

 and almost free from disease. I heir from everyone their late 

 sorts are a more promising crop than usual, and there is, I think, 

 little amiss with them at present. We have a great deal of wet 

 and many thunderstorms just now, so people are beginning to 

 fear for their lato Potatoes. — J. R. Pearson, Chilwell. 



East Lothian. — The Potato crop in the East Lothian up to this 

 date may be said to be free from disease. I have heard of tubers 

 having been found in several places which had the disease, but 

 it has nowhere appeared on the foliage that I am aware of — cer- 

 tainly not in the higher districts of the county. The last week's 

 weather, however, has been in every way likely to induc« dis- 



ease — continuous rains and foggy, and the wind in the east and 

 south-east ; so that I should not be surprised to see it any day 

 make its appearance on the stems and leaves. In all parts of 

 the county the crop will be a large one. A large breadth has 

 been planted, and it ■will be a sad loss should the disease come 

 now when the crops are all looking so well. — Alex. She.uiek, 

 Ycsfer Gardens, Haddington. 



HiNDLip H.all, Worcestershire. — Potatoes gi'own in the 

 gardens here were harvested three weeks ago ; a fine crop, first- 

 rate in quality, about thirty tubers diseased. Early varieties in 

 fields and gardens in this neighboiu-hood are good in every way; 

 very little disease. Late kinds are more promising than they 

 have been for many years past, and a wonderful contrast from 

 last season. My Potatoes for the last eighteen years have 

 virtually been free from disease. — A. Moffat. 



BuxTED, Sussex. — The yield of all kinds of Potatoes is ex- 

 cellent, and the crop is being housed in capital condition. Traces 

 of disease have been found in the late sorts, but it prevails 

 generally in a very mild form, the only bad exception being 

 Bresee's Prolific, which has quite half its fine tubers affected. 

 Symptoms of sprouting, or that second growth which leads to 

 Buper-tuberating, were discovered early in the month. The kinds 

 affected were, however, so forward that they were hfted before 

 any serious harm was done. On the 13th iust. and following 

 three days a large breadth of Paterson's Victoria and Flukes 

 were lifted and taken to the storehouse. These crops were 

 very fine ; they are now stored thinly under a slight covering of 

 mats and straw, and being housed during the prevalence of hue 

 sunny weather, they are as dry and sound as could be wished. 

 The quality of Victoria is as usual most excellent. It may be 

 interesting to note, that these late-keeping Potatoes were suffi- 

 ciently ripe for lifting within twenty weeks from the time of 

 planting. — Edward Luckhurst, Old Lands, Buxted. 



Appleton-le-Steeet, Toekshike.— Ihave heard of no disease 

 amongst the Potatoes in this ueighboui-hood this year, nor have 

 I seen a single diseased Potato. The crop promises to be a 

 heavy one. I have tried several sorts of kidneys — Ashleaf, Royal 

 Ashleaf, Gloucestershire Kidney, Ashtop Fluke, &c., and hither- 

 to the Ashtop Fluke has been far superior to any other — in 

 fact, I do not remember to have ever eaten a better Potato. A 

 very fair crop, not very heavy, but good ; the tubers very clean in' 

 their skins, and when steamed in their jackets they peel firm 

 bat mealy, without any hard ends, which both the MUky White, 

 Gloucestershire Kidney, and Royal Ashleaf have been inclined 

 to have. From inquires I have made at different provincial 

 shows, and the sam)iles of Potatoes shown, I think we may fairly 

 reckon upon a sound and heavy crop in this portion of the North 

 Riding.— C. P. Peach. 



Winchester, Hampshire. — As regards the Potato crops in this 

 locality, the result of my own observation and experience is in 

 every respect most satisfactory ; in fact I have not seen a single 

 diseased Potato this season. Owing to the fine dry weather in 

 July and August, our own crop is safely up and housed, being 

 spread about 1 foot to 15 inches in depth in a good dry Potato 

 house, ■with the exception of a few of Red-skinned FlourbaU, 

 which we may possibly leave in the gi-ound uutil the end of 

 September, or even later, as a test to see how far they may 

 become diseased, so much having been said about this variety 

 not being liable to the disease. 



Our main crop is the Dalmahoy, which ripens early. Ours 

 were all up and housed by the last week in July, and a beautiful 

 sample they are. Some years ago we had them all up by the 

 IDth of July, but last year (1872) we lost nearly one-third of our 

 crop on account of not being able from one cause and another to 

 take them up uutil later, and the wet weather had also some- 

 thing to do with it. We plant early, and take up early, and the 

 ground is all again cropped with Turnips, Celery, and other 

 things. Of course we change the crops as much as we can. 



Now for hearsay. In Winchester and its immediate vicinity 

 I have not heard any complaint of disease as yet; but possibly 

 it may occur in low damp situations, though not at present 

 noticed by the owners. I have heard it is bad about Hursley 

 and Romsey. — Thomas Weaver. 



Lincoln. — Up to the present date (August 25th) the Potato 

 crops in Lincolnshire are sound. The time, however, is critical, 

 and what a few days may bring forth it is impossible to antici- 

 pate. Last night, or rather early this morning, the weather has 

 been quite of a Potato-disease type, the liglitnnig being one 

 complete and almost unbroken blaze, and the thunder one in- 

 cessant and continued roll, while the rain has come down in 

 torrents — nearly an inch in six hours. The storm travelled 

 from south-east to north-west, and it is therefore in the highest 

 degree probable that it would reach the great I'otato district in 

 the Isle of Axholrae. If we have a week of dull drizzly days 

 with evaporation and transpiration nil, and at tlie same time a 

 mean day and night temperature of 65° to '70°, disease is almost 

 certain to follow; but with brisk winds and cool nights, not- 

 withstanding the high electric state of the atmosphere and heavy 

 downpour, the crop would probably escape serious injury. The 



