1844.] 







THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



<yHE NOBILITY AND GENTRY desirous of in- 



J- creasing their collection of Stove, Greenhouse. Hardy 

 Herbaceous, and ether Plants, Camellias, Roses, Geraniums 

 &c, are respectfully informed that Messrs. J. and H. Brown's 

 Descriptive Priced Catalogue, for 1845, may be had per post 

 on application.— Albion Nursery, Stoke Newington, London. 



q% g gr arfrentrg* Chronicle* 



SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1844. 



MEETINGS FOR THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. 

 Friday, Jan. 3 Botanical 8 



MONDAY, Jan. 6 Entomological 



,*i<"3u*r, «Fd*i. o entomological . i . PH 



Wkdnksdat Jan. 8 Society of Arts. . ." J 8 pm" 



t 



Another point which Potato-growers have taken 

 for experiment is the difference in produce where 

 whole tubers and cut sets are employed. This is a 

 question of no small importance, if we consider how 

 considerable a saving of seed is effected in a bulky 

 crop like the Potato, if we can only diminish the 

 weight of the seed by one- third. 



A good many persons are in favour of using whole 

 tubers, notwithstanding the waste of material. Our 

 correspondent Falcon, says:— "I always plant 

 whole Potatoes which insures a tolerable crop in 

 all seasons, preventing dry rot in hot weather, and 

 rottenness in wet, which cut pieces are so liable to." 

 — — -4 Leicestershire Farmer says that after many 

 years' experience he has discontinued planting cut 

 s ts and substituted whole tubers, selecting small 

 ones, but not the smallest ; he adds, that adopting 

 this rule, he has had an excellent crop this year, and 

 the tubers are extraordinarily large. They were a 

 late sort, and planted on the 25th of April in rows 



3 feet asunder, and 9 inches apart in the rows. 



Mr. White, of Uxbridge, has, for some years past, 

 found the advantage of setting the second size of the 

 small Potatoes, such as are not fit for market, without 

 cutting them (he gives the very smallest to the 

 pigs). Having an insufficient supply of tubers of 

 one very large sort, he was obliged to cut them in 

 order to get enough for seed, and many failed in 

 consequence; nevertheless, his crop brought him 

 18 or 19 tons per acre. While, however, many of 

 the cut sets failed, none of those missed which were 

 planted whole. With his letter Mr. White was so 

 obliging as to send one of those Potatoes that yielded 

 at the rate of 18 or 19 tons an acre ; it weighed 1 lb. 

 14 oz., and was a large coarse sort, only fit for cattle ; 

 the eyes were very hollow, especially near the top of 

 the tuber, where several ran into each other, form- 

 ing deep indentations or fissures upwards of an inch 



in length. A correspondent near Birmingham 



finds his cut sets a general failure ; and another at 

 Woodstock gives a decided preference to whole 

 Potatoes ; the poor people " having lost almost all 

 their cut sets, while their whole Potatoes stood the 

 long drought." 



On the other hand, F. N. writes thus from Bidston, 

 in Cheshire. 



" At p. 267 a correspondent recommends c the 

 largest size Potatoes, uncut, for sets, planting them 

 in rows one yard apart, the sets being two feet and a 

 half from each other,' &c. This induced .me to try 

 the experiment, and up to June the large whole sets 

 appeared to have such a decided advantage over 

 those cut, that I mentioned it in a short article on 

 the subject, which you introduced at page 416. I 

 now give the result of the experiment. I gave 

 twelve rows (i. e. six of each alternate cut and whole) 

 a fair trial : the season being very dry, after their 

 being ploughed up with a ' broad shoulder' as re- 

 commended, I had them watered with diluted liquid 

 manure; the haulm of the whole sets grew very 

 rank, and in accordance with your advice in a Lead- 

 ing Article, No. 26, page 427, I nipped the flowers 

 off the twelve rows as they appeared, and at taking- 

 up time was very much disappointed with the large 

 whole set rows. Instead of having lots of large 

 Potatoes I had lots of small ones, which were near 

 the surface, about the size of marbles and little 

 Apples, the haulm of which sets was very tuberous, 

 presenting excrescences similar to small green kidney 

 Potatoes with leaves growing from them ; in short, 

 where I got one measure from the whole sets, I got 

 a measure and a half from the cut, off the same quan- 

 tity of land ; and taking into consideration that 

 nearly one-third of the cut sets missed, I cannot 

 but think that a field planted with good cut sets will 

 produce a better and rounder crop than the largest 

 whole sets ever seen." 



Now, in noticing this matter we labour under the 

 great disadvantage of having no precise statements to 

 deal with. In all cases of experiment the result 

 should be exactly given — not vaguely. It is not suf- 

 ficient to say that one crop is much better, or finer 

 than another. One desires to know how much. 

 Weights and measures give results from which only 

 one conclusion can be drawn. It is, however, clear 

 that during the last summer opinion has in general 

 become adverse to cut sets, and favourable to whole 



the late Mr. Andrew Knight. 



867 



never yet seen reason to concur in this view, unless 

 perhaps in very dry seasons like the last. Our 

 opinion is formed upon very numerous and exact 

 experiments in the Garden of the Horticultural 

 Society, made some years asro, for the express pur- 

 pose of testing the accuracy of Mr. Knight's theory : 

 and as those experiments are probably but little 

 known it may be as well to state their results in this 

 place. 



In the year 1832 five plots of ground of equal size, 

 and as nearly as possible of equal quality, were 

 selected for the growth of five different varieties. 

 One half of each of these plots was planted with 

 whole tubers and the other with sets containing but 

 one eye each ; the plants were one foot apart in the 

 rows, and the rows themselves 18 inches apart. 

 Upon taking up the crop it was found that the 

 estimated results were as follows : — 



We, however, have repeated, the results being accurately ascertained by 

 m ,w ,„..., .«i_ weighing when the crop is dry. 



This, and some other matters, hereafter to be 

 noticed, for which our correspondence furnishes us 

 with data, we shall revert to on another occasion, 

 before the time for planting Potatoes shall have 

 arrived. 



Tons. cwt. lbs. 

 .113 2 72 

 Single Eyes HI 3 54 



Wholp Tubers 



giving a difference in five acres of about two ton 

 which is hardly more than the difference between 

 the weight of the tubers and sets originally planted. 

 At the time this experiment was prepared, it was 

 thought advisable also to ascertain what difference 

 in their rate of increase there really is between tubers 

 and eyes, when each set or tuber has the power of 

 growing undisturbed by its neighbours; so i hat the 

 real productiveness of each could be ascertained with 

 the greatest accuracy. In this case it was anticipated 

 that the tubers, having full space to develope them- 

 selves, would certainly surpass the sets very mate- 

 rially in proportionate productiveness ; but the result 

 proved to be altogether the other way. A piece 

 of ground was selected of quality as nearly uniform 

 as possible; it was divided into four feet squares; 

 and in the centreof each square was planted either a 

 tuber, or a single eye, or a set containing three 

 eyes, or the whole surface of a tuber pared off so as to 

 leave the eyes safe but to remove the centre. In 

 this experiment it was found that the rate of produce 

 was in 13 cases out of 16, in favour of single eyes as 

 compared with tubers; in 9 cases out of 16 in favour 

 of single eyes as compared with sets containing three 

 eyes ; and in 10 cases in 16, in favour of single eyes 

 as compared with parings ; or, if we consider the 

 results of the whole 16 experiments as belonging to 

 one experiment, their proportions are expressed by 

 the following figures. 



nearly. 



And this conclusion corresponded with other ex- 

 periments instituted with similar objects in view. 



In the year 1 834 a further trial was made with 

 early Champion Potatoes, upon ground on which no 

 Potatoes had been previously grown. No manure 

 was employed, nor was the soil by any means in a 

 fertile state for garden ground. The experiment 

 was varied in four ways by planting at intervals of 

 30, 24, 18, 12, and 6 inches. We extract from the 

 Society's Transactions the following tabulated return. 



Whole Tubers . 



. 33S-38 



or 2 



Single Eyes 



. nr-87 



.. 11 



Three Eyes 



. 613-04 



.. 5 



Parings 



. 504-69 



.. 4 



y * k 

 c 5 5 



555 



ft. in. 



2 6 



1 6 



o e 



j 

 I 



Seta. 



Whole tubert 

 Single ey*s 

 Whole tuber* 

 Single eyes 

 Whole tubers 

 Single eyes 

 W hoi* tubers 

 Single eyes 



II 



lb. 02 

 6 

 29 8 







« %, «. 



■ 



a. 



2 



Net return per 



£^ Z *S iK ore » a ^ terd ^ d ucting 

 u t 2 * 52 c the weight origin- 



£s-£ 



lb. oz. 

 057 8 



1: 7.34 



748 1;2A35 



149 887 1; 5.95 



36 1116 1;30. 



238 4 ll£h) 8 1; 4.98 



41 4 1068 1:25.89 



6 1402 8 1: 2.18 



100 8 860 I: 8.55 



£ 



lbs. Jb«. 



64«»7 <7,72] 

 1470 37,280 

 74*644,: 



17W 55,021 



11,674 59/ 

 2055 53,2» 



itfh 



ally planted 



-, 





82.065 

 5008 





900 

 i-\B6* 



lbs. tns. cvrt.lb. 

 41,224 or 18 8 4 

 35,810 „ 15 19 82 

 36,782 „ •lG 8 46 

 ,817 », *24 87 

 47,560 „ •« 4 72 

 51,174 „ *22 16 102 

 37,835 „ 16 17 91 

 37,854 „ 16 17 110 

 Crop y mall and bad. 



, 



Nothing could well be more conclusive than this 

 in favour of good sets with single eyes. The first 

 and the last trials being left out of consideration, 

 because the distances were unsuitable to the variety 

 under experiment, those marked * are the ones to 

 which attention must be directed, and they show so 

 great a difference against whole sets as to leave no 

 room for doubting which is the better method under 

 the circumstances. It showed too, what is of no 

 small importance to poor people, that a better result 

 was obtained by planting 1794 lbs. than by 7426 lbs., 

 and that when the weight planted was increased to 

 32,065 lbs. per acre, a great less was sustained instead 

 of anything being gained. 



We may add that further trials in 1836 confirm 

 the accuracy of this conclusion, the net produce of 

 Potatoes set in the 1st week in March having been 

 14 6 19, and even 17 10 96 against 13 11 23. It 

 was only when the planting was delayed till .April 

 that tubers had something the advantage of sets. 



There is one point, however, that still remains to 

 clear up in this matter, and that is, whether small 

 refuse. Potatoes will not prove as advantageous as 

 sets. Upon this we find no satisfactory evidence. 

 By satisfactory, we mean no detailed experiments 



IVY. 



In the two last Numbers so-ce observations occur on 

 the probability of Ivy living on walls when connection 

 with the ground is cut off by the destruction of the stem. 

 The following facts may illustrate the matter, and per- 

 haps save one of your correspondents the mortification 

 of the loss of his evergreen. 



Any visitor to Amberley Castle, in Sussex, may ob- 

 serve that the right-hand to-.ver (looking toward the 

 front of the ruins). Hanking the gateway, is in better 

 preservation than the left-band one, particularly its bat- 

 tlements and upper third. These twin-towers are noir 

 destitute of Ivy, but about 35 years ago, the one above 

 mentioned was completely clothed with it. The oc- 

 cupier of the Castle at that time found it necessary, in 

 making a gangway in the moat round the foot of this 

 tower, toward a new-made door-way in the castle wall, to 

 cover up the stem of the Ivy with many feet of earth and 

 rubbish. The consequence was the suffocation of its 

 roots and the death of the plant within a few years. As 

 the dead branches decayed and dropped off, the masonry 

 bec-une exposed, and the conservative influence of its 

 former drapery was manifest, as before said, in the more 

 perfect condition of the battlements, and of the general 

 aspect of the tower above its fellow, which never had any 

 Ivy at all. Many years of exposure has now made the 

 difference less remarkable, but it is still very striking. 



When ruined walls, by the dissolution of their materials 

 and the free admission of rain-water, assimilate to fissured 

 rocks or the common earth, Ivy will often (as I suppose 

 the Winchester case may be), send in auxiliary roots, 

 which would take the place of the parent stem, and it is 

 not uncommon to see Ivy growing sparingly and stuntedly 

 on old walls of much thickness, as other plants will do 

 contrary to their usual habit. But a large old plant, 

 which has always had its main rooting in the ground, will 

 not bear to be severed from it. — P. P. 



tubers; and this too was the general conclusion of J conducted with care, skilfully varied, and often 



NOTES ON THE TULIPS OF THE MIDLAND 



COUNTIES. 



Having heard that there were many fine seedling and 

 other Tulips to be seen in the Midland Counties, I, 

 during the past blooming season, visited some of the 

 principal beds in Staffordshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, 

 Leicestershire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. 



Having made various memoranda at the time, I intend 

 to lay the results of my tour before the readers of the 

 Chronicle, feeling sure that notices of fine flowers, as 

 well as good seedlings, will prove acceptable. 



My first point of inspection was Derby, famed amongst 

 the northern growers as the place where Sherwood raised 

 his batch of seedlings, from which some fine Roses have 

 been originated. Here I saw Lady Colville (Sher- 

 wood's), a flamed flower, but by no means first-rate ; 

 also Mrs. Darwin, of the same grower, with a broken and 

 indistinct flame ; Lady Wilmot (Sherwood's), another 

 variety, was in splendid condition, but unfortunately has 

 a slightly tinged cup ; the beautiful bright cherry flame, 

 joined to the perfect feather of this flower, rendered it 

 extremely attractive ; and were it not for the before- 

 mentioned defect, it would be an extremely popular va- 

 riety. Lady Crewe, Mrs. Mundy, and Lady Middleton 

 (all Sherwood's), were in a highly beautiful state. I had 

 heard much for and against these flowers, but, in my 

 opinion, they were the best feathered Roses I saw during 

 the journey. I was informed that a person, who has ob- 

 tained some notoriety in writing for a floricultural pub- 

 lication, in an article on the Tulip, some years ago, im- 

 puted some very unworthy motives to the Derby and 

 Nottingham growers relative to these flowers. The Derby 

 florists are very sore on the subject ; for, as I understand 

 them, the writer is convinced of his opinion being erro- 

 neous, but has not made the amende honorable in the 

 work which contains his strictures. 



The flowers were pointed out to me, and certainly no 

 two feathered flowers are more distinct than the Ladies 

 Crewe and Middleton. The feathering of the former is 

 laid on lightly, with occasional breaks in the intensity of 

 the pencilling, in the style of an old bizarre, known as 

 the Yorkshire Trafalgar, the colour being of a bright 

 cherry-red, and the tops of the petals slightly inclining 

 inwards. On the contrary, Lady Middleton has a 

 heavy plated feather, much darker than Lady Crewe ; in 

 fact, so much so, that when the flower is old, it has often 

 been exhibited as a byblomen, in which state I saw se- 

 veral blooms. The petals also, when opening, rather 

 throw back, like Count de Virginnes ; it does not, how- 

 ever, retain this peculiarity, but assumes a perfectly glo- 

 bular form, and in fact has a fine cup. Some Triomphe 

 Royales, growing in the next row, and which were in an 

 unusually good state, were far inferior to this splendid 

 variety ; the best strain of which, I was informed, is re- 

 markably steady. There was yet another Rose in great 

 plenty dispersed through the various beds, of which there 

 were a few excellent flowers, whilst there were many 

 which were apparently worthless. I allude to Queen 

 Boadicea, or Duchess of Newcastle ; this is much larger 

 than any other of Sherwood's varieties, but evidently is 

 very uncertain. In the class of bizarres, I do not think 

 that the Derby florists are above mediocrity. I saw, 

 however, very superb blooms of Royal Sovereign,' of 

 which they have evidently a good strain, and which ap- 



