58 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ January 20, 1876. 



Eoil and manure are wasted, and the additional grass represents 

 loss instead of profit. 



Now, not one word is said in the pamphlet on the good 

 quality of the American Potatoes, and, for anght that is said 

 to the contrary they may be " Boss Tweeds," and have taken 

 more than they gave ; but the author does state that he grew 

 " forty sorts," and that " Eureka was the first to be affected 

 by the disease (on July 2l6t), and next Suowflake, and then 

 Brownell's Beauty." That is not a satisfactory result, for if 

 two Potatoes have been made to grow where only one grew 

 before, the increase is a loss, and not a gain, unless the produce 

 be sound and of good quality. 



The value of the varieties are assessed according to their 

 number of eyes. Eureka heading the list with 121 eyes. But 

 is that any real gain ? is it not rather a substantial loss ? The 

 superiority of a tuber is generally expressed as having " few 

 eyes ;" but here for the first time in Potato history "many " 

 eyes becomes a virtue. It is a virtue, however, that ordinary 

 observers and impartial judges — those whose first study is the 

 interest of the community — will not and cannot recognise, 

 and hence the unanimous verdict of the visitors in regard to 

 the many-eyed monsters exhibited at South Kensington — a 

 verdict which may be truthfully entered in three words — words 

 that were repeated again and again throughout the corridor — 

 " Fit for pigs." 



The double-produce theory thus fails in the essential point 

 which could give it value ; but it fails also irrespective of any 

 conditions, for in the experiments recorded two Potatoes have 

 not been made to grow where only one could be before pro- 

 duced, as hundreds of cultivators know, and aU may prove 

 during the ensuing season. 



At the given rate of produce the weight per acre would be 

 under 12 tons. Why, that is not at all an uncommon weight, 

 and is in fact frequently equalled in the Potato-growing dis- 

 tricts of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire in field culture under 

 simple plough tillage. 



But let us take a parallel case. We take the produce aa 

 stated as averaging nearly 6 lbs. per hill (square yard) ; the 

 cost of the seed being 10s. 6d. Now take an equal number of 

 Bound sets of Victorias, Regents, or Dalmahoys. These at an 

 average weight of 2 ozj. each may be purchased for Is. f>d. 

 Prepare them well, and plant in similar ground, similarly 

 manured, and the crop, instead of being 6 lbs. per square yard 

 " fit for pigs," will be at the least 12 lbs. per square yard, and 

 fit for princes. Which mode confers the greatest " benefit to 

 horticulture," and does most for the "food supply of the 

 country ?" In the one case we have a greater amount of valu- 

 able produce at small cost ; in the other a lesser amount of 

 questionable produce at great cost. 



The Potato is a staple article of food, and the question of 

 its supply and improvement must be subservient to ordinary 

 requirements and in accordance with the ordinary and most 

 economical modes of production. If it cannot stand this test 

 a new introduction is only an innovation — a novelty, and not 

 an improvement of real worth and national value. 



If Mr. Pink's pamphlet is productive of good, it will be by 

 stimulating inquiry and in fostering deeper thought amongst 

 cultivators as to how they can best, and in the mobt practical 

 manner, produce the greatest supply of superior produce at 

 the least cost. That will not be by performing a surgical 

 operation on the eyes of Eureka. 



But, it may be urged that all new Potatoes must have a 

 trial. True : the Americans have had a trial, and what is the 

 result? Let those who have to purchase in the markets of 

 cities and towns answer. Is the standard of quality improved 

 in the greengrocers' shops ? Is the supply in London better 

 than it was ten years ago? nay, is it not worse? Are there no 

 "Early Roses" sold to the multitude as "Flukes," and at 

 Fluke prices? When an affirmative reply must be given to 

 the latter questions, and a negative to the former, then the 

 improvements have shown themselves in a singular manner, 

 and after a period of trial has been sufficient to create an 

 effect. 



It is unfortunately pretty clear that the foreign novelties 

 have been over-eetimated. They are for " show " rather than 

 for real service, and it is not a " benefit to horticulture " to 

 exalt them above their sphere and to impart to them a value 

 that they do not possess. 



Managers of Potato shows, and the judges of those shows, 

 need to exercise great discrimination, or they will fail in their 

 purpose of improving the Potato. That is their aim, and it is 

 a laudable one ; but at all great Potato gatherings prizes are 



awarded to dishes that would not be permissible on a gentle- 

 man's table. The prizes may be given to the " best " in the 

 classes, but that best represents too often a low type of quality. 

 That many new sorts are imposing in appearance is willingly 

 admitted, and that others are good is not disputed, and especi- 

 ally those of our countryman Mr. Fenn. The cultivation of 

 new sorts gives pleasure, and the exhibiting of the tubers 

 affords an enjoyable field day to the growers and the public ; 

 but exhibitions can only be made instructive by special care 

 and discrimination, lest a fictitious value be given under the 

 stamp of authority to sorts that cannot eventually serve any 

 useful purpose. 



As to offering prizes of the nature of those championed by 

 Mr. Pink in his pamphlet, they can no more " benefit horti- 

 culture" than would prizes for the greatest weight of Cabbages 

 from an ounce of seed, where Robinson's Champion Cattle 

 Cabbage would inevitably triumph, while Early York and 

 other small sorts of superior quality would have to hide their 

 " diminished heads," and be dishonoured. 



In conclusion, let it be nbted that this has, like the pamphlet 

 which suggested it, been written solely in the "interests of 

 truth" and for the " benefit of horticulture." 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



FoKcisG Salads. — The increasing demand for the different 

 kinds of salad plants at all seasons of the year is one of my 

 reasons for making a few remarks upon some of the best and 

 most convenient modes of raising them for use ; and the next 

 is, that aa in most instances the more substantial ingredients 

 of the salad bowl which are grown in summer, such as Lettuces 

 and the different sorts of Endive, will by this time be nearly 

 exhausted, that it is time to think of supplying their place with 

 others in a forced state. I will therefore begin with 



Chicory. — This ia a root much like a Carrot in shape, and 

 should be grown in rich ground in summer, taken up in autumn, 

 and stored up in a similar manner to other roots; but the 

 crowns ought not to be cut off so closely as to interfere with 

 their growth, as it ia from these that the produce comes when 

 forced. For forcing the roots may be planted in soil on a bed 

 of heating material, also in any heated house or frame; or for 

 an amateur perhaps the moat convenient way would be to pot a 

 few roots, say a dozen in each pot, and place them in the forcing 

 house, turning another pot over this to keep them dark, which 

 in all cases must be done in order to have the leaves properly 

 blanched. One inexpensive mode is, when a good heap of leaves 

 can be brought together, to dig a space sufficiently large, in the 

 middle of it put some soil in, and when the heat is rising 

 moderately plant the roots. Bank up the leaves high enough 

 on er.ch side to support a covering — this may be a thatched 

 hurdle — and afterwards covered with leaves or rough litter to 

 keep the heat iu. Than this there is no better plan for raising 

 Chicory. Violent heat ia to be guarded against, for this root is 

 easily excited into growth. Next in popularity are 



JJ<j(?is7ifs.— These require heat if wanted early, but they also 

 need hght and to be grown near the glass. It is not, however, 

 necessary to make up a bed specially for them, as they being 

 scon over may be grown with other crops, such aa Early Horn 

 Carrots, Potatoea, or even with Asparagus; when these crops 

 are planted sow the Radish seed among them and lightly cover 

 it; the Eadishea are aoon up, and with a little care are quickly 

 in for use. Wood's Early Frame, the French Breakfast, and 

 Oval-shaped Scarlet are desirable aorta; the scarlet and whita 

 ■Tui-nip Radishes may also be relied upon. If a large and constant 

 supply of Radiahea ia required it will be necesaary to make beds 

 on purpoae for them at this early season. 



Lettuces. — Though these are not generally forced they are so 

 very important in a salad that it is necessary to take every pos- 

 sible means to obtain them at all seasons. I am now using 

 Wheeler's Tom Thumb, a Cabbage Lettuce, and the Siberian Cos, 

 which were sown late and have been planted out under tempo- 

 rary covering and protected from frost, and a framefol of Bath 

 Cos is in store for succession. To succeed these another crop 

 must be sown under protection as soon as possible. The shelter 

 afforded by a cold frame is all that ia required. The plants 

 must be grown thinly and advanced steadily, or they run up so 

 delicate as not to produce hearts and are therefore worthlese ; 

 and again, in every garden there ought to be a store planted 

 out under walla. I always make it a practice of raising a good 

 number of plants of the small Cabbage kind, and I have always 

 proved them useful. 



Mustard and Cress is ever in demand, because if not generally 

 employed in salads it is used by itpelf. It can be raised in 

 nearly any place where there is a temperature above 40°. The 

 seeds should be sown regularly over the surfaces of shallow 

 boxes or pans, and then pressed into the soil by some flat 

 inetrument and not covered, but be kept watered ; the seeds soon 

 germinate even in a dark place, when the pans can be brought 



