July i, 1891.] 
THE TROWOAL AQJ*iei34-Tt3m8T, 
35 
was cultivated. This latter difficulty having been got 
over, all the others must follow. Forcimj is not 
absolutely necessary, assisting nature and watchful- 
ness being all that is necessary ; and if this i s 
judiciously attended to, two or even three crops a 
year may be successfully taken from our soil, and 
fresh supplies sent to the city marts all the year 
round. 
It has been sufficiently demonstrated that Aberdeen- 
shire, particularly Deeside, is quite as much favoured 
in the matter of light and sunshine as Kent — the 
garden of England. It is true our springs are later, 
our summers shorter and more uncertain, but the 
almost invariably genial autumn and as a rule milder 
winter more than make up for this, while the very 
nature of our undulating land gives us a great 
advantage over the flat, misty lowlands. 
Yet such is the fact that, while hundreds of acres 
have been covered with grass and little fortunes made 
by growing early potatoes and tomatoes in the foggy 
fens of the soutli, the enterprise can scarcely be 
said to have been initiated in Scotland. This is far 
from creditable to Aberdeenshire. 
At the present moment, potatoes from the south 
may be seen selling in Union Street shops at 6d per 
lb. Is there any earthly reason why these should 
not be produced locally ? or, indeed, looking at the 
average winter temperature of the respective localities, 
why a daily supply should not have been sent from 
here to the south of England during the past two 
years ? 
The cost of the necessary glass structures need not 
be prohibitive, nor the cultivation beyond the capacity 
of any labourer of ordinary intelligence. The chief 
source of anxiety, viz., how to protect the crops from 
sudden frost or blasts of cold east wind, is more 
easily provided against than generally supposed. A 
covering of coarse canvas, and when necessary — which 
is very seldom — a simple heating arrangement. As 
a rule, there is far too much heat and coddling in 
our glass houses. A much greater enemy than cold 
is the indiscriminating use of the watering pan 
during winter. 
The situation is important — a rather more than 
gently sloping brae side, facing the southeast, on such 
a declivity as radiation will go rapidly onward, and 
the cold condensing mists roll down to the bottom 
of the valleys, chilling with frost what many are apt 
to call "the warm sheltered spots," while the hill 
above is left quite unscathed. 
Tne sub-soil is the next consideration, and this 
must be open, free, inclined to gravel, the surface 
sell being madt to suit the several crops. The necess- 
ary water will suggest itself ; so will also proximity 
to the city or railway station. 
The buildiHfjs may be erected according to tasts and 
means, but the lower or nearer the glass is to the 
surface of the ground so much the better. The cost 
— according to figures obligingly supplied by friends 
in the south of England — averages from 9d to lOd 
per superficial foot-— say £1,633 per acre — a formidable 
sum certainly ; but let us look at the average returns : — 
The local demand, or Covent Garden Market, must 
dictate the nature of the crops. At present I shall 
only instance potatoes, tomatoes, and kidney beans, of 
which I have before me reliable returns, the whole- 
sale prices received in London being as follows:— 
Potatoes 
Tomatoes 
Beans . . 
4d to Is Od per lb. 
3d to Is 3d 
M to 28 6d 
Now a very moderate estimate would give 5 tons 
potatoes to the acre — 
Say 11,200 lbs. at 6d £280 
Tomatoes, say 10,000 lbs. at 6d 250 
Interest on capital, taxes, rent and 
labour, say 
530 
230 
£300 
Leaving a profit of . . 
I have thus shown what might be done by grow- 
ing two crops a year, but of course rotation of crops 
wiB have to b^ ^tu^ieCl, AU Jsinijs of ssJad abund- 
antly supplied, the strawberry will suggest itself, and 
grapes may be grown without interfering with the 
winter crops of vegetables. 
The best potato for the purpose is the good old 
Ash-leaf variety, though some of the round are more 
prolific. Yet, as a rule, it is a profitless chase run- 
ning after new varieties. There is quackery in other 
things than drugs. 
The main planting ought to be done early in 
October, so as to be ready for the market by the 
Ist February. These being cleared out by lat March, 
the ground is forthwith filled with nice, sturdy 
tomato plants, which will have to be in readiness for 
planting. These will give an abundant supply from 
June to September. 
"But the ground requires rest and 'wintering," say 
some — a very convenient theory, no doubt ; but, 
nevertheless, an utter fallacy, the lazy fallow system 
having been long ago exploded by the practical hus- 
bandmen in the East. 
We are, after all, but comparative novices in the 
art ; 150 years ago our great-grand-fathers knew about 
as much of agriculture as the Esquimaux, and, 
marvellous as the progress has since been, we ought 
not as yet to be above learning of nations who have 
practised the art for thousands of years. In India 
may be seen fields which from time immemorial have 
been growing two or three crops a year. In Cliina, 
I believe, the same. Born and bred to the business 
for ages, the Chinaman is, without any exception, 
the best gardener in the world; he may not know 
all the mysterious minutiaa and ponderous names 
with _ which my lord's great gardener delights to 
mystify the budding amateur, but — 
He knows to give each plant the soil it needs, 
To drill the ground and cover close the seeds; 
And could with ease compel the wanton rill 
To turn and wind obedient to his will. 
Depend upon it, the day must come when a very 
great deal more will be taken out of the soil here 
than ever yet has been, and those who most directly 
contribute to this end will be deemed the ijest of 
benefactors. — Aberdeen Free Press 
Tea at High Elevation.— The P. & 0. mail 
steamer on Thursday (ilay 28ih) takes away, 
among others, Mr. Chas. E. Straoban, after 
one of his periodical visits to the Colony. Ha 
is highly pleased with the growth of tea, espe- 
cially in the higher districts, in thi Agras and 
Bogawantalawa, aad thinks evaa in production they 
will beat the lowoountry. One place belonging to 
Mr. Straohaa estimated on the planting to give 
3001b. an acre of tea, is giving 500 lb. and may 
go on to 600 lb. and more, and of fine tea too. 
We mentioned on Saturday that Gallaha Factory 
belonging to Mr. Straohau's firm was likely to put 
through 600,000 lb. this year : a figure fiftj per 
cent higher would be nearer the mark. We learn 
from upoountry that nearly 100,000 lb. waa put 
through in April alone. Tea leaf is oarted 8 miles 
to this factory without any harm being sustained. 
Mildew. — A cironlar has been pr*;pared by Pro- 
fessor B. T. Galloway, and issued by the Department 
of Agriculture, on the treatment of nursery stock 
for Isaf-blight and powdery mildew. The Bordeaux 
mixture and the ammoniacal solution, both of which 
preparations have been often dasoribed in this pnper 
are alooe comm.=)nded for use. The circular gives 
directions for applying these remedies to the various 
kinds of trees for the different diseases and gives 
Uustrations of tho must effeoUve pumps and nozzles 
which have been devised for spraying, Apple-seediings, 
it is stated, can be treated with the ammonia solution 
five times at a cost of eight cents a thousand, while 
the Plum, Pear, Cherry and Quince can be treated sis 
times the first season with the Bordeaux mixture for 
fifty-five cacts a thousand. These are certainly inex- 
pensive remedies, and they are reported to be very 
efTeciivo. This little circular of eight pag-ee will be 
forWiirded by the Dep.u-tment to any nurseryman or 
fruit-grower ou applioatioa,— G«rciert nnd Fgrest, 
