1872 The Western Pomologist ami Gardener. 37 



We correct Mr. Bliss & Son's description by saying, " a late potatoe, skin clean, clear 

 ■white, very much so ; never russet, flesh white, mealy when boiled, grows large, and very 

 productive." 



TVe have at Ithica, New York, two potatoes, the Peerless and the Danby Excelsior. 

 Whether the Danby Excelsior is the same as that of other persons I will not say. But 

 this is certain, the Danby Excelsior is with deeper eyes, has no crinkles on the skin, yet so 

 closely resembles the Peerless, tliat even those here who have rai.sed both, cannot tell 

 with absolute certainty, the one from the other, when mixed in a box or barrel. The 

 Danby Excelsior isthree weeks earlier than the Peerless, and they differ widely in the leaves 

 and vines. Partisans claim tlie best for each. And if this is the case, it is easy for similar 

 seedlings to be sold, and the unfavorable report of certain croakers to be correct, as they 

 have not the genuine article. I am sure I want no better potato than the Peerless. The 

 Danby Excelsior has thousands of potato seed balls, and has crowds of white seedlings. 

 It is remarkable for that. Both are widely disseminated in this vicinity. But the Peer- 

 less is the neatest and the best, in my opinion, and can be had for seed. 



Seeds for the Garden— Vitality— Hoiv to Test. 



By \V. II. W., HAr.TFOKi) Co., Conn. 

 Ed. Pomologist and Gardener : —We have shown that it is important to have seeds 

 true to kind, and pure ; yet with this precaution the crop may fail from the seed being 

 unsound from some particular, either in growing, pre.serving, or otherwise. All failures 

 of seed to grow and produce the desired variety or quality are occasions of much loss in 

 various wa3's, and mortification. You purchase your seed of the dealer, and if it fails to 

 come up you have no redress, as would be the case were it not true to kind, for there is 

 no proof against the vitality being injured after you became possessed of it. The most 

 positive and safe way is to test all seeds by sprouting previous to sowing, yet many seeds 

 will show by their looks, or by sinking or otherwise in water, whether good or otherwise. 

 Take some damp moss or moist, loose dirt, and intermix a certified number of seeds ; 

 place it in a warm location where the rays of the sun will fall on it a portion or all of the 

 day, and in a few days it may be determined what proportion have germinated. Seeds 

 may germinate and yet not have sufficient of the vital principle to produce a strong, 

 healthy plant ; here is another source of disappointment, which can scarcely be guarded 

 against, unless we use the most observant care in trying them ; Strong, healthy seed will 

 throw out shoots rapidly, with a strong, healthy look, while those less strong will grow 

 with correspondingly less vigor. Seeds may germinate in a hot-bed, in moss or soil in a 

 warm room, and yet not in the open ground, the soil being too cold, or there being so 

 little of the vital principle in the seed that a greater degree of heat is required to warm 

 it into life. All seeds require a certain degree of temperature in order to germinate ; if 

 the soil does not supplj- this the seed lies dormant till the soil attains the requisite tem- 

 perature, or else the seed rots! DiflTerent varieties of seeds, or seeds of diflerent classes of 

 plants, germinate at difTerent temperatures, so that in planting it is important to know 

 the requisite temperature of the various kinds we would plant. Johnson, in his " How 

 Crops Grow," says : "A certain range of warmth is essential to the sprouting of a seed." 

 He gives the lowest temperature of the pea as 44.5 degrees, and most rapid germination at 

 84 degrees. Corn, lowest 48 degrees, most rapid 93 degrees. Squash, lowest 54 degrees, 

 most rapid 93 degrees, and for all agricultural plants cultivated in New England, a range 

 of temperature of from 55 to 90 degrees is adopted for healthy and speedy germination. 



Children and Flowers, — "It is as natural for children to love flowers as it is for them 

 to breathe and delight in frolicsome sports and bright sunshine. Every man of an 

 observing mind must liave noticed this characteristic and beautiful trait of childhood. If 

 any one for a moment doubts this inborn love of flowers so frequently displayed by chil- 

 dren, let him carry a fine boquet by a group of them while at play, and see how quickly 

 their attention will be arrested. Notice how they will pause in their sports, and how 

 eagerly they will eye the treasure in your possession." 



