February 15, 1883.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 129 
planted out the following season produce flowers and seeds. 
These are biennial characters similar to the Onion (Allium 
Cepa), and quite distinct from the perennial and almost seed¬ 
less character of Allium ascalonicum. These Jersey Shallots 
are in fact Onions, and of a very inferior variety. The bulbs 
are of a fair size, of uneven and irregular growth, being often 
divided into a number of crowns or smaller side bulbs similar 
to the Potato Onion. The flesh of the leaves glaucous like 
the common Onion. 
In Thompson’s “ Gardener’s Assistant,” new edition, three 
varieties of Shallots are mentioned—viz., 1, Common ; 2, Jersey 
or Russian ; 3, Grosse Eschalote d’Alen^on, the two latter, on 
the authority of Vilmorin, being stated “to belong to a diffe¬ 
rent species from the true Shallot, or to be some form of the 
Onion.” The descriptions are extremely vague, the writer 
being evidently ignorant of the subject. 
Turn we now to “ Les Plantes Potageres,” that magnificent 
new work on vegetables by Messrs. Vilmorin, replete with 
the very best information on these plants that is obtainable. 
Messrs. Vilmorin first describe the Eschalote ordinaire (syn. 
fechalote petite), which is identical with our common Shallot. 
Several sub-varieties of this are known in the Paris markets— 
viz., L’Echalote petite Native de Baguolet, a variety somewhat 
smaller than the type or Common Shallot ; L’Echalote Grosse 
de Noisy, having bulbs the size of a small fig, very thick skin, 
and keeps well ; L’Echalote Hative de Niort, a little smaller 
than the Common, later, but otherwise resembling it very 
much. 
Secondly, Echalote de Jersey, with the English synonymes 
Jersey or Russian Shallots. This Messrs. Vilmorin describe as 
in all its characters to exactly resemble the Onion, “ amongst 
which it should be classed.” L’^chalote d’Alenfon is de¬ 
scribed as having larger bulbs than the ordinary form, but with 
equally glaucous foliage ; and the Silver-skin is ,noted as a 
bad-keeping variety. L’Echalote de Gand and L’Echalote de 
Russie are further noted as very similar to the Jersey ordinaire. 
Some confusion seems to exist with regard to the Russian 
Shallot, Vilmorin and Thompson giving it as a synonym of 
the Jersey ; whilst in this country, and more particularly in 
Scotland, it is well known as a true Shallot and synonymous 
wi.h the Large Brown, and was in cultivation long antecedent 
to the so-called Jersey Shallots. It would appear to be un¬ 
known to Vilmorin. 
It is to be regretted that in so excellent a work as “ Les 
Plantes Potageres ” these Jersey Shallots—which it is proven 
are not Shallots or varieties of Allium ascalonicum at all, but 
true Onions—should have been introduced.—A. F. B. 
POTATOES FOR TABLE AND MARKET. 
"VVe know of no more laudable work than that of endeavour¬ 
ing to raise varieties of Potatoes that shall possess the requisite 
properties for insuring, as far as possible, an abundant supply 
of produce of satisfactory quality. All who are engaged in 
this work, whether from patriotic motives or honourable trade 
enterprise, are most meritoriously employed, for the vendor 
of a sterling article of paramount utility cannot benefit himself 
without benefiting the public too. 
During late years great exertions have been made with the 
object of improving the Potato and increasing its productive¬ 
ness. That a large measure of success has resulted is abun¬ 
dantly clear. One fact suffices to show this in a very striking 
measure—namely, that last year, which certainly was not one of 
the brightest and the best for Potato cultivation, not only were 
sufficient raised for the requirements of this country, good and 
cheap tubers being plentiful in the markets, but thousands, if 
not millions, of bushels have been exported to America to 
supply the deficiency in the crop of the United States. This is 
alike gratifying and encouraging, and it is in a large measure 
due to improved varieties and methods of culture that have 
been established within a comparatively recent period. 
The wonderful produce that has been staged at great Potato 
exhibitions has demonstrated what can be done by. sound 
culture, and thousands of persons have been induced to try and 
emulate the splendid results that have there been represented. 
More new varieties have been raised and tested, while old 
favourites have been better cultivated during the past few 
years than was ever previously known in the history of the 
Potato, and the outcome of this great Potato-reviving effort is 
that we have enough and to spare. With old varieties alone 
and a haphazard system of culture this success could not have 
been attained. The two useful varieties, Magnum Bonum and 
Scotch Champion, have, without doubt, contributed to an in¬ 
calculable extent to the well-being of this and other countries, 
and without these varieties it is not possible that the Potato 
supply could have been maintained in the present satisfactory 
condition. Wisely have endeavours been made to improve on 
these, and who knows but what some of the many varieties 
now on trial will not reach the high standard that is sought for ? 
That many will fail to do so is inevitable, since the numbers 
are so great as to be not a little perplexing, and the more so 
when soils and localities exercise such an influence on either 
the weight or ihe quality of the crops. 
Under these circumstances it is not surprising that extreme 
opinions have been formed on the Potato question—one section 
of the community denouncing the older varieties as effete and 
not worth cultivating, and the new alone capable of giving a 
profitable return ; another section ruling diametrically opposite 
—namely, that only the good old varieties can satisfy the con¬ 
sumer, the new fancy sorts being good enough to look at, but 
not fit to eat. If we had chronicled all such estimates that 
have come to our notice the list would have been as formidable 
as conflicting. Indeed, so strong are individuals in the sound¬ 
ness of their respective views, that we find it scarcely possible 
to recommend half a dozen varieties without being questioned 
—on the one hand, for naming some of the good old kinds, 
and on the other for including the new. 
“We want to plant from six to twelve really good and 
reliable varieties for use ; which do you consider the best ?” 
is the substance of letters we have not yet answered. With 
the object of answering them and anticipating others we have 
obtained the co-operation of cultivators in all parts of the 
kingdom, and if there is wisdom in a multitude of councillors 
we shall have words of wisdom to publish relative to this 
important subject. From upwards of 1G0 cultivators we have 
been favoured with information—105 in England, 2G in Scot¬ 
land, 17 in Ireland, 13 in Wales, and one in Guernsey. Each 
has submitted a list not exceeding twelve, or not more than 
four in each section, first early, second early, and late varieties. 
The character of the soil is named in each case, also the manure 
that is employed, and the general method of culture that is 
adopted ; and further, those varieties are particularised that are 
found the best for growing for market. Thus many suggestive 
hints and much useful information will be found in the reports 
we shall publish. These are, however, in the aggregate volu¬ 
minous, and a few weeks must necessarily elapse before the 
whole of them can appear. In the meantime, as the varie ies 
named are of the first importance, we give those which have 
found the most favour with cultivators in the wide field 
indicated. 
As will be seen by the verdict of those growers, neither the 
advocates of the old nor the patrons of the newer sorts can 
claim a triumph, and we have another instance of the safe 
course being the medium between the two extremes. While 
many of the old favourites have maintained their ground nobly 
yet some of the newer have surpassed them, and many are 
rising rapidly in public esteem. It does not follow that those 
that have only been named by a few individuals are on that 
account inferior ; on the contrary, some of these may eventually 
rank among the best in their generation, and indeed some of 
them promise to do so. It is not until a variety is widely and 
generally cultivated that its merits can be estimated by the 
greatest number of cultivators. The age of a variety is, there¬ 
fore, an important factor in determining its merit by the votes 
it has received. To give one instance : The twenty-nine votes 
accorded to Reading Hero carry more weight than forty-four 
registered for Dalmahoy, because the latter is, say ten times 
older than the former, and has been tested by almost every¬ 
body, while experience with the Hero has obviously been 
much more limited, yet it has risen to a high position with a 
rapidity that strikingly indicates its worth. Still, whateve ) 
position the different varieties occupy, this at least is certain— 
