436 Transactions of the London Horticultural Society. 



14. On the Cultivation of the Horseradish, as practised in Den- 

 mark and Germany. By M. Jens Peter Petersen. Read No- 

 vember 6. 1827. 



" In the autumn, when the roots are taken out of the ground, select all 

 the small side roots from 9 to 12 in. in length, and as thick as a quill, or 

 thereabouts ; tie them in bunches, and preserve them in sand in a place 

 protected from the frost, during the winter. The planting is commenced 

 in the beginning or middle of April. In dry weather, divide the ground 

 into beds 4 ft. wide (some make them only 3 ft. wide). These beds are 

 with me raised a little with the mould out of the alleys, so that they are 

 about a couple of inches higher in the middle than on the sides next the 

 alleys. With a woollen cloth rub off all the lateral fibres from the roots 

 above described, and also pare off each extremity, so that the wounds 

 may be fresh ; then plant them, by inserting them horizontally into the 

 sides of the elevated beds, about a foot apart, and in a quincuncial manner, 

 so that the bottom part of the root is about 6 or 7 in. below the surface, 

 and the top, or crown end of the root, stands a little out of the side of 

 the bed, remembering that the roots are to be inclined a little, so that 

 their lower extremity is rather deeper than their upper. In the latter 

 end of June, or some time in July, cut off with a sharp knife all the 

 lateral fibres of each root, which is done by placing the foot on the lower 

 extremity, and carefully lifting the root out of the ground as far as may be 

 necessary. This operation is performed two or three times every summer. 

 When the operation is over, replace the roots as before, and cover them 

 with mould. The roots or fibres which are left at the end of the main 

 root, and not disturbed (for the operation must be done carefully), are 

 sufficient to nourish the plant. In the third year the roots have attained 

 their full size. Laying the roots horizontally has this advantage, that they 

 are easily taken out of the ground without breaking ; while cutting off the 

 side roots makes the main root grow straight and thick. It is advisable 

 to plant a bed every year. To keep the ground clear of weeds need not 

 be mentioned." 



15. On the Potato. By T. A. Knight, Esq. F.R.S., President. 



Read Feb. 1. 1831. 



Mr. Knight is convinced by the evidence of experiments, 

 " that the potato plant, under proper management, is ca- 

 pable of causing to be brought to market a much greater 

 weight of vegetable food, from any given extent of ground, 

 than any other plant which we possess." There is no crop, 

 he says, " so certain as that of potatoes ; and it has the ad- 

 vantage of being generally most abundant, when the crops of 

 wheat are defective ; that is, in wet seasons." The following 

 observations are extremely interesting : — 



" I think I shall be able to adduce some strong facts in support of my 

 opinion, that by a greatly extended culture of the potato for the purpose 

 of supplying the markets with vegetable food, a more abundant and more 

 wholesome supply of food for the use of the labouring classes of society 

 may be obtained, than wheat can ever afford, and, I believe, of a more pa- 

 latable kind to the greater number of persons. I can just recollect the 

 time when the potato was unknown to the peasantry of Herefordshire, 

 whose gardens were then almost exclusively occupied by different varieties 

 of the cabbage. Their food at that period chiefly consisted of bread and 



