Review of Loudon's Gardener^s Magazine. 305 



growing state, than the common methods of having so much old wood 

 upon them. It will he seen by this regular method of winter pruning, 

 that the summer pruning can be done in much less time, which is also 

 an advantage, by my method of performing ; which is, to pinch off all 

 the laterals which may appear below the fruit, and one bud above it ; 

 continuing to pinch off all above the next bud, as the plants grow, for 

 the whole season. With regard to the number of bunches which I 

 would allow to grow on each fruiting spur, it should be all that set well, 

 as the vines will be able to bring to maturity almost all the fruit they 

 show, if treated in the manner I have endeavored to describe." 



Article 1 1 is a plan for growing Potatoes and Dahlias on the 

 same ground and in the same season. We believe this system is 

 pursued by some of the florists in Philadelphia ; at least, we have 

 been so informed. We have no doubt it will answer well ; and 

 to some persons who wish to combine the useful and ornamental, 

 and who have but a Hmited piece of groimd, it may prove an ex- 

 cellent mode. 



" In the autumn, when the leaves have nearly all fallen from the trees 

 and shrubs, and the seedling weeds are near coming to seed, I fork over 

 all the spare ground where crops have been growing, which leaves it in 

 a neat state during the winter. In February I plant my potatoes (the 

 early Shaws), which I generally put into the ground whole ; but, if the 

 potato is large, I divide it by drawing the knife through the middle of 

 the cluster of eyes at the end of the potato. I begin jjlanting the large 

 beds, having the first row a convenient distance from the edge ; after 

 setting down the line, I dig a trench without treading upon the spade, 

 and, as I come back, clean out the trench to about four inches deep, t 

 put in the sets, then remove the line three feet or three feet and a half, 

 and dig another trench in the same manner, having a wooden rake by 

 me to pull in the earth over the sets, and rake the ground even as the 

 work of planting goes on. I next remove the line two feet, and dig 

 another trench, which leaves but sutlicient space for the moulding 

 up of the potatoes. I next remove the line three or three and a 

 half feet, and so on. As soon as the potatoes are grown a sufficient 

 height to be seen, I fork the ground one fork wide on each side of the 

 row, bj^ thrusting in the fork and pressing it down, so as to raise the 

 earth, and thus leave it, not to throw it out. Wlien the plants are 

 sufficiently high, I mould them up, observing to mould them highest 

 on the wide side, so as to give the stalks an inclination to fall between 

 the narrow rows, where they are to be kept, so that one side of each 

 row may have the full benefit of light and air. About the middle of 

 May, I put on between the wide rows a slight coat of dung, and dig it 

 in close to the moulding of the potatoes. By this plan the potatoes do 

 not get at the dung, until they are in a fit state to bear it without injuring 

 their flavor. I plant the dahlias five feet asunder between the wide 

 rows of potatoes, placing a stake about two feet high to each plant, for 

 the purpose of supporting it, and marking the place where a taller stake 

 is afterwards to be placed. In July and August the potatoes are taken 

 up, and the ground cleared. If the weather should be dry, and the 

 dahlias likely to require water, I then make basins round the plants be- 

 fore levelling the soil. Since I have adopted this plan, I have had a 

 more abundant crop of potatoes, and of better flavor ; and, instead of 

 the ground appearing as if lying waste after they are gathered, I have 

 something to look at. As my garden rises on each side from the centre 

 walk, I can assure you the dahlias, when the colors are well mixed, 

 make a very pretty appearance." 



VOL. II. NO. VIII. 39 



