CHAP. Ill VILLA GARDENING 411 



between the rows it -was not enough, as the rows on the outside of 

 the plot proved when the crop was lifted. 



Potatoes for the TaUe. — Royal Ashleaf, Myatt's Prolific, Forty 

 Fold, Beauty of Hebron, Sutton's Early Regent, White Elephant, 

 Schoolmaster, Excelsior, International, Magnum Bonum, Reading 

 Hero, and Champion. This list might be extended, but the above 

 have been selected for general usefulness as well as being good 

 croppers, and they are, to a certain extent, disease-resisting. Some 

 are good in one place and fail in others, but they will be found 

 fairly good all round. I do not care much for the White Elephant ; 

 but it does well and is liked in some places. 



Exhibition Potatoes. — Lady Truscot, Reading Russet, Snowdrop, 

 Radstock Kidney, Vicar of Laleham, Porter's Excelsior, Beauty of 

 Hebron, International, Vermont Champion, Schoolmaster, Sutton's 

 Early Regent, Matchless, Red Emperor, Sutton's First and Best, 

 Queen of the Valley, American Purple, Myatt's Prolific, Triumph, 

 Pearl, and Pride of the JMarket. 



Diseases. — The ciui is a veiy old complaint, and the wireworm 

 has now and again made his presence felt. There was not much 

 to complain of tiU the fungus now known as Peronospora infestans 

 made its appearance in 1845, 1 think — I am writing from memory 

 — and then for quite a number of years the prospects of both 

 Potato-growers and consumers were dismal. In looking back over 

 the intervening years and considering the various theories of cause 

 and the cure promulgated, it is rather amusing to see how little 

 came of all the nostrums. I believe the best thing I ever tried 

 was a dusting of newly-slaked lime over the foliage when the 

 disease first appeared, before the tubers were affected at aU ; but 

 the interval for the use of this is so limited that it is only useful 

 for a small garden patch. The real remedy for the Potato disease 

 is now in operation in many places, and it may be called improved 

 culture carried out by common-sense methods. Firstly, by select- 

 ing the right kind of soil, and giving it a thorough preparation by 

 deep cidture and trenching, as well as by exposure to sweeten and 

 pulverise it. Secondly, by selecting the best seeds and keeping 

 them in proper condition, so that no exhaustion takes place from 

 imdue growth — those kinds possessing vigour of constitution, as 

 denoted by strength of stems, to have the preference. Thirdlj', 

 by giving plenty of room when growing. These three sections 

 may be amplified so as to include everything common to first-class 

 cultiu'e. 



