io8 THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



which almost completely defies the peronospora. These kinds belong, 

 however, chiefly to the main-crop or late-growing class, and thus we 

 reach the conclusion that, although we cannot stamp out the disease, 

 because it is developed by meteorological conditions over which we 

 have no control, yet the foe which cannot be annihilated may be 

 evaded. This is partly accomplished by sound cultivation as already 

 remarked on, but the good work may be continued by raising and 

 maintaining in the fullest vigour those varieties that do not readily 

 succumb to influences that have so often devastated the Potato 

 crop. Since the introduction of Button's Magnum Bonum Potato 

 there is a disposition to believe in ' Disease-proof Potatoes.' There 

 is no such thing absolutely, and perhaps there never will be, any 

 more than there is a disease-proof wheat, or rye, or dog, or horse, or 

 man. But varieties of Potatoes differ in their relative liability to 

 attack, and it has been one of our aims to secure from amongst 

 thousands of carefully selected seedlings varieties combining the 

 highest cropping and table qualities with the least liability to disease, 

 in seasons when the conditions favour the spread of the fungus. 

 Scientific men have not yet explained why the varieties differ in this 

 respect, but practical men have discovered that initial vigour of growth 

 is the main defence against the plague. It is sufficient here to say 

 that as the growing of a good variety costs no more than the growing 

 of a poor variety, the cultivator should bestow his care on the very 

 best that he can obtain, for a little extra cost for seed in the first 

 instance is as nothing to the multiplied chances of success a good 

 variety carries with it. To sum up this subject, then, we say that 

 disease may be avoided in the early crops by cultivating sorts which 

 may be lifted before the plague generally appears ; and on soils which 

 will not produce an early crop, only such varieties should be grown 

 as have been proved to be practically free from its attacks. For 

 these let there be a dry, warm bed, sufficient food, the fullest exposure 

 to the life-giving powers of light and conditions favourable to early 

 ripening, and having secured these we have made ourselves in a great 

 degree safe against disease. 



PUMPKIN (See GOURD, page 59) 



