318 MASSACHUSETTS IIOUTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



prevent it. Heavy dews, rains, fogs, and excessive heat followed 

 b}' excessive moisture, favor its development, while during seasons 

 of protracted drought little is to be feared from its attacks. Many 

 fungi, it is said, have a limited period of growth, or develop only 

 at certain seasons of the year. If this is so, earl}- planting may 

 secure a crop against the ravages of a late growing fungus, while 

 the attacks of an early fungus may be avoided by pursuing an 

 opposite course. This theory was well illustrated the past season 

 in the grounds of the writer. Where early planting was resorted 

 to the crop was entirely free fi'om disease, maturing before the 

 atmospheric conditions favorable to the growth or development of 

 the germs were present. From the experience of the past, early 

 planting of such varieties as mature earl}' is to be recommended, 

 and promises the best results. 



It is perhaps difficult to decide, with our present knowledge, 

 whether deterioration and loss of vigor, occurring to a variety 

 in course of cultivation, are owing to constitutional tendency, or are 

 the result of faulty methods of cultivation. Certain it is, however, 

 that many varieties of the potato, formerly famous and profitable, 

 have disappeared from cultivation and have been supplanted by 

 new-comers. Every year witnesses the introduction of many new 

 varieties, most of which are no better, if as good, as already 

 existing standard sorts. The old Jackson White, Carter, and the 

 once unexcelled Chenango or Mercer, had to give wa}- to such 

 varieties as the Early Goodrich, Davis Seedling, and Gleason, 

 which in their turft have disappeared to make room for the Early 

 Rose, Hebron, Clark, and others, and if we are allowed to judge 

 from the experience of the past, these favorites of the present day 

 will before long have to yield their places to newer varieties fresh 

 from the seed. 



Each year brings out many new kinds of Peas, some of them old 

 varieties under new names, while others are actual new sorts of 

 great value, and it would be injudicious not to give them a fair 

 trial, as we may reasonably expect that really meritorious varieties 

 will arise, and should be substituted for inferior sorts. It may be 

 considered a very poor year if our P^nglish friends on the other 

 side of the water do not succeed in sending us at least a half 

 dozen new varieties for trial. Among these new comers Laxton's 

 Evolution, shown here for the first time by the Chairman, ma}' be 

 mentioned as one of the handsomest and best. It originated with 



