October 21, 1880 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 369 
and therefore it could not be taken as a general opinion. As for 
my not having given any reason for the fungus causing discolor¬ 
ation of the foliage, Mr. Luckhurst appears to be troubled with a 
peculiarly short memory. He should read my observations on page 
280 again ; and for their worthlessness, let me tell him that he is 
totally incapable of disproving that the mycelium does act in a 
poisonous manner, producing discoloration of the tissues. His 
long and close observation about “ legitimate growth ” and “ legiti¬ 
mate functions ” having ceased before the disease attacks the plants 
will not establish his case, for I and others have repeatedly 
observed instances to the contrary. So the question requires no 
further answer than that his experience is not in accordance with 
mine. 
After twice requesting an explanation of the peculiar circum¬ 
stance that the Peronospora infestans suddenly appeared in this 
country in 1845 accompanied by the Potato disease, Mr. Luck¬ 
hurst, who was evidently not prepared to answer it directly, 
replies in a truly Hibernian manner by asking another question, 
“ Will * S.’ kindly give his authority for the statement that Pero¬ 
nospora infestans was unknown in this country before 1845 ?” 
My authority is the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, a scientific gentleman of 
high repute, who was among the first who investigated the cause 
of the Potato disease, and who has probably spent more years in 
the study of the lower orders of the vegetable kingdom than Mr. 
Luckhurst has weeks. He has stated it in several places, but one 
perhaps that will be conveniently consulted by your correspondent 
is the “ Treasury of Botany,” page 923, 1876. 
Turning to the Peach blister I observe a strange inconsistency 
in Mr. Luckhurst’s statements. On page 302 he said, “ Plant two 
Peach trees of the same variety side by side, screen one from the 
wind, but let it be fully open to the air, and there will be no 
blister,” and he further says that the unprotected tree “ will be 
blistered precisely in proportion to the degree of exposure ; ” but 
on page 346 he is afraid I am not a close observer, or I should 
be aware “ how worthless are all ordinary forms of shelter,” of 
which I am certainly not aware, for it is directly contrary to 
everyday experience, and in the instance which I cited the pro¬ 
tection from winds was as efficient as could possibly be afforded 
outside, yet the blister was as bad as it could be. Having first 
positively asserted that wherever the wind can affect the trees it 
produces blister, he infers that wherever blister is seen the wind 
has produced it—a very original mode of argument, but by no 
means satisfactory, as if he could prove the .first assertion the 
other would not necessarily be correct. As to the plants being 
free from blister in the houses, I may say that though an instance 
to the contrary has not come under my own observation, yet an 
intelligent gardener friend of mine who has had long and varied 
experience assures me that he has several times seen it occur in 
houses. I entertain no doubt respecting the actual cause of 
the blister, but the conditions particularly favouring its produc¬ 
tion are not so clear. I believe that a thorough ripening of the 
wood is one of the best means of preventing it, and if that be the 
case immaturity of the growth or looseness of the tissue would 
seem to be one of its requirements. Mr. Luckhurst has not yet 
given us an example of anything similar to blistering being pro¬ 
duced in other trees or plants by the cold winds alone. 
The following is a brief summary of my reasons for believing 
that fungi cause the Potato disease and Peach blister. With 
regard to the first, the disease is invariably accompanied by the 
fungus Peronospora infestans, its mycelium or spores being found 
in every portion of the Potato haulm or tuber that presents the 
ordinary appearances of the disease. It is known beyond all dis¬ 
pute that the fungus is capable of producing the rapid decay 
which takes place in the haulm. It only appears under certain 
conditions of temperature and moisture. And lastly, both the 
disease and the fungus were unknown in this country before 1845, 
though the Potato had been in cultivation for above a hundred 
years before, and since we have never been free from it. I con¬ 
sider the Peach blister to be caused by the fungus Ascomyces 
deformans, because it is perfectly adequate to the effects. It 
always accompanies the blister, and is not found upon Peach 
trees at any other time, and I cannot conceive how the blistering 
of the foliage could be produced by any but internal injury. The 
condition suitable for this fungus is, however, as I have already 
stated, not quite clear, but I think it will be found that much 
depends upon the ripeness or immaturity of the wood.—S. 
During- the last few weeks the issues of the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture have contained communications from various correspon¬ 
dents, who have ably championed, or assailed, as the case might 
be, the claims of fungi to the honour (?) of producing disease in 
plants. On the one side their ideas have been expressed by a full 
and lucid explanation of the conditions under which the texture 
of the Potato foliage, and also that of the Peach becomes injured, 
or it may be said diseased, from climatic causes, such as cold or 
wet ; and it is asserted that this ruptured state of the tissues of 
the leaf is the cause of Potato disease, Peach blister, &c. While 
on the other hand equally good reason is shown, supported by 
strong facts, that fungi cause disease in those cases. 
Microscopic research has been said to prove that when subjected 
to excessive wet the cells of the Potato foliage become ruptured. 
The microscope has also shown the mycelium of the Peronospora 
infestans present as soon as disease appears on the Potato leaf. 
Now it may be presumptuous in me to venture upon giving my 
ideas when the subject has been ably handled by writers of 
acknowledged talent in those matters, but I cannot help venturing 
the opinion that, if we accept as facts that the foliage of the 
Potato and Peach become vulnerable from one cause and is then 
attacked by fungus, we have two concurrent circumstances as 
causes producing an effect which we call Potato disease. From 
this I would deduce that it is illogical to call one the effect of the 
other.—R. CrosslinG, Castle Gardens , St. Fagans. 
OLD CUCUMBER PLANTS. 
The remarks on the above subject by “A Kitchen Gar¬ 
dener,” on page 325, were read with great interest by many 
gardeners, and in continuation I wish to give a few of my observ¬ 
ations. If you can keep the old stems in good condition they 
will produce fruit for a whole year ; but whether it is profitable 
to do so is another question. The grand secret of successful 
Cucumber-growing is cleanliness, for unless the foliage be clean 
no very satisfactory results can be expected. This year plants 
put-in in January are now in full bearing, and I have cut since 
March 1700 fine Cucumbers. I have examined the plants to-day and 
find them likely to last as long as I wish to keep them—namely, 
until Christmas, when my early plants will be in a bearing state. 
To keep Cucumbers in good condition they must never be 
neglected in the supply of water at the roots, and also they must 
be thoroughly syringed at least once a day with tepid water. I 
place the water cans on the pipes, and find the water sufficiently 
warm either for supplying to the roots in the morning or syring¬ 
ing in the afternoon. The house is 80 feet long, a lean-to, though 
tanks take up 4 feet at each end of the bed. Frequent top-dress¬ 
ing is attended to, and I prefer giving a little at a time to a 
great depth at once. I plant 3 feet apart and encourage the pro¬ 
duction of foliage and wood from the base of the plant, as it 
helps to thicken the stems. I have only lost one plant, and this 
damped off at the collar. To maintain a regular supply of Cucum¬ 
bers the treatment should be regular as regards temperature, 
ventilation, tying, and stopping. I examine my plants once, 
sometimes twice or three times a week; by so doing I have a con¬ 
stant supply of young wood to take the place of the old leaves. I 
have grown several varieties here, but none have equalled the 
Telegraph, especially in the early part of the year, I noticed 
this spring that I cut from plants of Telegraph three times the 
quantity of good fruits that I obtained from the same number of 
plants of any other variety. It is advantageous to afford a little 
shade, at least when the sun is very bright. I do it in this way: 
I obtain a few lumps of lime and slake it in a pail and employ it 
hot, placing it on the glass very lightly with a brush, and it lasts 
all through the summer. I have kept the fires in all through 
the summer. I find that it is best to do so, especially in changeable 
weather, regulating the heat by the valves. I know that there 
are various opinions as to bottom heat, but from experience I 
think there is little danger of having too much, provided water 
is supplied in proportion. 
In concluding I will sum up the requirements of Cucumbers in 
a few words. To grow them well necessitates hard work, constant 
attention, judicious watering, regular syringing, liberal top-dress¬ 
ings, and fire heat according to the weather, but I make no attempt 
to keep the temperature at a fixed degree, as common sense tells 
me to do this must be wrong. In addition to the regular watering 
and syringing in hot weather the plants are greatly benefited by 
damping the paths and beds during the morning, or say about noon. 
Keep your plants pinched and tied regularly, and cut the fruit as 
soon as ready. Always close the house early before the sun loses 
its power, as by so doing you save much fire heat and benefit the 
plants.— Stephen Castle, The Vineyard, West Lynn, Norfolk. 
Japanese Anemones. — I was very pleased to see these so pro¬ 
minently advertised in your columns last week, as they are plants 
of such sterling merit that everybody ought to grow them. Owing 
to the number oE hardy and other plants now advertised and 
spoken of in the papers, it can be no small matter for anyone to 
select those which are really good and useful, as it is well known 
