September 26, 1878. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
239 
obtained which will far more than repay the trouble. The 
Potato disease is owing to the destructive action of two kinds 
of mildew, and it starts afresh every year from seeds, or spores 
as they are called, which haye rested during the previous 
autumn and winter either in the ground, or in the Potato 
tubers, or in the manure heap. 
1, Burn the haulm and all waste Potatoes, parings, &c., not 
intended for the animals as soon as possible after the crop has 
been raised. Unless this is done the decaying haulm and 
waste Potatoes may fill the ground with the seeds of the 
destroying mildews. 
2, Do not throw the haulm and waste Potatoes upon the 
manure heap, because the mildew seeds will gain in strength 
by resting in the manure, and this manure will help to spread 
the Potato disease next season. 
3, Boil for a long time all diseased and even apparently 
sound Potatoes before you feed animals with them. It is 
highly probable that the seeds of the Potato mildews gain 
‘strength by passing through the stomach of an animal—the 
pig, for instance. The manure of animals fed on raw diseased 
Potatoes and Potato parings may, for the above reason, become 
a powerful means of spreading the Potato diseaze. 
4, Do not grow Potatoes on the same piece of land two 
years in succession. Any mildew seeds which may rest in 
the ground from the last year’s Potato crop will begin to grow 
about the beginning or middle of May; but they will quickly 
perish if they cannot find Potato plants at hand to nurse them. 
5, Be sure the seed Potatoes are quite free from disease 
when planted. A Potato does not always show the disease 
on the outside; therefore it will be necessary to cut the sets, 
in order that the condition of each one may be seen. A few 
diseased plants will serve to infect acres of Potatoes in a wet 
warm season. 
6, Use chemical manures in preference to any others for the 
Potato crop. Ordinary manures may, especially if brought 
from a distance, contain the mildew seeds. 
7, A Potato crop may generally be saved by pulling up the 
haulm throughout the whole crop as completely as possible 
directly the disease spots appear on the leaves of any one of 
the plants. Ofcourse the tubers will not grow any larger after 
the leaves and stalks have been removed. They will, however, 
Tipen in the ground, more or less according to the season, and 
though they may not be very large they will be fit for food. 
8, To ensure success all the Potato growers of a neighbour- 
hood should follow the above plan. One plot of diseased 
Potatoes may furnish seeds enough in July to destroy the 
surrounding Potato crops. 
CRYSTAL PALACE—FRUIT AND POTATO SHOWS. 
SEPTEMBER 24TH AND 25TH. 
OnLy a very large building such as the Crystal Palace could 
haye accommodated at the same time two such Shows as those 
ander notice—the twenty-third annual Exhibition of fruit pro- 
moted by the Crystal Palace Company, and the fourth Inter- 
national Potato Exhibition instituted by a committee of gentle- 
men earnest in improving the Potato both as to culture and varie- 
ties. The first-named Show was under the management of Mr. 
Thomson, the Crystal Palace Company’s skilled garden manager ; 
and the Potato Exhibition was arranged under the experienced 
superintendence of Mr. J. A. McKenzie. 
THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SHOW. 
Fruit was exhibited on a larger scale than usual at the Palace. 
Pines were not numerous, and as a rule were not quite equal to 
those exhibited during some former years, yet most of those that 
obtained the prizes were very good. Grapes were staged in great 
numbers, and many of them were remarkably fine, notably the 
Muscats, Gros Colman, and three bunches of Golden Queen. For 
these the Show will be remembered. It will also be remembered 
as the occasion of a bold precedent, inasmuch as by far the best 
collection ot Grapes exhibited was disqualified because Muscat of 
Alexandria and Bowood Muscat were staged as distinct kinds. 
The Judges—Messrs. Barron, Douglas, and Baker—officially de- 
clared them identical, and hence the exhibitors (Messrs. Lane and 
Son, Great Berkhampstead) were placed out of competition ; but 
their collection was highly commended for its great excellence. 
Mr. Tyler, gardener to R. Gosling, Esq., Hassobury, was also dis- 
qualified in the class for five distinct kinds for the same reason as 
Messrs. Lane, otherwise he would probably have secured the 
premier position. This collection, too, was highly commended. 
Apples and Pears were excellent ; Peaches fine, but not highly 
coloured; Nectarines few, Plums small, Melons numerous, and 
vegetables splendid. Referring to the classes, firstin order come the 
OLLECTIONS OF FRUIT.—In the collection of twelve dishes 
two dishes of Grapes, two Pine Apples, and two Melons were ad- 
missible, but not more than one dish of any other variety. Four 
collections were staged, Mr. Coleman, gardener to Earl Somers, 
Eastnor Castle, securing first honours with a very fine collection, 
including a good Queen and fine Smooth Cayenne Pine but too 
heavily crowned ; fine Muscat and good Black Hamburgh Grapes ; 
two capitai Melons, Eastnor Castle and Read’s Scarlet-flesh ; good 
Barrington Peaches, Pine Apple Nectarines, Williams’ Bon Chré- 
tien Pears, Morello Cherries, Brown Turkey Figs, and rather small 
Golden Drop Plums. Mr. G. Sage, gardener to Earl Brownlow, 
Ashridge, was an excellent second, his Queen Pine being especi- 
ally fine, Black Hamburgh Grapes remarkably well finished, and 
other fruits good. Mr. Goodacre, The Gardens, Elvaston Castle, 
had the third place; his Muscat Grapes were full and well 
finished, and Lady Downe’s were excellent. The collection also 
included a dish of Garibaldi Strawberries. 
In the class for six dishes of fruit, distinct kinds, Pines excluded, 
there were sixteen competitors, but five of them were disqualified 
for having staged two varieties of Grapes. Mr. Haycock, gardener 
to R. Leigh, Esq., Barham Court, Maidstone, had the premier 
award. He staged admirably finished Black Alicante Grapes, a 
magnificent Golden Gem Melon, splendid Louise Bonne of Jersey 
Pears, a good dish of Lord Palmerston Peach, highly coloured 
Pine Apple Nectarines, and Golden Drop Plums. Mr. C. J. Gold- 
smith, gardener to H. T. Lambert, Esq., Sandhills, Bletchingley, 
secured the second prize with a remarkably good collection. Mr. 
H. Folkes, gardener to T. F. Halsey, Esq., Gaddesden Park, 
Hemel Hempstead, was placed third for highly creditable pro- 
duce. Some inferior collections were exhibited in this class, but 
the majority were very good, and it was not easy to make the 
awards. The decisions, however, were unquestionably correct. 
The next class of six dishes, distinct kinds, exclusive of Pines 
and Grapes, also gave the Judges much trouble. Ten collections 
were staged, but some exhibitors were disqualified for placing 
more than the stipulated number of fruits ina dish. The prizes 
were awarded first to Mr. Haycock, second to Mr. Chisholm, gar- 
dener to R. C. Taylor, Esq., Boughton Place, Maidstone, and 
third to Mr. Wildsmith, gardener to Viscount Eversley, Heckfield. 
All the collections were very good, Mr. Haycock’s consisting of a 
Melon, Brockworth Park Pears, Lord Palmerston Peaches, Pine 
Apple Nectarines, Kerry Pippin Apples, and Pond’s Seedling 
Plums, all splendid, Mr. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq., Wel- 
ford Park, Newbury, would have had the second prize in this 
class had he exbibited in conformity with the conditions at the 
head of the schedule, where it is stated that a dish of Figs must 
consist of six fruits. 
GRaAPES.—In the class for ten kinds, two bunches cf each, there 
were five competitors. Messrs. Lane & Sons having been dis- 
qualified for the reason above stated, first honours fell to Mr. 
Wildsmith. His Black Hamburghs were small, but all the rest 
good—namely, Mrs. Pince (quite ripe), Buckland Sweetwater, 
Alicante, Gros Guillaume, Trebbiano, Gros Colman (well coloured), 
Venn’s Muscat (full and good), Muscat of Alexandria, and Lady 
Downe’s, the bunches ranging from 2 to 3lbs. Mr. Bannerman, 
gardener to Lord Bagot, Rugeley, was a rather close second ; and 
Mr. Goodacre third with small but well-ripened bunches. Messrs. 
Peed & Son exhibited in this class, staging Tottenham Muscat and 
Muscat of Alexandria, which being ruled identical the collection 
was ineligible fora prize. 
Six collections were staged in the class for two bunches each of 
five kinds. Mr. Tyler having been disqualified for including the 
two Muscats referred to, first honours felljto Mr. Sage, Ashridge, 
who staged excellent Muscats, Lady Downe’s not quite ripe, 
splendidly coloured Alicantes, Trebbianos, and Black Hamburghs. 
Mr. Woodbridge, The Gardens, Syon House, was placed second 
with Macresfield Court, full and compact ; good Muscats, a cluster 
of Alicantes, Golden Champion, small bunch, fine berries, and 
clear; and good Lady Downe’s. Mr. Mowbray, gardener to the 
Earl of Leven and Melville, Fulmer Gardens, Slough, secured 
third honours with a smart and clean collection—Muscats full 
and regular ; Lady Downe’s, not quite ripe ; Alicante, good ; Black 
Hamburgh, excellent; and capital examples of Royal Muscadine. 
In the class for three bunches of Black Hamburghs sixteen lots 
were staged. Most of the bunches were small or medium-sized, 
some not well coloured, and none of superior merit as combining 
good size with high quality. Mr. Wildsmith was fortunate in 
securing first honours with bunches not exceeding three-quarters 
of a pound in weight, but the berries were well finished and of 
undeniably good quality. Mr. Upjohn, gardener to the Earl of 
Ellesmere, Worsley Hall, Manchester, was placed second with 
bunches weighing 2 Ibs. ; berries, too, of good quality. but one or 
two of them were small and slightly-rubbed. If Mr. Upjohn had 
taken out about three small berries he would have “won in a 
canter,” as it was he must have felt it hard to have lost. Mr. 
Goldsmith was third with good-sized bunches, full and regular, 
but berries rather small. Only a moderate class. 
Very different was the class for three bunches of Muscat of Alex- 
andria, in which there were thirteen competitors. Messrs. Lane 
and Son won the chief position with bunches grand in all points, 
one of them a veritable model in shape, also in size, regularity 
