22 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 
[Jan. 10, 
such of our botanical works as do not profess to rise 
above the rank of mere manuals, and say whether we 
do not already suffer under the misfortune that attends 
a dazzling supply of i floods of light—th 
ealamity of darkness. Verily, botanists have forgotten 
the story of thé ambitious Semele.—F. A. M., Pùl- 
borough. 
Potato Sets.—A much greater quantity of sets are 
used, in a general .way, than is requisite, usually 
about 17 ewt. per acre. By adopting the following me- 
thod of planting, which I can confidently recommend, 
having proved it myself repeatedly on a moderate scale 
in field culture, a very great saving of sets may be 
made without risking the crop. The plan I adopted 
was this :_When the land was properly cultivated and 
in order for planting, I caused holes to be dug 4 feet 
apart every way; in each hole was placed a spade-full 
of good rotten dung, which was mixed up with the soil, 
and on the top a set containing all the crown eyes of a 
good sized Potato, which was covered a few inches. 
When the plants were a few inches high, they were 
spread abroad and covered up to the top shoots with 
fine mould. As they grew they were spread and 
. earthed again, which was repeated a third time, when 
the whole earth from the intervals was heaped around 
them. ‘The crop proved a very good one after the rate 
of 17 tons per acre, as near as I ean recollect. The 
expense was little, if any, greater than by the usual 
mode of hand culture. The following calculation will 
show how great a saving of seed may be effected :—If 
the sets are placed 4 feet apart every way, the rows 
. will be about 3 feet 53 inches apart, and anacre will re- 
quire 3143 sets, which at 2 oz. each will weigh 34 ewt. 
But should any one, disposed to try this method, think 
the distance of 4 feet too great, and prefer 3 feet, then 
the rows will be 2 feet 74 inches distance, and 5588 
sets will be required, weighing 6 ewt. 0 qrs. 26 lbs, The 
sets should consist of the cluster. of erown-eyes only, 
otherwise the crop will be very irregular. In corrobo- 
ration of the above I will quote a sentence from Cur- 
wen's “Economy of Feeding Stock.” He was a very 
extensive grower of Potatoes. “Potatoes, which are 
my most important crop, I plant in beds 3 feet long by 
2 feet broad, giving 44 feet lengthways, and 3 feet end- 
ways in quineunxes, so that the plough ean work in every 
direction.” It is true this is not a very clear descrip- 
tion, but it seems to allude to a method similar to the 
above in principle at least.— Lusor. 
Potato Fungus.—Botrytis infestans has now dis- 
appeared from my Potatoes, and is replaced by a spe- 
cies of Fusarium. I do not find the diseased Potatoes 
vegetate well, now vegetation is languid. The shoots 
do not grow fast enough to escape the influence of the 
diseased matter with which they.are in: contact, and in 
most cases after a week or two they perish. This was 
not the case eight weeks ago, when the shoots grew 
rapidly and were soon supported by their own roots, 
Sound Potatoes buried on the Ist of November in a box 
with highly diseased individuals, when examined yes- 
terday (Jan. 1), were perfectly sound, and individuals 
inoculated both with the Botrytis and a Fusarium, sent 
me from Ireland, remain: precisely as they were when 
committed to the ground. six weeks since.—M. J. 
Berkeley. j 
Planting Potatoes.—l beg to forward the result of a 
few experiments in planting Potatoes with different 
inds of manures. The produce was very slightly 
affected by the disease of the late season, but still suffi- 
ciently so to occasion some allowance to be made in 
favour of a better crop being produced in a healthier 
one. They were planted last March, and the sort was the 
Jersey Blue. One fine tuber I planted whole, in a well 
dug spot, with well deeayed farm-yard manure, laid into 
a hollow and spread round, so as to permit the roots to 
be.equally fed. I think the trenches generally eut for 
Potato planting are too narrow, and that the roots on 
two sides of the tuber outgrow the extent of manure. 
The second tuber I cut in two, and similarly planted. 
The third, a eut set, I planted in guano, well mixed with 
the soil. The fourth, a whole teber was similarly treated. 
The first yielded 9$ lbs. of extremely fine Potatoes ; 
two of the number weighed each 14 lbs., and not the 
least hollow. The seeond produced 7$ lbs., but not so 
large asthe first. The third gave 5} lbs. of average 
size. The fourth produced five small Potatoes the size 
of Walnuts.— Tweed. 
Autumn Planting Potatoes.—Y have forwarded to- 
day a small barrel of different sorts of Dévonshire early 
Potatoes, fit for immediate planting, in order that you 
may have an opportunity of testing the truth of your 
remarks on this subject in last year’s Chronicle. I 
have no doubt that the plan will succeed. I followed 
it on a small scale, and found that by making use of 
whole tubers (although I planted them early in the 
month of December), they stood the test of the severe 
frost, and produced an abundant crop early in the fol. 
lowing year. At the same time I also planted, as an 
experiment, some eut sets, but found they could not 
stand the winter, and consequently did not succeed. 
I also tried the coiling system, and I have no hesitation 
insaying that it will answer ; the offsets will produce 
a crop, if the plan is resorted to as early in the season 
as possible. But the trial I made was done rather too 
late, for although I found that I had from every joint 
of the stalk abundance of small Potatoes, yet they did 
not come to perfection, But, as I observed before, 
have no doubt that if the stalk from the parent stock be 
taken off early, planted carefully and earthed up regu- 
larly, a good crop can be produced, which, I think, will 
LI 
Rose Cottage, Woodbury. 
ocieties. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 
Nov. 7, 1845.—Epwarp Dovusrepay, Esq., 
VP; 
.L.S., in the chair. 
The Secretary announced that 
| foreign plants had been received from Mr. R. J. Shut- 
tleworth, M. Guthnich, and Dr. Baird; and British 
plants from Mr. Wardale, Mr. Noteutt, Mr. G. S. 
Gibson, Mr. Bentall, Mr. Watkins, and Mr. Robinson. 
Read— Notice of the Discovery of Carlina racemosa " 
Linn.), in Ireland in August last, by W. Andrews, 
Esq., M.R.I.A., corresponding member of the Society. 
A specimen was exhibited. ; ` 
STAMFORD HILL, CLAPTON, AND STOKE 
NEWINGTON GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION. 
December 8.—Mr. C. Tanz in the chair. This being 
the night on which Mr. Paul, of Cheshunt, had. promised 
to deliver a lecture on the History and Cultivation of the 
Rose, there were at least one hundred gardeners pre- 
sent, besides visitors, The subjectiwas of considerable 
length,and was treated of with great perspicuity by Mr. 
Paul, under the four following heads. Ist, the History 
of the Rose; 2ndly, Remarks ou the formation of the 
Rosetum, and the arrangement of Roses generally ; 
3dly, the Practice of Cultivation; and 4thly, a select 
List of Varieties suited for various purposes, In the 
opening of the lecture allusion was made to the very 
general manner in which the Rose was distributed over 
the earth’s surface ; it inhabits every quarter of the 
globe. Itwas then shown to have been a flower held in 
the highest esteem by the ancients, by passages drawn 
from the Jewish and Greek writers. The Egyptians, it 
also appeared,cultivated Roses largely,and'sent quantities 
them annually to Rome. ‘The Romans became 
eventually so enthusiastically fond of this flower, that 
they used to strew their rooms with it, and take their 
meals resting upon Rose-leaves. They also adorned the 
statues of their deities, and even themselves with crowns 
and garlands of Roses. The degree of knowledge the 
ancient culti nd philosop l writers appear to 
have possessed of the principles of cultivation was shown 
by allusion to the writings of Theophrastus and Pliny ; 
the former stating it to have been customary'in Greece 
to set fire to the Rose-trees to cause them to flower; and 
the latter that the art of forcing consisted in watering 
the plants with warm water. Mr. P. then adverted to 
the cultivation of Roses in France and elsewhere, and 
finally in our own country. He drew a parallel between 
the Rose-Catalogues of former times and those of the 
present day, showing the advantages of the latter, and 
commending their mode of classification on floricultural 
grounds alone. With regard to the botany of the Rose 
the audience were referred to Lindley's “ Botanical 
History of Roses,” and Loudon's * Arboretum‘et Fruti- 
cetum Britannicum.” Each group into which the 
Rose stands divided according to the Rose-grower’s 
catalogues of the present day, was then brought 
under notice, and briefly commented on; their 
date of introduction, and the purposes for which 
each were suited being given. In the Rosetum the sim- 
plest forms of clumps were recommended. Those in 
the Jardin du Luxembourg, at Paris, and at the seat of 
G. J.B sq. Broxbornebury, Herts, were 
spoken of in high terms of praise. In the formation of 
a Rosetum of any size, Mr. Paul considered it best to 
keep the summer and autumn blooming Roses distinct, 
dividing them by planting a row of Pillar Roses be- 
tween, thus forming two separate gardens, In the 
the event of walks intervening, arches and rustic bowers 
might be formed by training the latter up and over wire, 
supported by Larch poles as cut from the woods. It 
was also recommended to plant a few dwarfs among the 
standards, when arranging large beds, to prevent the 
unsightly appearance of a broad surface of ground lying 
exposed to view. In dwarf Roses, where a group of 
clumps is formed on a lawn, each clump should be filled 
with plants of one colour only, taking care to have the 
colours well contrasted in the whole. In planting single 
clumps, mixed colours were desirable. Standard Roses, 
planted in single lines ‘in avenues, or at intervals in 
herbaceous borders, were approved of. Weeping Roses 
were described as very ornamental when planted singly 
on lawns, and climbing Roses, on terrace-walks in ave- 
nues ; the latter may be planted 3 feet apart in the row, 
and when the plants have reached the height of 6 or 8 
feet, every alternate one should be removed ; fine chains 
may then be stretched the length of the line, and fes- 
toons formed, producing a beautiful effect. Under the 
third head, the practice of cultivation, the tyro was 
advised, when forming a collection, to consider first his 
situation and soil, and then the object he had in view ; 
such varieties should then be selected as are likely to 
thrive in such situation, and answer the end desiderated. 
Thus, in bad soils or situations, the delicate varieties 
should not be planted, though they need not be ex- 
cluded from the collection ; they may be grown in pots. 
And, again, a very different description of varieties are 
necessary, when exhibition is the end in view, to those 
wanted to create a great display in the garden. The 
improvement of soils, and necessity of thorough drainage, 
were then hinted at. As Roses delight ina rich soil, they 
should be manured once every year, in winter if the ma- 
nure be applied in à solid, and in spring, if in a liquid state. 
After fresh planting, mulching was thought highly bene- 
ficial. The two chief points in pruning, namely, the 
formation of a handsome tree, and the obtaining an 
abundance of good flowers followed next, To secure 
rated references to authors and systems, abounding in | be worth a trial in these times of scarcity.—£. ‘Eardley, | the first point it is necessary to begin operating. when 
the plant is quite young ; a certain number of shoots, 
varying from three to seven, according to the strength 
of the plant, should be marked out as standing at equal 
and greatest distances, when the remaining shoots 
should be cut clean out. Close pruning was recom- 
mended for the small-growing varieties, and the reverse 
for the strong ones. Moderately close pruning was 
likely to produce the finest flowers. Spring was the 
season preferred for pruning, The next point brought 
under notice was the raising of seedlings, which it was 
shown could be done with complete success in England. 
In reference to Roses in pots numerous advantages 
were alluded to as gained by this mode of culture ; the 
soil recommended for this purpose was two-thirds fresh 
turfy loam, not too light, and one-third manure. The 
use of a cold pit was deemed advisable for the Chinese 
and Tea-seented varieties, Forcing was the last point 
of cultivation alluded to, Early in January it was 
thought the best time to commence applying in the first 
instance a, steady gentle heat, the temperature to be 
gradually raised till it ranged from 60° to 70° by day 
and from 40° to 50° by night ; daily syringing was ne- 
cessary, and fumigation with tobacco whenever the 
green fly appeared. Mr. Paul concluded his lecture by 
giving the subjoined list of varieties, which he considers 
best adapted for the purposes specified :—12 first-rate 
Summer Roses. Moss: Celina, Alice, Le Roi; Gal- 
lica: Boula de Nanteuil, Columella, D'Aguesseau, 
Princess Clementine ; Alba: La Séduisante ; Hybrid 
China: Brennus, William Jesse, Coupe d'Hébé, Made- 
ine. 12 first-rate AuruwNAL Roses. Du Roi, Madame 
Laffay, Duchess of Sutherland, Lady A. Peel, La Reine;. 
Noisette : "Aimée Vibert, Lamarque ; Bourbon: Ma- 
dame Nerard, Paul Joseph, Souchet; China: Mrs. Bosan- 
quet; Thé: Devoniensis, 12 Goop Harpy Roses suit- 
able for growing in the immediate neighbourhood of Lon- 
don. H. China: Fulgens, Marie de Nerroa, Velours Epis- 
copale, Madame Plantier, Chenédolé, Paul Perras ; M. 
Perpetual: Edward Jesse, Lady Fordwich; Noisette z 
Aimée Vibert, Fellenberg, Cerise, Castalie. 12 Good 
Varieties for Por CurrunE— Gallico: Latour d'Au- 
vergne; H. Perpetual: Due d'Aumale, Marquesa 
Boccella; H. China: Richelieu, Coupe d'Hébé ; China: 
Cramoisie S; i Eugéne Beaul is; Bourbon z 
Queen, Theresita, Proserpine, La Gracieuse ; Thé: 
Don Carlos. 12 Varieties for Forcina—Moss : Com- 
mon; Hybrid Perpetual: Madame Laffay, Louis 
Bonaparte, Melanie Cornu; Hybrid China: Charles 
Duval, William Jesse; ZVoisetfe: Smith's Yellow ; 
Bourbon: Acidalie; The: Princesse Héléne, Marie 
de Medicis, Eugene Desgaches. 12 CLIMBING Roses for 
Covzniwa Banks or Fences—Ayrshire : Ruga, Splen- 
dens, Dundee Rambler, Angle Blush, Queen of the 
Belgians, Countesse of Lieven, Miller's Climber, La ' 
Rampante; Semperflorens: Félicité perpetuelle, Brunoni, 
Banksiana, Leopoldine d'Orleans. 12 Good Prrra& 
Rosrs—H. China: Coccinea Superba, Victor Hugo 5. 
Chatelaine, Beauty of Billiard, Henri Barbet, Richelieu; i 
M 
erdice ; Noisette : Felliurius, Cadot, La Biche, Roth- 
anger; Bourbon: Gloire de Rosaméne, Madame Des- 
prez. 12 Varieties, forming good SrANDARDS, nearly 
evergreen-—/7. China: Belle Marie, Hippocrates, Gen. : 
Kleber, Magna rosea, Belle de St. Cyr ; H. Perpetual :- 
Prudence Reser; Bourbon: Phoenix, Etoile de 
Lyons ; Noisette: Amenia, Henry V.; China: Belle 
Elvire, Louis Philippe d' Angers. 12 of the LATEST 
Broows—China: Cramoisie Superieure, Belle Elvire, 
Louis Philippe d' Angers; Mrs. Bosanquet; Noisette z: 
Fellenberg, L’ Angevine; JJ. Perpetual: Edward 
Jesse; Bourbon: Celimene, Emile Courtier, Henne- 
quin, Ceres, Amarantine. 
Davoust; Ayrshire: Ruga, Spiendens ; Boursault : 
Elegans, Gracilis; Musk: Princesse de Nassau; 
Semperflorens : Alba plena, Donna Maria, Léopoldine 
Q Orleans, Myriantha Ré le, Brunoni, Banksi 
— W. Sherwood, Honorary Secretary. 
Rebietog. 1 
The Fruits and Fruit trees of America: or the Culture, 
P tion, and Mi in the Garden and 
Orchard, of Fruit trees generally ; with descriptions 
of all the finest varieties of Fruit, native and foreign, 
cultivated in this country (America). A. J. 
Downing. New York and London: Wiley and Put- 
iss} 
E 
nam. $vo. 
Tas is a handsome, well printed, well illustrated 
volume, of 600 pages, full of useful information for fruit 
cultivators generally, as well as for those in America, to: 
whom it is more especially adapted. “It is fortunate 
for an author,” it is observed in the Preface, “in this- 
practical age, when his subject requires no explanation 
to show its downright usefulness. When I say I 
heartily desire that every man should cultivate an 
orchard, or, at least, a tree of good fruit, it is not- 
necessary that I should point out how much both him- 
self and the public will be, in every sense, the gainers.. - 
The first object, then, of this work is to increase the 
taste for the planting and cultivation of fruit-trees. The 
second one is to furnish a manual for those who, already 
more or less informed upon the subject, desire some 
work of reference to guide them in the operations of 
culture, and in the selections of varieties. The country 
abounds with collections of all the finest foreign varie 
ties, yet there are many in utter ignorance of most of 
these fruits, who seem to live under some ban of expul- 
sion from all the fair and goodly productions of the 
garden. Happily the number is every day lessening; 
the planting of fruit-trees in some of the newest States 
numbers nearly a quarter of a million in a single year.” - 
12 Weerine Rosrs—Laura . 
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