Qiieries and A?iswers to Qjieries. 107 



The Mildew curable. — In Vol. IV. p. 281., there is an extract from Dr. 

 Greville's Flora Edin^nsis, concerning mildew, of which it is stated that, 

 " As its production is probably the result of a peculiar state of the atmo- 

 sphere, there is little chance of any means being discovered for its preven- 

 tion." This should not be allowed to pass unnoticed in the Gardener's 

 Magazine, because it is well known to every one acquainted with practical 

 gardening, that soap suds, applied in time, will prevent the attack, and, 

 after the attack, will speedily banish the pest. — M. 



Price of Hot-water Pipes. — This is not Is. 6d. per foot, as you have 

 stated (Vol. IV. p. 400.), but only Sd. — Robert Reid. Montrath House, near 

 ColluviptoUj Devonshire, Nov. 8. 1828. 



Art. IX. Qiieries and Jlnstvers to Queries. 



Everlasting Potato. — An enquiry was made, in a former Number of the 

 Gardener's Magazine (Vol. III. p. 579.), about this root. I received a few 

 tubers, under this name, from Mr. Donaston, of West Felton. They seem 

 to make no show of leafage above ground, and are of a small size, and thinly 

 sprinkled under ground. They seem always ready to afford a supply of 

 early potatoes, from one end of the year to the other ; they are left undis- 

 turbed, except when a dish is wanted; they are not deeply embedded, but 

 soon discovered on stirring the surface mould. {July, 1828.) Since I wrote 

 you concerning what has been called the " everlasting potato," I have wit- 

 nessed their being cultivated by a gentleman who is plentifully supplied with 

 fine early potatoes about Christmas. The flower seems somewhat different 

 from that of the common potato ; those I witnessed in blossom on 28th last 

 month (July), had been suffered to remain undisturbed from last year. 1 

 was informed that the potatoes were planted about the latter end of May ; 

 for, if planted sooner, they come in too early. Before frost sets in, the bed 

 is covered with litter as a protection from its influence. They are taken up 

 at Christmas, as fine new potatoes, and are either suffered to remain undis- 

 turbed, or perhaps, what is still better, the potatoes are completely forked 

 up as they are wanted, and the smallest being separated are set apart for 

 seed, under a heap, or hillock, to be replanted toward the close of the suc- 

 ceeding May. The smallest sprigs of this potato will grow. — J, Murray. 

 Inverness, August, 1828. 



Diseases in Celery. — Sir, In answer to the query of Mr. Parks (Vol. IV. 

 p. 520.), I have to observe, that I have had considerable acquaintance with 

 the disease in celery alluded to by him. An opportunity occurred last year, 

 of sending some infected specimens to the Horticultural Society, to ascer- 

 tain the name, and, if possible, the cause, as I had fancied it a fungus of 

 some kind. Thence I was informed it was certainly a parasitical fungus, 

 and called the Puccinia iZeraclei. In the autumn of 1826, I had my whole 

 winter's crop totally destroyed it ; it commenced its ravages at one corner of 

 the piece, and principally in one row ; and thence went progressively through 

 the whole piece, until it had the appearance of having been scorched with 

 the blaze of a fire. I cut off the infected parts, and buried them, but still 

 the disease lurked among them. I then sprinkled the plants with water, 

 and strewed, successively, lime and soot over them, but neither seemed to 

 do any good. A border of fine endive, which stood near, was totally de- 

 stroyed by the same disease. The next year I was entirely free from it ; 

 but one of my neighbours was in the same predicament that I had been the 

 preceding season. I should rather imagine that it originated with something 

 peculiar in the manure used for the trenches, which, in its decomposition, 

 emitted some pernicious volatile property, that adhered to the leaves, and 

 produced the fungus in question. — Robert Errington, Oulton Park, 

 Cheshire, September, 1828. 



