194 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 26, 1880. 
Flounder. It is, however, comparatively tender, and one of the 
first always attacked by blight, but its early use and maturity 
enables it to be consumed before any sensible harm is done by the 
disease. Here they are an enormous crop. I weighed the produce 
of one root, six large tubers, rejecting the smaller, and found it 
to be 7 lbs., one tuber weighing 1 lb. 6 ozs. To-day the largest 
Potato I ever saw, a Flounder, weighed 2 lbs. exactly.—W. J. M., 
Clonmel. 
CRYSTAL PALACE FRUIT SHOW. 
The annual Fruit and Cut Flower Show at Sydenham was opened 
on Wednesday last, the exhibits being fairly numerous in most of the 
classes. In those devoted to fruit Grapes were by far the most 
strongly represented ; Peaches, Nectarines, and Pine Apples being 
also well shown. Cut flowers were abundant and occupied a con¬ 
siderable space. The short time at our disposal only enables us to 
give the names of the principal exhibitors in the several classes. 
In the chief class for a collection of twelve dishes of fruit the 
first prize was obtained by Earl Somers, Eastnor Castle, Ledbury 
(gardener, Mr. W. Coleman), with fine bunches of Black Hamburgh 
and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, the former well coloured and ripe. 
Lord Napier Nectarines and Bellegarde Peaches of fine size and colour 
were the most noticeable of the other dishes. Earl Brownlow, Ash- 
ridge Gardens, Berkhampstead (Mr. G. Sage), was a good second with 
fine Peaches. These were the only two exhibitors. For a collection 
of eight dishes there were five entries, the chief prize being secured 
by Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, Norwich (Mr. Allan), with well- 
ripened fruit; R. Leigh, Esq., M.P., Barham Court, Maidstone (Mr. 
C. Haycock), being a close second ; and Lord Calthorpe, Winchfield, 
Hants (Mr. Thos. Jones), third. 
Grapes were moderately well shown, the black varieties being 
especially fine in the winning collection. In the classes for black 
Grapes the successful exhibitors were Mr. Roberts, Gunnersbury Park ; 
E. M. Mundy, Esq., Shipley Hall, Derby (Mr. Elphinstone) ; J. L. 
Lovibond, Esq., Start’s Hill, Famborough, Kent (Mr. G. Tucker) ; Mr. 
Coleman ; Mrs. Lambert, Bletcbingley (.Mr. J. Goldsmith) ; H. Harris, 
Esq., Steventon Manor, Micheldever (Mr. E. Crump); and Birket 
Foster, Esq., The Hall, Witley, Surrey (Mr. F. Jordan). In the five 
classes there were twenty entries. In the class for ten varieties Mr. 
Elphinstone was first with good black Grapes, but the white varieties 
were not first-rate. Mr. Henry Apted, Broadwater, Worthing, Sussex, 
was second with smaller and less well ripened specimens. Four col¬ 
lections of five varieties were staged, Mr. Allan and Mr. Tucker being 
the winners. F. F. Halsey, Esq., M.P., Gaddesden Place, Hemel 
Hempstead (Mr. H. Folkes), was first with the heaviest bunch of 
Grapes—viz., Trebbiano, 5 lbs. 7 ozs., Mr. Coleman following with a 
bunch of Black Hamburghs weighing 5 tbs. G ozs. White Grapes 
were pooidy represented, Messrs. Folkes, Elphinstone, Coleman, and 
Allan being the chief prizetakers. Mr. W. Allan sent bunches of a 
new black Grape named Chatsworth Seedling, which appeared to be 
distinct and meritorious, the flavour being good, the berries long, and 
the bunches large. 
In the two classes for Pine Apples there were nineteen fruits 
shown, generally of fair quality and size. The prizetakers for a single 
fruit of the Queen variety were L. J. Baker, Esq., Haydon Hall, East- 
cote Pinner (Mr. J. Fry) ; and C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., M.P., Taibach, 
South Wales (Mr. J. Muir). Fora Smooth Cayenne Earl Fortescue, 
Castle Hill, South Molton, North Devon (Mr David Wilson), was 
followed by Mr. Muir. Nineteen fairly good Melons were staged in 
the two classes devoted to them. With scarlet-fleshed varieties Sir 
W. Farquhar, Bart., Polesden, Dorking, Surrey (Mr. 0. Goldsmith), 
was first, followed by J. T. Drake, Esq., Amcrsbam (Mr. T. Bailey). 
The Baroness L. de Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park (Mr. J. Roberts), 
was first with a green-fleshed variety ; and W. Spottiswoode, Esq., 
Coombe Bank, Sevenoaks (Mr. J. Bolton), was second. Nectarines 
were represented by ten single dishes and three triplets, the prize- 
takers being in the former Mr. Coleman and Mr. Allan with well- 
ripened fruits, and in the latter Mr. Coleman and the Rev. W. Sneyd, 
Keele Hall, Stafford (Mr. Wallis). Peaches were generally fine, Mr. 
Roberts and Mr. Coleman taking the prizes in a class of seven ex¬ 
hibitors. Plums were moderately good, there being seventeen com¬ 
petitors in two classes ; Mr. Bailey, Mr. J. Fry, and Mr. Sage being 
the prizetakers. Figs were shown by Messrs. Sage, Allan, and 
Coleman in fair condition. 
Cut flowers were numerous and remarkably bright, Dahlias being 
especially notable. The chief prizetakers in these classes were 
H. Glasscock, Esq., Bishop Stortford; T. Anstiss, Esq., Brill, Bucks ; 
Mr. H. Cannell, Swanley, Kent; and Messrs. Keynes & Co., Salisbury. 
Messrs. Ivel way & Son, Langport, staged the best collection of twenty- 
four Gladioli spikes ; the Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain, Westwell Yicarage, 
Ashford, Kent, also being first in the class for twelve spikes with 
remarkably fine specimens. Several tasteful arrangements for table 
decorations were shown. Messrs. Dick Radclyffe & Co., High Holborn, 
were placed first; and Mr. Thos. Butcher, Florist, South Norwood, 
second. Bouquets were also good. 
The miscellaneous exhibits were very numerous. Messrs. H. Lane 
and Sons, Great Berkhampstead, sent some fine specimens of Vines in 
pots. Messrs, Kelway & Son, Langport, exhibited a fine collection of 
Gladioli spikes, also flowers of Dahlias and Asters. Messrs. Carter 
and Co., High Holborn, contributed a number of Liliums, Hollyhock 
blooms, Cockscombs, and Dahlias. 
THE POTATO DISEASE. 
I see by No. 7 of your valuable Journal that “ A Kitchen 
Gardener' 1 does not agree with me in my statement that about 
half the losses by the disease arises from the want of knowledge, 
&c., of the growers. I do not expect everyone to take the same 
view that 1 do, and I should be content to allow this little differ¬ 
ence of opinion to pass without comment, but the interests at 
stake are so vast that I think I should be wrong in doing so. Our 
losses last year by the disease were estimated at no less than 
fifteen millions sterling ; and this year there is again an outcry 
about the disease. Are we to go on like this and do nothing ? 
“Kitchen Gardener” thinks that everything depends on the 
weather and the elements, and that we have nothing to do but 
fold our hands, a la Two, and take what Providence is good 
enough to send us ; and “ Lincolnshire Potato Grower ” is 
pretty much of the same opinion. I do not take this view. We 
have been following a waiting policy for the last thirty-five years, 
and what good has come of it ? It is time to wake up now and 
do something to lessen these terrible losses. That these losses can 
be much reduced I know by what takes place every year under 
my own eyes, so that I cannot be deceived. I am not well enough 
to go further into this subject at present, and will conclude with 
the following extract from a leading article in the Times of the 19th 
of August—“ Fortunately for those who can afford it, unfortunately 
for the cause of science and for the public weal, it has always 
been possible to obtain good Potatoes at Covent Garden or of any 
ordinary greengrocer. If they are not to be got at home, they 
come in from abroad, and the households that pay, without 
scrutiny, a pound or two every week in the singie item of 
vegetables are not the friends of inquiry and improvement. But 
the mass of consumers and of growers have been equally apathetic. 
The ordinary gardener has gone on from year to year planting 
the same sort in the same plot of ground, always selecting the 
smaller tubers as being good for nothing else. Seed Potatoes are 
the worst Potatoes of the crop, and though it is constantly affirmed 
that the size makes no difference, it must be admitted that the 
belief wants the justification of results. Upon the whole, there is 
no matter of equal importance on which there has been less 
inquiry, less experiment, and less application of intellect.”— The 
Writer who followed “W. B. W.” 
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mushrooms. 
Material should be collected to form beds to afford a supply of 
Mushrooms by the time the outdoor beds are exhausted. There is no 
question as to droppings daily collected from horses kept on hard food, 
and spread out thinly under cover, being the best material for the 
purpose, continuing this until a sufficient quantity is collected, and 
then throwing it into a heap to induce fermentation. When that has 
taken place and before the materials are highly heated turn them 
over, finally placing them in the bed to a depth of 20 to 24 inches, well 
beating them down. A thei mo meter with the bulb 4 inches beneath the 
surface will show the temperature of the bed, the maximum being at¬ 
tained in about a week, when if it is not likely to exceed 90° the spawn 
may be inserted at once. It should be in pieces about 2 inches square, 
and placed 9 inches apart every way, only so deeply as to be covered 
with the material, beating the bed to render it firm after the spawn 
is inserted. In the course of a week or ten days cover it 2 or 
3 inches deep with good turfy loam, which should be sufficiently moist 
to be easily beaten into a firm mass, making the surface smooth with 
the back of a spade. Over this a layer of coarse hay or soft litter 
about G inches thick may be placed, which will maintain uniformity 
of moisture and prevent the surface cracking ; but it should only 
remain on until the Mushrooms begin to appear, when it must be 
removed and the soil kept constantly moist. The temperature should 
be kept equable at 55°, though with a house that is kept at 50 p natur¬ 
ally no fire heat will be necessary, but it is essential that the latter 
