528 
BEBBERIS ACTINACANTIIA. 
It will be found that, on opening one of these 
heaps, the Potato is white-skinned, like a new 
Potato, tender, of good flavour, and calcu- 
lated to deceive any body but those in the 
secret ; for no new Potato looks so well, or 
cuts so well. We have tried all the Potatoes 
worth the trouble, but found none to answer 
like Chapman's Early Kidney. The ground is 
dug in the usual way, with or without dress- 
ing, according to the state of it. The Potatoes 
should be planted in drills, and not be dibbled 
in. Let them be planted about the middle of 
the month, and, as the weather may be very 
hot and dry, they must, in such event, be 
watered once or twice, by soaking the whole 
ground, as it would be soaked with rain; they 
must also be earthed up well when they re- 
quire it. About the middle or end of October, 
according to the setting in of frosts, they 
should be dug up, or otherwise the haulm till 
covered over, to preserve from frost, and to 
dig up as they are wanted. The season for 
planting Potatoes has been the subject of dis- 
cussion, but theory and practice both decide in 
favour of early planting, for reasons already 
given. The only thing to avoid is shallow 
planting, which is not safe. Many adopt autumn 
planting, and on some land it is as good and as 
safe as spring ; but all we contend for is, that 
the Potato should be in the ground before 
vegetation commences, or even before the eye 
materially swells. The first movement to- 
wards vegetation should be in the ground 
itself ; for, if not, the strength of the tuber is 
wasting ; but if the tubers be preserved from 
starting, no matter how long, they cannot be 
wrong. The difficulty of keeping the Potato 
from growing until July is very great. By ex- 
posure to the air, constant turning or removing 
them, on the surface of the ground, they will 
become quite green and unsightly, but they 
are all the better for the purposes of seed. 
With regard to preserving Potatoes for eating, 
there can be no question but they are better 
for not growing at all ; and wherever they 
are allowed to lie in heaps, so as to sweat and 
grow, the quality is greatly deteriorated ; on 
this account we prefer dry floors, even for the 
store Potatoes ; or if, from the large quantity, 
they are obliged to be pitted, they ought to be 
released from their pits before they begin to 
grow; whereas, in most cases, they are allowed 
to remain till they have grown to excess, and 
present one mass of stalks between all the 
tubers. These have to be rubbed off before the 
Potatoes are marketable; whereas, if they were 
released before they began to grow, they 
might be preserved a considerable time by 
only exposure to the air, and keeping dry. 
The great variety of Potatoes at present in cul- 
tivation, and which is annually receiving great 
additions, render a classification impossible, 
and the mention of any particular sorts would 
be unjust to some equally good; but there can 
be no difficulty in procuring the best from 
respectable houses ; and, we respectfully urge, 
that they be bought at this time of year, in 
preference to the spring, and that they be not al- 
lowed to vegetate before they are in the ground. 
BERBEBJS ACTINACANTIIA. 
(Martins.) 
THE RAY-SPINED BERBERRY. 
One of the smaller growing species of Ber- 
berry, forming a small sub-evergreen shrub, of 
about three or four feet in height, and flowering 
profusely in the months of April, May, and 
June. The branches a good deal resemble 
those of a gooseberry bush, in consequence of 
being furnished with " rayed" spines. The 
leaves are roundish ovate, varying to ovate, 
and even sub-cordate ; they have a hard, dry, 
curled appearance, as if the plant were accus- 
tomed to a rigorous climate. The flowers 
are small, very numerous, deep yellow, and 
sweet scented. 
The plant is common in the neighbourhood 
of Valparaiso, in Chili, inhabiting the first 
range the Cordilleras. 
It grows freely in a border of peat earth, 
such as is provided for American plants; or in 
light loamy soil ; or, from its habit, it is quite 
appropriate when planted on rockwork, where 
it grows readily in sandy loam. It is increased 
by seeds, or by layers. In mild winters it 
retains its leaves, but these are destroyed by 
severe frosts. 
In some of the London nurseries the plant 
is known as Mahonia Knightii. 
