48 THE, CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



can be grown in our ligtit loamy soils, but probably the season is not 

 warm enough. The best soil for potatoes is a rich loamy sand, not too 

 wet nor cold. The best fertilizing elements are nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid and potash. Nitrogen is obtained from the air, phosphoric acid 

 from bone meal, and potash from wood ashes. Chinese Yam. This 

 vegetable is valued mucli as a flowering vine. The tubers are valuable 

 for food, boiled or roasted. They will grow a second 'season if left in 

 the ground. 



The root crops have become of importance in Ontario, The sugar- 

 beet ranks high as food for cattle. In England the mangold-wurzel 

 is taking the place of turnips aS food for cattle. Koot crops are of 

 benefit in beeping the land clear. 



In reply to questions, Mr. Page said he thought Paris green was 

 best applied mixed with plaster of Paris. The Chinese yam could be 

 procured from Bliss, New York. Mr. Arnold tliought from experience 

 the Chinese yam was perfectly useless. Mr. Saunders, London, thought 

 the- best way to apply Paris green to potatoes as a destroyer of potato 

 bugs was by mixing it with water. Mr. Saunders spoke of a substitute 

 for Paris green called London purple, th-e main ingredient in it being 

 arsenic ; but it was variable in its acti'&n, and not so good as Paris 

 green. Mr. Jarvis, of Stratford, thought the Chinese yam was a failure, 

 and the sweet potato a delusion and a snare in this country. Eespecting- 

 the potato bug, Messrs. Buck, Ottawa, and Jarvis, Stratford, were 

 hopeful, saying they believed the insect was gradually disappearing 

 from those sectiotts. Mr. Saunders thought the insect enemies of the 

 bug were making great war on it, and the climate last year had been 

 adverse to^ its production. This appeared to be the opinion of a 

 majority of the gentlemen present. 



Mr. Page was pleased at the discussion his paper had brought out, 

 and believed the yam would make a pretty creeper, if otherwise 

 worthless. 



Mr. Woodward thought the Chinese yam would not be a success 

 as a vegetable, and that tliis climate is no^ suitable for the Colorado 

 beetle. 



ROSES. 



Mr. Beall, Lindsay, nanaed twenty-fow varieties of roses. 

 Mr. J. Wellington considered the Duchess of Edinburgh an excellent, 

 rose. The impi-ession that Canada is liat a country fo-r roses is not. 



