Notes and Glcaninsrs. 



371 



American Seedling Potatoes in England. — With regard to some of 

 the more recent American seedling potatoes, W. F. Radclyflfe, an English writer, 

 makes the following statements : "The editors of 'The Gardener's Chronicle' 

 (London), having kindly forwarded to me four American seedling potatoes as 

 packed up in America, the following is my account of them, as far as I could 

 form an opinion of them by eyesight only. The potatoes arrived perfectly fresh. 

 The four sorts sent were the Early Rose, Climax, Bresee's No. 4, and Bresee's 

 Prolific. 



" The Early Rose is quite distinct from any European variety that I have 

 ever seen. It looks more like the Salmon Kidneys than any other of our varie- 

 ties ; but the eyes (small, like mole's eyes) are fixed on promontories ; whereas the 

 Salmon Kidneys have deep eyes, and are not so well formed. It appears to be 

 an early potato, and I should say a great cropper ; sure to be a favorite with poor 

 people, and probably may obtain with the ' upper ten.' It is of a dull rose color; 

 its flesh is white, with a purple streak, which portends quality. More I cannot 

 say at present ; but all that I can say conscientiously in its favor, after trial, I shall 

 be pleased to do. I say the same of the others. I never allow prejudices to 

 have the least ascendency over me. It is unworthy of noble Englishmen to run 

 down ' externs ' when they are deserving of our praise. 



"Climax is, like the former, many-eyed, but deep-eyed; a round, long potato, 

 somewhat yellow in its flesh, and occasionally hollow : it will, at least, make a 

 good cottager's potato. Soil makes a great difference in the color of the skins 

 and flesh of potatoes. 



" Bresee's No. 4. — This, so far as appearance goes, is a tuber ' to see once, 

 and dream of forever.' It is a squarish oblong flattened round, or flattened 

 square with the edges rounded off; the eyes are but little depressed ; the skin 

 is white and smooth ; and the flesh is white and firm. If the flavor is good, it 

 will take the highest place among non-kidneys. It obtained a certificate from the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, as did also the next. The tubers have 

 been sold at a fabulous price in the United States. 



" Bresee's Prolific is a most perfect potato : I think it is one of the best that I 

 ever saw. Its eyes are less depressed than those of the former. I could not find a 

 fault with it, except that, in a friendly way, its skin might be a little whiter. Its 

 flesh is white and firm. It looks like an earlier sort than the former. As far as 

 appearance goe^, they do immense credit to America. In a word, I never saw 

 nicer potatoes. It is difficult to describe the shapes of potatoes exactly. I 

 should call Prolific an oblong flattened round. Till I see whether the crops of 

 these potatoes are uniform, I must pause before I can fully praise." 



It is somewhat remarkable that the pear, though requiring more careful cul- 

 tivation than the apple, is in its different varieties much less restricted as to 

 locality. The best kinds of pears in Europe are generally the best in America; 

 while the number of European apples which succeed in this country forms a 

 small minority. Yet, among this limited number, the Red Astrachan is popular 

 throughout the country. We doubt whether there is an American apple that 

 succeeds so universally, north and south, east and west, as this Russian variety 



