July i, 1891.I 
THE TROPICM. AQRItMJLTUmST 
was cultivated. This latter difficulty having been got 
over, all the others must follow. Forcing ia not 
absolutely nooeasary, assisting nature and watchful- 
ness being all that is neoosaary ; and if this Is 
judiciously attended to, two or even three crops a 
year may be aaccossfully taheu from our soil, and 
fresh supplies sent to the city marts nil the year 
round. 
It hos boon sufficiently demonstrated that Aberdeen- 
shire, particularly Deeside, is quite ns much farvoured 
in the matter of light and sunshlno as Kent — the 
garden of England. It is true our springs are later, 
our summers shorter and more uncertain, but tho 
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 ia the fact that, while hundreds of acres 
have been covered with grass aud little fortunes made 
by growing early potatoes and tomatoes in the foggy 
fens of tho south, the enterprise can scarcely be 
said to have been initiated in Scotland. This la far 
from creditable to Abordoonshlro. 
At the present moment, potatoes from tho south 
may bo seen selling in Union Street shops at 6d per 
lb. Is there any earthly reason why these should 
not bo produced locally ? or. Indeed, looking at the 
average winter temperature of the respective localities, 
why a daily supply should not have been sent from 
horo to tho south of England daring tho past two 
years 7 
The cost of the necessary glass structures need not 
be prohibitive, nor tho 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, ia more 
easily provided against than generally supposed. A 
covering of coarse canvas, and when necossary — whicli 
is very seldom — a simple healing arrangement. As 
a rule, there is far too much heat and coddling in 
our glass houses. A much greater enemy than cold 
ia the iudiscriminating use of ttio watering pan 
during winter. 
The sitiuUioH is important — a rather more than 
genilg sloping brae side, facing tho southeast, on such 
n declivity as radiation will go rapidly onward, and 
the cold condensing mists roll down to tho bottom 
of the valleys, chilling witli frost what many are apt 
to call “ tile warm slioltcred spots, ” while the hill 
above ia left quite unsoatlied. 
Tne snh-soil ia tho next consideration, and this 
must bo open, free, inclined to gravel, tho surface 
soil being mad's to suit tho several crops. Tlio necess- 
ary water will suggest itself ; so wiU also proximity 
to the city or railway station. 
Tho buildings may be erected according to lasts aud 
means, but the lower or nearer tho glass ia to tho 
surface of tho ground so much the bettor. Tho cost 
—according to figures obligingly supplied by friends 
in tho south of England— averages from fid to lOd 
per superficial foot — say £1,633 per acre — a formidable 
sum certainly ; but lot us look at tho average returns ; — 
Tho local demand, or Covent Garden Market, must 
dictate tho nature of tho crops. At present I shall 
only instanoo potatoes, tomatoes, and kidney boans, of 
which I have before mo reliable returns, tho whole- 
sale prices received in London being as follows; — 
I’otatoos . . , . .(d to la Od per lb. 
Tomatoes . . . . :id to Is 8d „ 
Boans Id to 2s Cd ,. 
Now a very moderate estimate would give .I tons 
potatoes to tho acre — 
Bay 11,200 lbs. at Cd £280 
Tomatoes, say 10,000 lbs. at Gd 250 
530 
Interest on capital, taxes, rent and 
labour, say 230 
Leaving a profit of . . £300 
I have thus shown what might bo done by grow- 
ing two crops a year, but of course rotation of crops 
WiU have to bo studieU- All kinds of salad abund- 
antly supplied, the strawberry will suggest itself, and 
grapes may be grown without interfering with the 
winin' crops of vegetables. 
Tho best potato for tho purpose is tho good old 
Ash-loaf variety, though some of the round aro 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 tho 
Ist February. These being cleared out by Ist March, 
the ground is forthwith filled with nice, sturdy 
tomato plants, which wiU have to bo in readiness for 
planting. These will give an abundant supply from 
June to September. 
“ Jiiit the ground requires rest and wintering," say 
some — a very oonvonieut theory, no doubt j but, 
nevertheless, an utter fallacy, the lazy fallow system 
having been long ago exploded by the practical hus- 
bandmen in tho East. 
Wo are, after all, but comparative novices in tho 
art ; 150 years ago our great-graud-fathors know about 
as much , of agriculture as the Esquimaux, aud, 
marvellous as the progress has sinoo been, wo ought 
not as yet to be above learning of nations who have 
practised tho art for thousands of years. In India 
may bo soon fields which from time immemorial have 
been growing two or three crops a year. In China, 
I believe, the same. Born and bred to the business 
for ages, tho Chiaainnu ia, without any exception, 
the boat gardener in tho world; he may not Know 
all tho myatorious minutico and ponderous names 
with which my Iqrd’s great gardener delights to 
mystify the budding amateur, but — 
flo Knows to give each plant the soil it needs. 
To drill tho ground ana cover close the seeds ; 
And could with eaao compel tho wanton rill 
To turn and wind obedient to hia will. 
Depend upon it, tlie day must come when a very 
great deal more will be taken out of tho soil here 
than over yet has boon, aud those who most directly 
contribute to this end will bo deemed tho bast of 
benefactors . — Aberdeen Free Tress 
Te.v at High Elevation. — Tho 1*. & O. mail 
steamer on Thursday (May 28,h) takes away, 
among others, Mr. Chxs. E. Scraoban, after 
one of his periodical visits to the Colony. He 
is highly pleased with the growth of tea, esps- 
oially in the higher districts, in ths Agras and 
Bogawantalawa, aud thinks even in production they 
will boat the lowcountry. Une place belonging to 
Mr. Idtraohan estimated on tho planting to give 
300 lb. an aore of tea, is giving 500 lb. and may 
go on to 60U lb. and more, and of fine tea too. 
We mentioned on Saturday that Qullaha Factory 
belonging to Mr. Biraohan’a firm was likely to put 
through 500,000 lb. this year : a figure lift) per 
cent higher would be nearer the mark. We learn 
from upoountry that nearly 100,000 lb. was put 
through in April alone. Tea leaf is carted 8 milea 
to this factory witbuut any harm being sustained. 
Mildew. — A cironUr hiia bsen prepared by Pro- 
f08.4ur B. T. Galloway, ami issued by tlis Department 
cf Agriculture, oii tho trealmout of nursery stock 
for leaf-b ight aud powdery mildew. The Bordeaux 
mixture and the ammuuiacal solution, bath of which 
preparations have baeu often described iu this paper 
are alone commouded for use. The circular gives 
directions for upplyiiig Itiese remedies to the various 
kinds of trees for tho difTersnt diseases and givos 
Uu.slrations of th i m st effective pumps and nozzles 
which have been devised for spraying. Apple- eod lings, 
ills stated, can be treated witU the ammonia Siilutiou 
five times at a cost uf eight cents a thousand, while 
tholTuro, Pear, Cherry and Quince can be treated six 
times the first soasou with the Bordeaux mixture for 
flfly.five oents a thousand. These aro certainly inex- 
pensive remedies, and they are reported to be very 
effecMve- This little circular of eight pages will be 
forw.arded by the Department to any nurserymau oc 
fruit-grower ou applioation,— Oardsrt «»d Forest, 
