174 Culture of Early Potatoes in Cornwall, 



Art. XIX. On the Culture of Early Potatoes in Cornwall. 

 By Mr. James Mitchinson, Gardener to E. W. Pen- 

 darves, Esq. M.P. F.H.S. 



Sir, 



I submit to you the following account of the management 

 of early potatoes in the west of Cornwall. 



They are planted on a warm border about the latter end of 

 September, or beginning of October (at the latest), when they 

 have time to attain sufficient growth before the autumnal frosts 

 set in, previous to which they are covered over with long 

 litter of any description, to exclude frost from their roots. By 

 the latter end of December they will be fit for use, when they 

 are taken up as wanted, and are found a valuable acquisition 

 to our early forcing. 



They are also of a very good quality, considering the dis- 

 advantage of the season they are grown in, which is generally 

 very wet in this part of Cornwall. I have, however, grown 

 them with great success in this manner. The sort I have always 

 used is the early frame potato. I am, Sir, &c. 



Jas. Mitchinson. 

 Pendarves House, Jan. 26. 1827. 



This communication shows the extraordinary difference in 

 climate which exists in our island. Planting potatoes in Sep- 

 tember must, no doubt, appear very extraordinary to our 

 Sutherland or even Aberdeenshire readers. — Cond. 



Art. XX. Description of the Black Raisin Grape ; with 

 some Account of the West's St. Peter and Poonah Varieties, 

 and of the Culture and Management of Winter Grapes at 

 Spring Grove. By Mr. Isaac Oldaker, F.H.S. Gar- 

 dener to Lady Banks. 



Sir, 



The black raisin grape you so much admired, when you 

 were at Spring Grove last summer, is now (Nov. 23.) ripe. It 

 is superior in size to any grape I have seen in the English 

 collection, and promises to be a valuable late grape ; and I 

 therefore flatter myself that a short description of it will be 

 worthy of a place in the Gardener's Magazine. 



It is an old grape in this country, although not much cul- 

 tivated, and I believe very little known amongst gardeners 



