154 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 22, 1872. 



in the quantity and quality of the water supplied by the com- 

 panies, and in the establishment of a Board of Health, which 

 will, in all probability, eventually carry out most of the objects 

 I have been so long urging. Amongst the other proposals 

 which I have advanced are — -my railway connecting the river 

 and docks with all the railways that diverge from London, and 

 apparently approved by the Railway Termini Commissioners, 

 as the line they intimate coincides with that submitted by me, 

 and published in their report ; the principle of rail adopted 

 by the Great Western line ; the lighthouse for the sands ap- 

 propriated by Mr. Walker in his Maplin Sand lighthouse ; the 

 flat anchor and wire cable ; mode of ventilating coal mines ; 

 floating harbour and pier ; iron ship ; and various other in- 

 ventions of comparatively minor importance, but all conduc- 

 ing to the great ends of improving the health of the country, 

 increasing the produce of the land, and furnishing employment 

 for the people in remunerative works." Some of those pro- 

 jects and efforts entitle him to a notice in these pages, but the 

 constant excitement brought to him death. He was seized 

 by apoplexy, and died at the house of his friend, Thomas 

 Wilson, Esq., 4, Finch Road, Douglas, and, by a strange coin- 

 cidence, the man in whose arms he died stood by my side as I 

 copied his epitaph. 



My Mans notes are ended, and I am about to pass over to 

 Furness Abbey, but I fear that my jottings about its monks 

 will not be suitable for this Journal. — G. 



of disease reminds us that most of the samples lifted had suf- 

 fered from it severely ; no variety appears to be exempt from 

 its attacks ; some may be earlier than others, and so in a great 

 measure escape in one year, and others that may be scarcely 

 affected in that year may suffer most severely in the next. It 

 is possible by growing several varieties that a good crop may be 

 saved where otherwise there would have been next to a total 

 failure, and therefore we consider it prudent not to plant one 

 kind of Potato only but several, as then all the venture is not 

 embarked in one ship. 



Aquilegia oerulea and A. leptoceras. — In answer to your 

 correspondent " A. R.," I am quite aware that the true A. lep- 

 toceras is a native of Siberia, but it is not the plant meant in 

 your issue of August 1st, page 93 ; but as the plant I refer to at 

 that page under the name of A. carulea has been figured in 

 the twenty-fourth volume of the "Botanical Magazine," t. 4407, 

 under the name of A. leptoceras, I think I was not " confused " 

 in saying "it is also known by the name of A. leptoceras," 

 which was quoted as a synonym. — Experto Crede. 



POTATOES AT BEDFONT. 

 "Upwards and Onwards" has been so long a contributor of 

 •valuable articles to this Journal, more especially as regards 

 Potatoes and their culture, the utilisation of house-sewage, and 

 wine-making, that he has become an authority on these matters ; 

 for whatever he writes is the result of long experience. As it is 

 now pretty generally known who it is that writes under the nom 

 de plume of " Upwards and Onwards " — these things some- 

 times ooze out despite all our care — it will be no breach of con- 

 fidence to state at once that he is Mr. Robert Fenn, of Wood- 

 stock, whose name is identified with many of the varieties to be 

 noticed. Mr. Fenn informs us that he has raised during thirty- 

 five years' practice some 10,000 seedlings, and the pick of these 

 were submitted to an inspection at Bedfont on Friday last. 

 They had been severely "weeded" before by Mr. Fenn, they 

 -were weeded again, and the following are those which came best 

 out of the trial. 



Foremost among the new round kinds was Rector of Wood- 

 stock, a second early, which received a first-class certificate 

 ■from the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society 

 in 1870. It is very smooth, clean, and handsome, a little flat- 

 tened, very white both when taken up and cooked, of excellent 

 flavour, a good cropper, and, it is stated, an excellent keeper. 

 As regards its appearance, quality, and productiveness, it was 

 all that could be desired, and if it be as good in respect to its 

 keeping qualities, it must be considered a decided acquisition. 

 A cleaner, smoother Potato — one with less eye, less to cut to 

 waste,. we never saw. As a late kind, Woodstock Kidney was 

 specially remarkable, being very large and clean ; it, too, is ex- 

 cellent cooked, being white-fleshed and by no means waxy. 

 Mr. Fenn considers, however, that the second earlies are far 

 preferable to the late kinds for keeping. 



Coming now to other varieties, those already named being in 

 our opinion the best in their respective classes, we have Boun- 

 tiful, a long-keeping red kidney, a good cropper, and with short 

 haulm ; Fenn's Early Market, a very good-flavoured first early 

 round kind, white-fleshed, but, like all the rest of its class, be- 

 coming yellow as it grows older; Fenn's Early White Kidney, 

 a small-topped variety, coming in with the Ashleaf, and having 

 even-sized, very smooth tubers ; and English Rose appears to 

 be another good variety of the round class, a second early and 

 a good cropper ; the skin, however, is pink, and the flesh has 

 also a pink tinge, hut we believe that, as with many other 

 coloured Potatoes, it boils pure white. Little Gem, an early 

 kidney, is said to be excellent for pot culture, but of this we 

 had no means of judging. Multum-in-parvo appears to be a 

 desirable variety for suburban gardens, being a miniature Lap- 

 stone, which may be planted a foot apart. Other sorts, old and 

 new, noticeable for good quality were Dean's Excelsior Kidney, 

 large and very productive ; Waterloo Kidney ; King of the 

 Flukes, which may be shown either as a round or kidney-shaped 

 variety ; Wellington, fine, late-keeping, second early round ; 

 Red Breadfruit, round; Cottagers' Red, a productive yellow- 

 fleshed variety. 



There were several of Paterson's varieties, and though these 

 may be very good for field culture, the length of haulm was far 

 too great for gardens ; and the American Potatoes, of which so 

 much has been said, did not come up to the mark, their produce 

 being, root for root, not perhaps greater than some of the Eng- 

 lish kinds, whilst coarser, though less diseased. This mention 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The destruction of weeds should always be considered an 

 obligation due to the crops as well as soil, the efficient per- 

 formance of which is weakened by delay. The wet weather 

 which has prevailed lately will probably cause very general 

 activity amongst annual weeds ; corresponding exertions should 

 attend then- arrival. The various crops of hardy vegetables 

 ought by this time to be fully established, and the general 

 appropriation of the garden ground completed. Precautions 

 for insuring a continued supply of salads should be imme- 

 diately taken. No further delay should be allowed in sowing 

 for the main crop of Cabbages. Attend to the earthing-up of 

 Celery, and when the attacks of slugs are apprehended, dust- 

 in lime about the plants before closing the earth around them. 

 Broccoli will be benefited by being earthed-up a little. The 

 Endive should now be fully prepared for planting. The raised 

 beds in an open quarter will be suitable for the main supply, 

 which should now be planted out. The successional planting 

 may be made on a warm border where protection can be 

 afforded, and at a later period get another batch of plants for 

 removal into unoccupied frames. Let an adequate sowing of 

 Bath Cos and Cabbage Lettuce for spring use be made. Collect 

 herbs for drying, and on no account allow vegetable seeds to 

 remain exposed after maturity on the parent plant. Continue 

 to sow Radishes. A bed or two of late winter Spinach should 

 be sown about this time. The rapid growth of Turnips will 

 compel the use of the hoe frequently. Thin the shoots of 

 Tomatoes, particularly where they shade the fruit, and keep 

 the main stems tacked to the wall. 



eruit garden. 

 The weather encourages a constant growth of wood on wall 

 trees ; it will thus be necessary to attend to them frequently, as 

 well with the view of giving the fruit a full exposure as of 

 laying-in or stopping superfluous wood. If the trained Pear 

 and Apple trees which have been stopped are examined many 

 laterals will be discovered, which should at once be stopped- 

 back to one leaf. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



The late heavy rains and boisterous winds have caused con- 

 siderable derangement amongst the flowers. Immediate at- 

 tention should be given, and all deficiencies from such in 

 juries at once replaced. The propagation of stock for next 

 year's decoration must be actively proceeded with. So much 

 wet weather will increase the amount of active business in 

 every way in this department. The rapid and succulent growth 

 of many plants will demand prompt attention in tying, layer- 

 ing, and other regulation necessary, as well to preserve the fail- 

 propriety of the garden as the safety of the plants. The pro- 

 pagation of herbaceous plants, if the stock is deficient in any 

 respect, should be attended to ; the division of the old plants 

 will in many instances be the preferable mode. Pentstemons 

 after blooming may be headed back, the smaller shoots will 

 then flower. Evergreens intended for autumn removal should 

 now be prepared for the purpose; a trench should be dug 

 round the tree nearly to the depth of the lowest roots. The 

 advantages attending on early preparation of this kind are 

 manifest. Most florists have now looked over then- stock of 

 Tulips and have decided on what they have to spare, and pur- 

 chasers also are on the look-out for additions to their beds- 

 it often happens that most advantageous bargains may be 



