March 26, 1898 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



201 



new potato is looked at with some degree of diffidence for the first four or five 

 vears of its public life, and as a result it has run half its course ere it becomes 

 properly appreciated and widely grown. Naturally, those who make a speciality 

 of raising new potatos, cannot, by reason of the expense incurred, sell sets of 

 a new seedling as cheaply as those of a variety already a proved commercial 

 success, so that the raiser is not all to blame, as some think. To succesfully 

 combat the potato disease there must be a succession of new and vigorous 

 potatos, and, to bring these before the public as their merits deserve, Mr. 

 Fidler looks hopefully to agricultural and horticultural societies and to technical 

 education centres, where trial grounds are managed. Potatos ranking next to wheat 

 among the chief foods of the country, the discovery of meritorious potatos by means 

 of strictly independent trials in various parts of the country seems a necessity. 

 For such independent trials all new potatos should be sent immediately introduced, 

 so that with those varieties proving satisfactory in every respect growers may, after 

 viewing the crop or reading the reports, be emboldened to plant it largely, and 

 so have the benefit of heavier crops than would result from a variety that had lost 

 the vigour of youth. Probably no disease-proof potato will ever be raised, but the 

 disease is most successfully resisted by new and strong-growing varieties. The 

 expense attaching to potato raising may be guessed at by Mr. Fidler's observation 

 that only from five to ten per cent, of the new potatos that are finally put on trial 

 after raising ever become a commercial success. This means that the set of 

 Fidler's potatos listed in the 1898 catalogue is the crime de la crime of from two 

 to four hundred seedlings put on trial. 



Mr. Fidler grows all the leading varieties of potatos by whomsoever raised, 

 and he finds that by careful cultivation and spraying he has almost an immunity 

 from disease. In ordinary seasons spraying is done twice by means of a Strawson 

 machine, and the liquid used is Strawsonite. This fungicide Mr. Fidler speaks 

 highly of, as he considers it not only effectual if properly applied (spraying twice 

 in wet seasons), but has found that plots sprayed with it show a heavier yield of 

 tubers than those unsprayed. 



Fidlers' Potatos. 



During the long period that the Messrs. Fidler have been raising new potatos, 

 they have placed upon the market a considerable number of varieties. Some 

 have had their day, and been superseded by those now so well known. Others 

 have scarcely yet been tried since introduction, but they have a good future before 

 them. Among the most important and successful maincrop varieties introduced 

 have been Fidlers' Reading Giant, and Fidlers' Colossal, both of which are now 

 quoted on all the leading potato markets, and cultivated wherever potatos are 

 grown in quantity. Improved Imperator, another of the firm's introduction, 

 differs from the type in having shallower eyes and more refined appearance and 

 quality ; two other white, round potatos that have been eminently successful are 

 Fidlers' Prizewinner and Cluster Regent. Among other introductions are Chal- 

 lenger, Onward, Early May, Rising Star, Hercules, White Rose, Prolific, Suc- 

 cess, Improved International, Monarch, and Improved Ashleaf, all varieties of 

 proved excellence and heavy cropping powers. 



The two newest potatos raised by this firm are Fidlers' Early Eclipse and 

 Fidlers' Queen. The former was introduced in 1897 ; it is a white kidney that 

 matures early, and is of first-rate quality. Already it is being grown extensively 

 in Yorkshire as a market variety Fidlers' Queen is an exceptionally fine white 

 kidney potato that the Messrs. Fidler are distributing for the first time this year. 

 It is the result of a cross between Fidlers' Reading Giant and Sutton's Early 

 Regent, and has produced three tons per acre more than the Reading Giant, 

 besides being ready to lift quite fourteen days earlier. The tubers are of fall 

 medium size, flattish, with white, rough skin, and white flesh of excellent flavour. 

 In habit it is strong and robust, resisting disease in a remarkable degree. Having 

 studied all aspects of the potato trade, Mr. J. C. Fidler has not overlooked the 

 Jersey crops, and he is confident that in Fidlers' Queen the Channel Islanders will 

 have a potato suitable for their early cultivation, and one that will prevent the 

 losses, so frequent of late years, resulting from the deterioration of the varieties so 

 long in use in Jersey and Guernsey. Mr. Fidler is offering gold, silver, and bronze 

 medals, in addition to cash prizes, for the best crops of Fidlers' Queen raised in 

 Jersey from 1 lb. weight of sets. By this means he hopes to popularise the variety 

 before it loses vigour. 



Mr. J. C. Fidler. 



The head of the firm is in many respects a remarkable iman. He is the 

 essence of geniality and has a physique that would in years past have recommended 

 him to the recruiting sergeants of the Life or Horse Guards. His enterprise is 

 seen not only in his farms and in the big potato and seed business he has built up 

 but also in his contributions to the improvement of the town of Reading. Whole 

 blocks of old fashioned shops and houses have been acquired by him, and in their 



£° u S he haS erected han dsome shops and offices, arcades, and public institutions, 

 which are a source of profit to himself and attraction to the townspeople. It 

 would seem that Mr. Fidler values modern methods of procedure ; he saw a great 

 iuture for electric light, and backed his opinion to such a tune that he is now 

 director of the Reading Electric Lighting Company. His wholesale and retail 

 iruit business, added to choice vegetables, forms one of the smaller items, but 

 many would wonder where Mr. Fiddler finds an outlet for the quantities of cases 

 ot oranges, lemons, bananas, &c, that he imports, and which in varying numbers 

 are always to be seen near the Friar Street offices. Mr. Fidler loves to do things 

 on a large scale, as becomes a large man with a large heart. Many schemes he 

 nas under consideration, and some of these were unfolded to the writer a few days 

 ago ; as, however, they might startle folks unduly they must be treated suB rosa. 

 une scheme that has proved an unqualified success Mr. Fidler did not unfold, but 

 it is a fact nevertheless, that amid all the complications of a big concern, or com- 

 oination of concerns, he has time to be generous. It is to his credit that on the 

 occasion of the Jubilee celebrations last year Mr. Fidler provided, entirely at his 

 own cost tea for fifteen thousand (15,000) children at Reading, and, in addition, 



chilH a a thousand Wends and helpers who had previously assisted the 



nnaren to enjoy themselves. Mr. Fidler has both deserved and commanded success 



of tL°p WnSr ?u and 48 a horticulturi st, and in the latter connection the records 

 introdu t° Hortlc ultural Society bear ample testimony to the excellence of his 



Work for the Week. 



theT?^e?s7^— F -^ Ult B . u y ers L4 ss ? c,a t ioi ? was fonncd a few days ago for 



cSnJ° kerS n ° W obtain - The chief complaint is against the system of pur- 

 Livprr^ rang t s ' ? nd the ass °ciation will strongly advocate an extension of the 



^verpool methnH wVii^V. ~~ — .v„ : t* tii!' 1 .1 i- r , 



0 reform 



that now obtain. 



inK method whlch permits inspection of the boxes at the time of buying, 



against 



content, 

 per box. 



HHin" t •association was instituted at a meeting held in the Sale 

 «<ung Lane, under the presidency of Mr. Hoax. 



WARM ORCHIDS. 



The sun has now considerable power, consequently shading will have to be con- 

 sidered. The glass on all warm orchid houses ought to be well examined, and 

 all squares of inferior quality removed and replaced with good clear glass. I have 

 many times noticed large yellow patches in the centre of a leaf, and on further 

 examination a bubble or flaw in the glass above will be found, and this very 

 often is the cause of injury. The houses generally, during the weather we are 

 having, vary very much in temperature. This rises high by day and falls quickly 

 towards evening. My advice at such times is not to give much top veutilation, 

 for when the damping is done in the afternoon, and all ventilators closed, much 

 moisture settles on the plants, and the contrast in atmospheric conditions is too great. 

 If the blinds are lowered during the hottest part of the day, and the ventilators used 

 carefully, a free circulation of air will be kept up and humidity retained. Potting, 

 top-dressing, &c, &c, will require every care and all possible attention at the 

 present season. Thunia Marshalli and T. Bensoniae are rejected by many orchid 

 growers, perhaps because of the short duration of the individual flowers ; these 

 orchids are, nevertheless, well worthy of cultivation owing to their extreme 

 beauty. They are now pushing forth their young growths, and must be repotted 

 at once ; being strong-rooted subjects they require plenty of pot room and a mix- 

 ture of rough peat and loam in equal parts, and a little leaf mould, a little silver 

 sand, and chopped sphagnum added. A neat stick must be tied to each growth, 

 and sufficient space allowed between them for their development. The pots must 

 be well drained, and the plants kept below the rim to allow for plenty of water 

 during active growth. 



Calanthes of the deciduous sections are not highly valued amongst connoisseurs, 

 but what orchids are more graceful and useful ? At the present time, if they have 

 been rested in the ordinary way calanthes will have to be repotted, and the sooner 

 this is done the better, for the roots grow quickly, and are easily broken. 

 Calanthes do well in either pots or baskets suspended from the roof, in a shady 

 position in any warm moist structure ; a melon house is a very suitable place, 

 put under any conditions the syringe must not be used on the foliage, or disease 

 is very apt to appear ; a good compost for these calanthes is fibrous loam, and 

 about a fourth part of peat, rough leaf mould, and a little dried cow manure, with 

 some silvei sand ; the pots should be drained to about a third of their depth, and 

 watering must be done very cautiously until growth is vigorous. Cattleya 

 Lawrenceana is fast pushing up its sheaths, and must be placed at the warm end 

 of the cattleya house, and in a dry position ; this species appears to absorb mois- 

 ture more readily than most cattleyas. C. Mendeli and C. Mossi& are more or less 

 sheathed, and will require more water. Such as are failing to show indications 

 of flowering may be repotted if required, and those with sheaths and making new 

 roots may be top-dressed, providing great care be taken not to disturb the position 

 of the plant in the pot. Dendrobiums generally will now be at their best, and 

 providing a good display. This will afford those interested in hybridising a good 

 opportunity for selecting parents, and this ought to be a very important consider- 

 ation. We have discarded many weedy dendrobiums from our collections, forms 

 that would not have been produced had the hybridiser used a little judgment in 

 the selection of parent. — F. Stafford, Tyntesfield Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



The potting on of chrysanthemums, and providing suitable positions for the 

 young plants, will entail both time and forethought for some weeks to come, as 

 most cool houses and frames will be well stocked with bedding and other subjects ; 

 and to obtain the best results next autumn, the plants must not be starved in 

 small pots at this season, nor crowded together. For the most part, the desired 

 number will be now well rooted in sixties, and most probably occupying shelves 

 near the glass in late fruit houses and the like. This is a grand place for them 

 up to a certain stage, as it ensures sturdy growth. As the sun gains power, the 

 small amount of soil quickly dries, so that much attention will be needed to keep 

 them moist. It would prove a saving of labour, as the plants are placed 

 into thirty-twos, to arrange them on a bed of ashes in a shallow frame and a 

 great advantage to the plants also. In such a position they can be 

 kept rather close for the first few days after potting to give them 

 a start, and so long as frost is excluded, there is no fear of tjie 

 low temperature checking their progress, as they simply revel under these 

 conditions, while they quickly become puny when confined in a close, humid 

 atmosphere. It is very necessary at each future potting to use a compost 

 both coarser in character and containing more feeding properties than 

 is possible or desirable during the early stages. Turfy loam pulled to 

 pieces, with a little leafmould, road grit, and a sprinkling of bone meal, will 

 answer the requirements of the roots until the final potting. It must be remem- 

 bered that in the ordinary course the plants will remain in thirty-twos for many 

 weeks, therefore the more soil that can be placed in the pot without ramming it 

 too hard the better it will be for them, and the valuable space should not be 

 sacrificed by placing a lot of crocks in the bottom, one broad one being all that is 

 necessary with proper compost and careful watering. Plants that have been 

 growing in peach houses are not always free of green fly, and it is necessary to 

 examine them, especially at the tips, and cleanse them where necessary before they 

 are potted and so save much trouble later on. The frame should be in an open 

 position, though sheltered from cutting winds, and no attempt should be made to 

 shade the plants, a mere dimming overhead if the foliage appears limp after 



potting is all that is required. ;: 



The present time should not be lost to strike a good batch of suitable varie- 

 ties of zonal pelargoniums for winter flowering. These are indispensable in 

 affording a brilliant display during the dullest months. It is best to place one 

 cutting in each thumb pot, as such can be potted on when rooted without giving a 

 check Use sandy soil, and they strike freely in a warm greenhouse or frame. 

 Pot up cannas that have been at rest during tbe winter, and as the plants are 

 most suitable for decorating when grown in thirty-twos, many of the stools will re- 

 quire dividing. Until growth is well up the pots may stand close together in a 

 warm place where they can be syringed overhead, but plenty of room and light 

 must be afforded as they unfold their leaves. In most gardens every place 

 will now be crowded, but the houses should be relieved as much as pos- 

 sible by the removal of many of the hardier plants to cold frames. 

 Pot on autumn-sown intermediate stocks, and directly the flower buds are visible 

 assist the roots with liquid manure once or twice a week. These will prove useful 

 for cutting or furnishing window-boxes and the like later on. Among other seed 

 that is being sown now, the Marguerite type of carnations should not be forgotten ; 

 rightly managed, they yield a wealth of sweet-scented flowers of all shades most of 

 the winter. Sow in gentle heat, but harden the seedlings off as soon as possible 

 after they are a couple of inches high, to cause them to make stocky growth. Keep 

 them potted on as the roots require more room, and arrange them near the glass, 



