May 12, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



CULTURE OF THE JAPANESE YAM 



(DIOSCOREA BATATAS). 



HE great expectations which were entertained 

 when the Japanese Yam was introduced into 

 this country have never been realised. It 

 was said to possess such fine qualities as to 

 make it a desirable substitute for the Potato, 

 which was at that time (1852; threatened 

 with annihilation from the disease ; but I 

 have never heard that even under the best 

 system of cultivation its flavour approached 

 that of a good Potato, nor has it been found 

 sufficiently productive to make it a profitable vegetable for 

 general cultivation. Another obstacle to its progress may 

 be, that when compared to the Potato, its cultivation is 

 much more difficult, from its tubers striking so deeply 

 into the soil. It is, however, grown in many gardens, and 

 is useful to serve up as an extra dish, or when other vege- 

 tables are scarce. I know of some places where its culti- 

 vation has increased owing to the family being fond of it. 

 Those who like it may cultivate it in the following manner. 

 Select a warm border under a wall, where there is a 

 deep, rich, and not very light soil, and in order to obtain 

 a sufficient depth of earth for the tubers, throw up beds of 

 soil 4 feet wide, 3 feet apart, and about 18 inches above 

 the ground level ; draw two drills, as for Peas, down the 

 centre of each bed, and plant the sets, which are cut from 

 the small end of the tubers, at 1 foot apart. Before covering 

 over, a dus'.ing of lime and soot should be given to prevent 

 the attacks of grubs on the wounded parts. When the 

 shoots make their appearance above the ground, which 

 will not be for some time after planting, give a plentiful 

 supply of water, also at all times during growth if the 

 weather is dry. The finest tubers I ever grew were from 

 sets planted in May ; they were not taken up for use until 

 November in the following year. Fair- sized tubers may, 

 however, be grown in one season if early plantiug has 

 been adopted, but I should consider these as suitable plants 

 for the production of large tubers under the first named plan 

 of culture, rather than for affording tubers for eating. 



At the time of digging up, which is November, the soil 

 must be carefully thrown down, and the tubers extracted, 

 if possible without a bruise, and stored in finely- sifted dry 

 soil, and upon the ground- floor, which will be damp enough 

 to keep them from shrivelling. 



In preparing the tubers for table, they should be pared 

 and boiled in salt and water in the same way as, but about 

 five minutes longer than, Potatoes ; to make them whiter 

 half milk may be added, but it is not absolutely necessary. 

 They may then be finished off by steaming, and served up 

 as hot as possible. — Thomas Record, LUlesden. 



NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



As this is the proper time for buying in, I will jot down 



a few notes on the Chrysanthemums of the past year which 



I have myself grown, and of which, therefore, I speak, not 



as one who has merely taken cursory notes of them, but 



No. 476.— Vol. XVIIL, New Series. 



as one who has had them under his eye daily for the whole 

 time of their blooming. 



Again I have to notice the decline in the taste for Pom- 

 pons ; it is one of those matters " which no fellow can 

 understand ;" for a time they seemed to carry all before 

 them, but then a sudden stop came to this, and the 

 introduction of the Japanese varieties, opening up an 

 entirely different field, has tended to make this more com- 

 plete. No new seedlings have been raised, the novelties 

 being confined to the large-flowering, or Chinese, and 

 Japanese Chrysanthemums. 



JAPANESE. 



Dr. Musters. — A very showy variety, with large flowers, 

 the outside florets being of a bright red, and the centre 

 changing to the same colour. Very double, and altogether 

 one of the most desirable varieties of last year. 



Hero of Magdala. — Red, the reverse of florets buff ; they 

 turn about in a very curious manner. The two colours 

 give a very remarkable appearance to this flower, and 

 when it first opens it would be impossible to recognise it 

 from the description. 



James Salter. — Without doubt one of the most remark- 

 able flowers in this section ; clear lilac, very large and 

 double. It blooms early, and is of good dwarf habit, con- 

 tinuing in flower for a long time. 



Meteor.— A curious flower, with long narrow florets of a 

 bright golden hue, changing to orange, and curiously 

 twisted. 



Morgiana. — Bright red, with the reverse yellow. The 

 appearance of the flower is that of a long tassel. 



Megalia. — Orange, striped with bright red, the florets 

 very broad and incurved. Very showy. 



Star. — Large orange florets, very long and broad. A 

 very curious flower. 



Purpiireum album. — Rich purple, mottled with white ; 

 flowers of medium size, having the appearance of a loose 

 tassel of purple and white. 



Amongst those highly spoken of for this season are Sol, 

 clear yellow ; Sultan, very large, purple ; Viceroy of Egypt, 

 rosy crimson and white ; Emperor of China, rosy white ; 

 and Colonel Hemery, large, semi-globular yellow. Opinions 

 will still be divided as to the merits of these flowers ; but 

 while they are inferior in form and contour to the Chinese 

 varieties, they are, from their singularity of appearance 

 and late period of blooming, very good for decorative 

 purposes. 



CHINESE. 



Beethoven.— Ovange red, with slight golden tips, the 

 florets very broad, and the flowers finely incurved ; very 

 double, and the plant of good dwarf habit. 



(J-olden John Salter. — A sport from that fine old flower 

 John Salter. Golden yellow, changing to light orange. 



Pink Perfection. — A beautiful shade of colour ; soft pink, 

 a most delicate colour. The flowers are large, composed 

 of broad incurved florets ; we have had no flower in this 

 colour before. 



Rived Little Ilarr y. —Dark yellow. A seedling from 

 that fine flower Little Harry, and of the same beautiful 

 dwarf habit. 



No. 1128. -Vol. XLIIL, Old Series. 



