4 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r January 5 , uss. 
(the distance, of course, depending upon the leaf-growth allowed). 
In growing a pot Vine the roots are first like small quills until 
they have extended well round the sides of the pots, then fibres 
commence forming. If planted out and grown exactly on the 
same principle, those roots would extend a considerable distance 
without a fibre—much more so than when grown in pots. When 
borders are made gradually these roots have not a chance of 
extending far fibreless, for as soon as they push through the turf 
to the air they commence forming hundreds of fibry roots. If not 
mistaken for “ Box bushes.” they might be for door mats. 
Mr. Taylor is a little mistaken if he thinks I am an advocate 
for restriction when Vines have attained a few years of age, or say 
when they are in a fruiting stage to the top of the house. It is in 
this stage and onwards that I believe liberty of growth is of the 
utmost importance, and assists the Vines to carry good crops of 
fine fruit without bringing them to a standstill, which is the case 
sooner or later when unduly restricted year after year. I have 
had to recruit exhausted Vines from heavy crops and restriction. 
Abundance of growth has been the means of restoring the Vines 
to vigour and fiuitfulness, and they yearly improve. 
“An Old Grower” has no proof that I grow canes 30 to 
40 feet long, and even if I did such a Vine would be better fitted 
to carry a greater weight of Grapes than Vines severely restricted 
to 10 feet. “ An Old Grower ” failed to tell us how he pruned 
his established Vines, but admits he removes 2 feet of the best 
buds from his canes, so that I am right after all in the conclusions 
I arrived at. How “ An Old Grower ” can claim comparison 
between his severely restricted system and the more liberal treat¬ 
ment advocated by Mr. Iggulden I am at a loss to know. In his 
first notes he scarcely knows which course to pursue, and on 
page 452 lays to Mr. Iggulden’s charge “ undue ” restriction, and 
yet follows a system himself no longer tolerated by the majority 
of good Grape-growers. He has, however, a companion in Mr 
R. inglis, who grows his rods about the same length because he 
is compelled—in fact, grows them more after the style of Rasp¬ 
berries, with the old stems or stools below the stage, if I remember 
the substance of his article in a contemporary of a few years 
ago ; the present year’s fruiting wood being cut away as soon as 
the fruit is ripe and before the foliage shows signs of maturity, in 
order to concentrate the sap into the young canes left. I should 
much like to know from Mr. Inglis if the roots do not die with 
this kind of treatment. Both “ An Old Grower ” and Mr. Inglis 
must think I have only a poor conception of what a Vine requires 
for food, for they evidently conclude, after the few ashes are 
returned to the border, the Vines require no further assn t in e 
for some indefinite period. I wonder what the same amount of 
ashes would do for the Vines treated by Mr. Inglis above referred 
to, or “ An Old Grower ” in producing his 10-feet canes and show 
Grapes. 
The supporters of restriction have said much about the material 
taken out of the border by allowing a liberal development of 
foliage. They would have us believe a Vine border (under oi r 
liberal system of growing Vines) would be thoroughly exhausted 
and require renewing about the time the Vines are in a fruit¬ 
bearing condition to the top of the house. If true, Vine-growing 
under such a system would prove too costly an operation, and any 
system would be acceptable to avoid such a state of things. It is 
necessary for them to prove to us by facts that it is really so. I 
am inclined to think what is not taken out of the border by the 
Vines after a number of years, if grown on restricted principles, 
would be washed out by constantly soaking the border. It is a 
question if a border would not supply food to the Vines as long 
when unrestricted as when a 10-feet-cane system is resorted to. 
W. Bardney. 
USEFUL POTATOES. 
Two or three years ago I thought that I knew very much about 
Potatoes, for I had experimented with them in cultivating and 
specially manuring them, cutting to single eyes, thinning the 
shoots, and so forth. Now, although in the meanwhile I have 
learned much more, I am inclined to think that I have more still to 
learn about Potatoes and their peculiarities. 
In reading the dilferent letters that have lately appeared one 
thing is strikingly apparent—the writers differ as widely as pos¬ 
sible in their estimate and descriptions of the different varieties. 
The result of this is, readers generally, who wish to know what to 
grow and what to avoid, are hopelessly puzzled, and regard the 
communications as untrustworthy, which they undoubtedly are, 
even though as undoubtedly candid. The fact is, soil, season, 
and climate so affect the characters of even the most constant 
Potatoes that, except in the case of a few generally approved 
sorts, it is difficult if not impossible to fully ascertain what any 
variety is worth. The only way any grower can ascertain 
what will suit his soil and district is to grow a few of the most 
approved soits for a year or two, and then select two or three 
suitable kinds. We say they should be grown for a year or two, 
because a good Potato may be injuriously affected either by 
excessive drought or wet. Even ordinary seasons will not fully 
prove the value of any Potato. 
The year of the American Centennial we received from New 
York about a dozen kinds of American Potatoes, the names of 
which we had not even heard till then. Most turned out to be 
inferior. One, very like Early Rose, but more robust, two weeks 
later and a heavy cropper, proved of very fine quality. This was 
in a warm dry year. The year following, the season and the variety 
were exactly the opposite. Then, again, it was everything that 
could be desired, except being peculiarly liable to disease ; but 
this season, a very cold one here, it is quite useless. In a warm 
climate it would, we doubt not, be generally praised ; in a cold 
one generally condemned. 
Many opinions have from time to time been published concern¬ 
ing Magnum Bonum, but these have been very conflicting. 
There are some points, however, on which all are agreed. One is, 
that it withstands disease wonderfully. That is a valuable 
quality, for in some seasons Potatoes have been so scarce that 
poor people could not pure! ase them, but who would be very glad 
to have Magnum Bonums even though second-rate. The next is 
that it is a wonderful cropper. That, again, is a good quality, for 
many otherwise good are such poor croppers as make them any¬ 
thing but profitable, and too many have to consider when plant¬ 
ing their Potatoes whether the crop will pay or not. 
Some say the quality of Magnum Bonum is first-rate, others 
that it is waxy. The quality depends to some extent on the 
cultivation, and we think many make the mistake of lifting 
their crop before it is mature. Again and again w r e have read 
accounts in the Journal and elsewhere of people lifting their 
Magnum Bonum weeks before ours were ripe ; and such persons 
invariably make part of their report say that the quality is inferior. 
No one who lifts either it or Champion till the leaves have 
become ripe or faded, or been killed by frost, should speak about 
the quality of the produce. 
Another fact is, they are planted, too often, much too closely. 
Planting Potatoes so closely that ultimately the stems become in¬ 
terlaced is a sure way of preventing strong-growing late Potatoes 
maturing properly, and it is nonsense in such cases to blame the 
Potatoes. The cultivator is to blame. 
In fairly good seasons Magnum Bonum when planted at 
sufficient distances apart is always of first-rate quality here. In 
seasons like 1881 it is inferior, but how can a late Potato be 
otherwise when the corn harvest was not quite over in October ? 
To judge it in such a year would be unfair. Even at its worst 
we think it valuable. When others are scarce it is plentiful, and, 
though not quite first-class, it is by no means despicable. 
One quality it possesses which has not been turned to good 
account by growers. Properly cared for it is as good in June and 
July as in January, and is iufinitely preferable for food to the 
green rubbish for which Dutchmen and others receive our 
money, or even to the green Potatoes from our own fields. When 
the public know that such good Potatoes are to be had at mid¬ 
summer farmers will find that agriculture is not quite hopeless, 
for one lesson they will learn—that he who leaves the time-worn 
rut may still make money. 
How a Potato may be suitable for a large piece of ground, but 
unsuitable for a small piece by reason of its spreading haulm, we 
do not understand. If the haulm spread widely, the plants 
should be planted widely. If thirty shaws of Magnum Bonum 
yield as much or mere than a hundred of Early Rose, both 
taking up the same ground, I do not see why the Magnum 
Bonum should be disqualified. Rather the opposite, for, sup¬ 
posing other things equal, a working man’s dinner would be saved 
out of the seed required, while the less likelihood of disease 
spoiling the produce might secure a few more further on. Three 
Potatoes of Magnum Bonum will, on equal conditions, produce 
quite as much as twenty of Early Rose. Early Rose requires at 
least two eyes to the set, Magnums only one. 
As to what kinds cottagers plant their plots with is of no great 
consequence. What farmers grow is of national importance. In 
some districts Scotch Champion has proved a mainstay. Here 
Magnum Bonum is better, as it yields twelve tons to the acre 
under the same treatment that only secures ten of the Champion. 
Moreover, Magnum Bonum produces a much more even sample, 
and is not so exhaustive. There are fewer chats by far, and lha 
eyes are singularly shallow, so they are no cause of waste. The 
Champions are peculiarly hollow-eyed, so causing great loss in 
the kitchen. Nevertheless we do not condemn it, for it may in 
