44 



JOURNAL OP HC«lTIODLTUBB AND COTTAGE GABUENER. 



[ January 18, 1877. 



weather, the character of the ground, the condition of the sets, 

 and the locality. 



I am particalarly acquainted with one garden where the best 

 crops of early Potatoes are produced by planting well-prepared 

 seta early in March, or even the last week in February if the 

 weather is specially favourable. The soil of that garden is as 

 light almost as leaf soil, and the rainfall of the locality is ex- 

 tremely slight. When placed in the ground thus early the 

 sets have made growth (sprouts) at the least half an inch 

 in length, robust, green, and studded with rootlets. So firmly 

 are the sprouts affixed to the tubers that they may be turned 

 out of one basket into another in the most careless anyhow 

 manner, and not one sprout will be knocked off. That is the 

 condition in which "seed" Potatoes should be at planting 

 time. When planting early in light soil the sets are covered 

 quite 4 inches deep. The object is to induce roots being 

 formed some distance below the surface of the ground, and 

 beyond the reach of the sun's rays, which throughout May 

 and early June are generally so powerful as to seriously arrest 

 the growth of the early Potatoes in this light and dry soil. 



That is the practice the best suited for one garden, and now 

 for the other. The gardens are not far apart, and both of 

 them have been under my charge for several years. No. 1 

 (mentioned) is light and dry. No. 2 heavy and wet. Early and 

 deep planting, which is the best for No. 1, is entirely unsuited 

 to No. 2. In this garden the very last days of March or early 

 in April, according to the state of the soil and the weather, is 

 amply soon enough for planting. One of the best and earliest 

 crops I ever had in this garden was from sets planted on 

 April 12th. These tubers had each macie growths an inch and 

 more in length and proportionately stout ; each " sprout " was 

 studded with rootlets and was crowned with a cluster of leaf- 

 lets. These were only just covered with soil, or say to the 

 depth of a quarter to half an inch. They appeared above the 

 surface just in time to escape the spring frosts, grew without 

 check, and one of the finest crops of early Potatoes I ever re- 

 joiced in was cleared off the ground on June 24th. A few 

 similarly planted on the same date in the light soil of No. 1 

 garden did not produce nearly such a good crop, and some 

 planted early a'nd deep in the cold, strong, wet soil of No. 2 

 garden did not come up at all. 



Such are the teachings of experience. The deductions deriv- 

 able therefrom, the soundness of which have been proved by 

 many and careful experiments, are, that careful preparation 

 of the sets, by encouraging their robust growth in a light place, 

 is imperative ; that in light soil and dry districts early and 

 rather deep planting is advisable; that in heavy soil and wet 

 localities late and shallow planting is the most profitable, and 

 that the state of the soil is of more importance in deciding 

 the time for planting than the date of the calendar. I have 

 given the practice best suited for two extreme cases, and no 

 one need have any difficulty in " shaping his course " on the 

 data given, determining his position and acting accordingly; 

 but never — let me say it emphatically — never plant early 

 kidney Potatoes inches deep in January in cold, heavy, wet 

 soil before the tubers show signs of growth. 



A word may be added on the mode of planting. The soil, 

 be it remembered, cannot be too clean and friable for this crop. 

 It should be manured and dug deeply in the autumn, leaving 

 it in ridges if it is at all of a heavy nature. When these 

 ridges work down freely in the spring level them, and alter the 

 surface is again dry, dusty if possible, planting may be done. 

 The ground should be again forked over, planting the Potatoes 

 at the same time, the rows being not less than 2 feet apart. 

 The drill or channel next the line should be made broad and 

 level and of the proper depth for the sets. After these have 

 been placed in the row it is excellent practice and highly worth 

 the little trouble it entails to sprinkle over and around them 

 the following compost in a dry state : — Wood ashes and old 

 vegetable refuse in equal parts, to every two barrowfuk adding 

 an 8-inch potful of superphosphate of lime, the same amount 

 of soot, and half the quantity of salt. This spread half an 

 inch (less or more) in the drills will greatly improve the value 

 of the crop. In cold heavy soils the salt may be omitted. In 

 such soils, and especially where the Potatoes do not turn out 

 cleanly, it is first-rate practice to cover the sets (using also the 

 ashes, Ac.) with old, broken, half-decayed straw — old thatch 

 answers admirably — previous to placing the soil over them. 

 It is surprising how beneficial this is both in increasing the 

 bulk of the crop and in contributinR to the brightness and 

 cleanliness of the tubers. The early Potato crop — the south- 

 border crop, is Bo important as to be worthy of a little extra 



care, and I know of no assistance that can be given more effec- 

 tually in increasing the quantity and improving the quality of 

 theproduce than that of applying the aids I have recommended 

 at the time of planting the tubers. It is by the adoption of 

 some such practice as is here detailed that prizes are won. 



Let me conclude with a warning to young enthusiasts who 

 intend " going in " in preparing the sets. I was an enthusiast 

 once, and went in strong on the preparing point. Even that 

 excellent practice can be carried too far, as I found to my cost. 

 My early Potatoes, taken up at the end of June, were at once 

 spread out thinly — preparing. The summer was long and hot. 

 By the autumn they had made growth fully large enough for 

 planting. They were continued in the light throughout the 

 winter, and in March some of the " sprouts " were nearly as 

 large as the parent tubers to which they clung — large, hard, 

 barrel-shaped protuberances, each having a tuft of green 

 leaves. I was extremely proud of them, but my pride sus- 

 tained a fall. I planted them with extra care in the full con- 

 sciousness of being rewarded with an extra crop, but — that 

 terrible " but "^not one of them grew. Each gigantic sprout 

 was transformed into a tuber, and was surrounded with a pea- 

 like progeny, while not a vestige of green appeared above 

 ground. My employer had taken great interest in my pet 

 tubers, and during the process of preparation I had represented 

 to him (perhaps a little pompously) that I was "assisting 

 Nature." When the failure was established he made me a 

 present of the following remark : — •' You have either assisted 

 Nature to make a fool of Iierself, or she has made a fool of 

 yon." I have never felt comfortable when dwelling on that 

 remark ; and need I say th.at, except for the purpose of experi- 

 ment, I have never since prepared my " seed " Potatoes so 

 violently, so extremely ? That failure taught me that extremes 

 are dangerous, that moderation is the safe guide, that intelli- 

 gence is necessary in all gardening matters, even in preparing 

 Potatoes. — -A Noethep.n Gabdenee. 



THE LADIES' DESIDERATUM WATERING-CAN. 



The annexed can enables ladies to water the upper shelves 

 in their greenhouses with- 

 out the danger of upsetting 

 flower-pots by having to step 

 on the staging. 



When it is required to fill 

 the can with water it is lifted 

 out of the wire frame into 

 which it is hooked, and 

 which frame is mounted on 

 a stiff rod or bamboo some 

 4 or 5 feet long. The can 

 thus being raised to the de- 

 sired spot is tilted by means 

 of the string. 



This can may be obtained 

 through the iiev. T. W. 

 Huthwaite, Backwell, Bristol, 

 by whom it was invented 

 and patented. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I HAVE received from a well-known amateur horticulturist of 

 good position in Yorkshire some comments on my own and on 

 Mr. Abbey's letter in the same number of the Journal, which 

 perhaps you may like to have. " One more scrawl in the midst 

 of my busy life to urge you to stick to your plan. I do not yet 

 follow you on some secondary points, but in the main you are 

 obviously right. Like me, and my father before me, hundreds of 

 amateurs have hitherto ignored the Koyal Horticultural Society, 

 as we should ignore any other fashionable lounge society. Let 

 those who enjoy pay. But offer to make us for a small sum 

 Fellows, full members, or what you please to call us (but call 

 us all alike) of a working scientific society, and we will gladly 

 subscribe, though nineteen out of twenty of us will get nothing 

 personally for our money. It will be regarded by us as a sub- 

 scription for the promotion of horticulture. 



" Mr. Abbey's schedules of payment are far too elaborate, and 

 therefore too indefinite. I did think of the two classes — town 

 members, £3 3s. ; country members, £1 Is. But your plan 

 seems best. And do cut us clear of fashion ; remove all tempta- 

 tion of this kind. I have sent out all the circulars you sent 

 me, and will send more if you will let me have them. P.S. — I 



