1844. 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



403 



nrirri TURAL SOCnSTY OF LONDON. 



RlH l L" ll/ \ _ nn »vr „TK« Third We 





Strict. t -- d , he opened for the recepuuu .» ».. ^.„..» a 



TXll have be,n admitted into the Garden of the Society by 

 T^ ^-21, Recent- street. 



<£\)t ggarPencrg^ Chronicle 



SATURD AY, JUN E 22, 1844. 



>. t -PTl\(iS FOR THK TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. 

 »> bt11 f R„yal Botanic Gardens. . 2 pm. 



pmiut. J^'7 9 .\Horticnltural . • . :<> m. 



phV SHOW.— U'1'.r.vFPDA'-, June 26 . Woolwich Floral. 



COUNTRY SHO 



the 



one part of the arrangements, there will be the same 

 in others. 



Prizes are offered for various Horticultural produc- 

 tions. Competitors appear ; their productions are ex- 



This time the sun of summer shone on 

 Meeting of the Horticultural Society in their 

 harden at Chis wick, and the 15th of June proved 

 as propitious as the gayest crowd could have desired. 

 The exhibitors had the honour of submitting their 

 productions to the inspection of His Majpsty the 

 King of [Saxony, who with their Royal Highnesses 

 Prince Albert, the Duchess of Gloucester, and the 

 Duke of Cambridge, spent about an hour and a half 

 in the tents. His Majesty and the Prince were 

 graciously pleased to express their gratification at 

 seein^ so many beautiful objects collected together. 

 Afte? the departure of the Royal visitors thirteen 

 thousand five hundred and seventeen persons entered 



the gardens. 



The full report of the Exhibition, which will be 

 found in another column, renders it unnecessary for 

 us to dwell upon it here. As usual, it combined all 

 that the wealth and skill of this great country could 



produce. 



The next and last meeting for the season will take 



place on the 13th of July, on which occasion His 

 Grace the Duke of Devonshire has again most kindly 

 expressed his intention of opening his beautiful 

 grounds to the visitors to the Society's garden. The 

 scene at Chiswick House, on the similar occasion last 

 year, was one of the most lovely it was ever our good 

 fortune to behold. 



The many letters which have reached us on the 

 subject of Village Horticultural Societies, since 

 we offered some remarks on the plan of management 

 observed at Pytchley (see p. 243, 1 844) have convinced 

 us that we in no degree over-estimated their import- 

 ance. It is undeniable that they exercise the best 

 effect upon the rural population, and contribute more 

 than any other thing, unless it is a good allotment 

 system, to improve substantially the condition of the 

 labouring poor. 



Considering the actual state of the Agricultural 

 population, it is hopeless to expect a favourable 

 change from any sudden and great measure of 

 government. That improvement which is so sadly 

 needed must be effected by the well-directed acts of 

 sensible men in all parts of the kingdom, each doing 

 his share of the good work in his own immediate 

 neighbourhood. As a correspondent, thoroughly 

 acquainted with the working of village Associations, 

 has well observed, H So long as people hunted for 

 riches by attempts at the Philosopher's Stone, 

 England was poor. But when wealth was sought 

 by small accumulations of minute profits, then began 

 the increase of England's mighty Capital Stock. In 

 like manner the comfort and elevation of our popu- 

 lation must be aimed at through the aggregation of 

 minute things (like the successive spadesful of earth 

 ln a rai \way embankment), if we would do anything 

 ot real importance in raising that population. The 

 *- n £hsh character is a noble one, if we draw out its 

 oetter parts, and give it honest independence, and 

 repress and discourage its bad parts. You may trust 

 ™ an Englishman, rich or poor, if you find the 

 avenue to his esteem and respect and confidence, and 



TV ) atis ^ cdt/lere « no humbug about the matter !'\ 

 inis last is a most important proviso, and explains, 

 we are sure, in almost all cases, the failure of attempts 

 I? maintain advantageously village Horticultural 

 societies. Humbug is not indeed a refined ex- 

 P ession, but it is one of very extensive application, 

 n r * Particularly suits the proceedings of ill-conducted 

 nirai fc„ow s A very few illustrations will put this 



p*i trueli .gnt 



Peonle neSS 1U J U(1 S in g is the first element of success. 

 favouralwT; co u ntent ed with awards, although un- 

 are Zrf , ° them > if they are certain that the judges 

 men Z y consci entious in their decisions. But if 



cnance of hoH tisfie i U P 0n this P oint ' ^ ^ t0 "" 

 much ex 1 1 8 lem ^ether. The poor are too 

 oeWin * t0 tricker Y elsewhere, to court it by 



are i£fp t0 Associa tions in which the judgments 

 fouWi n air r An< * yet ' sucn conversations as the 

 Rivethp g been heard : ~" ° h it wil1 never do t0 



it" or **\$u ze t0 Mr ■ for Lad y — ex P ects 



last timl' -\ y A -»y° u h ad the first prize for this 

 thines JT US my tl J rn this time -" fudges tell these 

 out 8 U-l"! 11 " 165 , when a litt] e quarrel has let secrets 

 natwaUv a 1 tns . but humbug? The poor will 

 ally co »clude that if there is such unfairness in 



cellent, according to their means ; but owing to a 



want of classification the most unequal and unfair 

 comparisons are drawn. Joe Bramble has some ex- 

 cellent Lettuces for a cottier, but the season has 

 been cold and dry. Mr. Cheeseman, the grocer, also 

 has Lettuces ; but then he has a handglass to put 

 over them. Both show, and poor Joe, who has no 

 handglass, is beaten. What is that but humbug; to 

 pretend to give prizes fairly, when, from the want of 

 classification among the exhibitors, the result is cer- 

 tain beforehand? Perhaps this does not often hap- 

 pen, but it does sometimes. The thing, however, is 

 common enough in another shape. 



In small provincial Societies, the tradesmen who 

 love flowers, have often not a chance. Their pro- 

 ductions are exceedingly good, but they may goto the 

 Show time after time in vain. And why ? Because 

 the head-gardener of the Squire, with hothouses, 

 greenhouses, and frames at command, regularly 

 sweeps every prize away. In such cases the judges 

 will not be to blame, for of course the flowers of the 

 great man of the village, and of the shopkeeper, will 

 not bear comparison. But the effect of such rules, or 

 want of rules, is most disastrous. The tradesman 

 with a taste for flowers, with Carnations, Dahlias, 

 Cacti, Pansies, &c. of sterling excellence, if com- 

 pared with ordinary gardens of thousands of country 

 gentlemen, is chagrined at the result, withdraws 

 from the Society, and is soured against his wealthy 

 neighbour. 



It may be very true that when rural Societies are 

 broken up, these causes are not assigned. It is not 

 every one who chooses to confess that his discontent 

 arises from awards the injustice or hardship of 

 which he cannot prove. Honest pride forbids it. 

 But every one conversant with this subject knows 

 very well that such things are usually at the bottom 

 of the matter. 



We would, therefore, advise the managers of 

 rural Societies to be strictly on their guard against 

 errors of this sort ; and, whatever their regulations 

 otherwise may be, to take care that the following are 

 part of them : — 



1. No exhibitor to be a judge. The judge to be ob- 

 tained, if practicable — and it is almost always practicable 

 — from a distance. That will insure the award against the 



charge of partiality. 



2. No person to be regarded as a cottager who gets 



his living otherwise than by daily labour. 



3. Proluctions obtained wholly in the open ground, 

 or under glass without fire or dung-heat, or in pi's or 

 houses artificially heated, to be exhibited and judged 

 independently of each other. 



4. Persons having no regular gardener not to exhibit 

 in the same class as those who have one or more regular 

 gardeners. 



We cannot but think that some fuch plan as this, 

 which, indeed, has been more or less adopted in the 

 most successful village Associations, would greatly 

 tend to hold people together, and render discontent 

 impossible. ^^ 



REMARKS ON POTATOES. 



The frequent failure of the Potato-crop of late, has 

 very justly alarmed cultivators of this valuable root, any- 

 thing affecting which, may be justly called a national 

 affair. However, in puzzling extremities we are apt to 

 search for far-fetched causes, when, perhaps, they are 

 few, simple, and close to our elbow. 



A correspondent (p. 344 of the current year), has 

 made some very useful remarks on the subject, in several 

 of which I heartily concur, but must be allowed to disa- 

 gree with him as to planting Potatoes in the autumn. 

 Everybody knows that self-set Potatoes spring up very 

 strong, as compared with seed introduced, especially bad 

 seed. Yet those only sprout which are placed just out 

 of the reach of the amount of frost which may have oc-^ 

 curred during the past winter. However, to plant at the 

 depth necessary to insure safety through the average of 

 winters, would only be adapted for very light uplands ; 

 for wet and sour soils would become completely "puttied' 



before the plant could be in full action. The chief 

 causes of failure are : — 



1st. Badly prepared ground for the seed. 



2nd. Using raw and clotted manures. 



3rd. Planting seed which has been sprouted. 



4tb. Pitting seed in too large quantities in an imper- 

 fectly ripened state. 



With regard to the 1st, I would remark that, although 



plant appears, with clods as harsh, and as unfit tor nou- 

 rishing the tendtr plant, as the soil they are planted in. 



2nd. Urittg ram and clotted manures, — Turn- 

 ing and bit-tiding manures seems to have got out 

 of practice in some parts; the greater part of the 

 manure applied to Potatoes in some di>tricts with which 

 I am acquainted, is taken i.i a raw state from .Uie iarm- 

 vard — much of it recently made, and laying in hard, raw, 

 and undigested m asses. This is peculiarly the case with 

 cow manure. Now, if this was removed from the farm- 

 yard to the bead- lands of the fields intended for Potatoes, 

 some months previous to Befog, ;mi), if possible, slightly 

 fermented there, then before the second and last turning 



the heap were covered slightly with some fine bo-ie-dust or 

 guano, how much more powerful as well as equable in 

 moisture would the compost become ! The only thing 

 that hinders some such practice, is the nec^sity tor more 

 labour ; but surely well-directed labour will amply repay 

 in the end.* 



3rd. Planting U9& which has lecn yprou/rd or dis- 

 hudtlcd. — ft is well known that each succeeding series of 

 buds consequent on disbudding, is weaker than its pre- 

 decessor, and that, if done three or four times, the leaf- 

 buds become finally destroyed. Who, then, can wonder 

 at the great loss to the crop, through the destruction of 

 even the first sprout ? However, it i- not the loss of the 

 sprout alone, but with it is gone a quantity of food, in- 

 tended by Nature to nourish the buds in the act of ger- 

 mination, or until they can cater for themselves. Be- 

 sides, it is pretty well understood that the upper end of 

 the Potato brings the heaviest produce. Now this end, 

 of course, in the majority of cases, buds first, and the 

 consequence is, that instead of two or three strong origi- 

 nal stems, we have, in the case of disbudding, a host of 

 shoots of secondary power, from the lower parts of the 

 Potato ; the result of which is, that instead of a given 

 quantity of good produce fit for market, there will, 

 inevitably, be an inferior quantity, much of which will be 

 small in size, or what growers term M chats." 



Lastly. PiUirtQ wetf in too large quantities in an im- 

 perfectly ripened state. — I am not of opinion that the size 

 of the pits has increased so much of late years as to 

 account, as some have imagined, for the failures which 

 have taken place. But of this I am assured, that late 

 planting has become prevalent, the consequence of which 

 has been badly-ripened seed. Now, I imagine that such 

 late and unripe seed undergoes a much stronger ferment- 

 ation in the pits. Besides, late planting has led to the 

 necessity of late taking up, and it is no uncommon thing 

 in this quarter for the crop to be somewhat frost- 

 bitten when pitted, as the operation is frequently de- 

 ferred until the second week in November. Frost-bitten 

 Potatoes will decay prematurely, and their decay, in 

 conjunction with the high fermentation above alluded to, 

 becomes a fruitful source of failure to future crops. The 

 only wonder is that such should grow at all ; but the 

 vital powers of ihe Potato are amazing. 



To the above evils may be added another serious affair, 

 viz., planting in periods of drought. After all the former 

 abuses, the unfortunate set has to be perhaps imbedded 

 in hot dust, as acres have been this season. Now, why 

 not follow the plough or the spade ? Roots or seeds 

 will always come best on newly dug or ploughed land, 



providing it is in right tilth. 



All Potatoes intended for seed for the ensuing year 

 should be selected when the stock is taken up, and stored 

 away separately ; and if they must be pitted for conve- 

 nience sake, by all means let them be hardened by ex- 

 posure to the air (not sun) for several days previous. V\ hat 

 is called" greening" them is, I think, carrying the process 

 too far, especially in the case of early kinds, as it excites 

 the bud into premature growth, especially if rainy 

 weather ensues. I have frequently known them to bud 

 on the ground in the greening process. Very early kinds 

 should, if pitted, be taken out by the early part of Ja- 

 nuary, and placed thinly on shelves or floors, covering with 

 straw or otherwise during severe frost. The best place 

 for budding early ash-leaved kidneys, as far as my ex- 

 perience has gone, is the fruit-room shelves. In this 

 case the fruit-room, it must be understood, is about 

 three feet below the ground-level, and perhaps slightly 



"Much has been said about planting Potatoes whole. 

 Whole planting has these advantages:— 1st, a greater cer- 

 tainty in the crop coming up ; 2nd, a superior produce, 

 if they have sufficient distance and the soil is pretty good, 

 together with high cultivation and broad-shouldered 

 drills. Its chief disadvantages are overgrown Potatoes, 

 sometimes too large to be saleable, and inferior in quality; 

 the latter arises from the circumstance of their producing 

 more and stronger haulm than cut sets, consequently 

 the elaboration of sap is less complete. I speak now of 

 planting whole Potatoes ; but a much betterplan is to plant 

 the moderate-sized ones (as recommended by " J. Mel./" 

 p. 344). One of the best crops of the ash-leaved kidneys 

 I ever knew was from very small whole seed, which had 

 been slightly greened, but not budded previous to plant- 



wiou regaru 10 ine ist, i wouia remariv iu«, «-- — o- — - n~-j o » ---- --- r , n0 | e 



highly pulverised garden ground seldom produces good i D g. The most general fault of Potatoes P' an < e ° 0n 

 6,1 5 b ~ —- 1 — { is the not allowing sufficient room between the drills, un 



Potatoes, yet how seldom does the Potato miss coming 

 in such soils, compared with ill-wrought farming lands! 



Great breadths are set in fields on what is termed a 

 single furrow, and which has been grazed over until the 

 beginning of April— at least in this neighbourhood. It 

 is then, after being ploughed, or I should say skimmed, 

 left to dry for three weeks, with the turf laying exces- 

 sively porous; and the weather being generally dry at that 

 period, it frequently becomes baked into bricks, in the 

 course of which the decomposition of the sod is com- 

 pletely arrested; and, to crown all, the beds, or " butts, 

 as they are called here, are soiled over the moment the 



land in a high state of cultivation the drills should .be 

 about three feet six inches apart, and the row of 1 otaw^ , 

 when finally earthed, should present the a PPf tra "~ hteeri 



asparagus bed, having broad »\ ottl f e ™ ^"inclination 

 inches, the surface of which should hare ao ^ ^ 



towards the Potatoes, thereby conductmj 

 plant, which, in the **j^°»g"£* n B™b mode 

 of cultivation oncegrew^we ^ 



^iSlS^" ™ deror above the 



