JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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March 8, 1883. ] 
191 
varieties. So successful has he been in producing single 
Dahlias from seed, that it is due to him to place on record the 
satisfactory results that have attended his efforts. By way of 
illustration I may mention that in a bed of this year’s seedlings 
a large proportion of the flowers possessed the qualities to be 
found in the best named varieties both as regards the form of 
their flowers as well as in their rich diversity of colours. 
With a pleasing remembrance of these flowers as I write, 
and with a prospective view promising the fulfilment of greater 
expectations, I cannot but urge the opinion that care should 
be exercised by growers in selecting only such seedlings for 
naming as are of superlative merit. To those contemplating 
saving seed of single Dahlias with a view to obtaining varieties 
of merit, we may observe that ihe flowers are in a high degree 
susceptible to chance impregnation through the agency of the 
wind, as well as by the insects by which they are always more 
or less infested. It is, therefore, important to state that they 
should not be planted too close to the double varieties if the 
cultivator’s object be to obtain single flowers. 
To those who are not aware how easily this class of plants 
can be grown we offer the following remarks. To insure their 
flowering the same year seed should be sown not later than 
the month of March, for if sown later, unless the season be 
very favourable, they will yield but few flowers : however, the 
tubers from those that do not happen to flower the same season 
may be stored as customary with other kinds, and will amply 
repay in the following year the little trouble that such a course 
involves. Choose flower pots or pans of a convenient size, 
and after placing sufficient crocks in the bottom of each to 
insure good drainage cover them wi h a thin layer of moss, 
and then fill with a compost of sandy loam and thoroughly 
decayed leaf soil, distribute the seed thinly on an even surface, 
and slightly cover them with fine soil ; they should then be 
placed in a bottom heat of 60° or 65° Fahr., and when the 
young plants have become sufficiently strong remove them to a 
cooler temperature and harden them gradually for planting out, 
as early in May as practicable. 
If sown thinly as here recommended they need not be potted 
singly, as this pfactice—no matter how carefully performed— 
tends to weaken the young plants, from which state it takes 
time for them to recover. If they receive similar treatment to 
that generally bestowed on raising half-hardy annuals, such as 
Ten-week Stocks, Asters, and Phlox Drummondi, they will 
in most cases fully answer the grower’s expectations. It will 
be necessary to use some care in separating the roots of the 
seedlings in removing them from the seed pans for planting 
out, which should be effected if possible in showery weather. 
If planted in lines or groups a distance of not less than 3 feet 
should be allowed between the plants, and they ought to be 
afforded some protection until they are established. There is not 
much advantage to be gained by the process of disbudding, as 
this only tends to increase the size of the flowers, which in 
most cases cannot be considered desirable. In conclusion, the 
value of single Dahlias planted with a view to producing the 
most pleasing effects in combination with other popular garden 
plants is suggested as deserving of consideration.—S. P. E. S. 
POTATOES FOR TABLE AND MARKET. 
(Continued from page 174.) 
In the following notes the figures 1, 2, and 3 indicate first early, second early, 
and late varieties; the months the time of planting; and the asterisks those 
varieties that are considered the best for market purposes by the respective 
cultivators. 
Gloucestershire. —1. Middle to end of March for gardens; a 
week later for exposed situations. * Rivers’ Royal Ashleaf and 
Myatt’s Prolific Ashleaf. Soil.—Deep light loam on gravel subsoil. 
2. Same as first early. *Early Rose and Beauty of Hebron. 
3. Beginning of March for gardens, fortnight later in exposed 
situations. *Magnum Bonum and Reading Hero. Manures and 
Application.—In gardens I apply a moderate quantity of farm¬ 
yard manure in the autumn or a moderate quantity of artificial 
manure in the spring at the time of planting. In fields I 
have used ordinary manure, also bone dust in moderation at 
the time of planting, without any injurious consequences as re¬ 
gards disease, but a large quantity of manure increases the 
disease very much. General Culture.—It is found by some cultiva¬ 
tors that the crop of Potatoes is very much increased by the 
use of large quantities of manure both ordinary and artificial, and 
as the expense of cultivation, rent, &c., continue very much the 
same there is more margin of profit. There may be no objection to 
this if the produce is all consumed, but the use of Potatoes grown 
in this manner for seed cannot be too strongly condemned. They 
have the mycelium of the fungus largely developed in them, and can¬ 
not fail to reproduce it on an extended scale the following year ; in 
fact the Magnum Bonum is the only Potato up to the present time 
which has not broken down under such treatment. Specially pre¬ 
pared tubers should be grown for seed. The planter should send to a 
nurseryman for his stock of tubers for planting, or devote a special 
plot of ground on his farm for raising seed tubers for use the follow¬ 
ing year.— Frederick Bravender, The Firs, Cirencester. 
1. From the 1st to 20th of March. *Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf, 
Rivers’ Royal Ashleaf, and *Myatt’s Prolific Ashleaf. Soil.—Light 
soil and in sheltered situations. 2. Latter end of March or beginning 
of April. Gloucestershire Kidney and *Rintoul’s Early Don. Soil.— 
Medium. 3. First and second weeks in March. *Magnum Bonum, 
*Scotch Champion, and *Paterson’s Victoria. Soil.— Medium. 
Manures and Application.—Well-decayed farmyard manure and coal 
ashes are freely used, the latter especially where the ground is inclined 
to be heavy ; road scrapings and leaf soil are found to be of great 
service.— Willam Nash, Badminton Gardens. 
1. February and March. Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf. Soil.— 
Light. 2. March. *Prince Arthur and *Gloucestershire Kidney. 
Soil.—Light. 3. April. Schoolmaster and ‘■’'Magnum Bonum. Soil.— 
Rather heavy, considering it is resting on the old red sandstone forma¬ 
tion. Manures and Application.—Leaves, stable dung, and garden 
refuse, &c., well incorporated together forms the principal manures 
used here. General Culture.—We never apply manure direct for 
Potatoes, but rather stimulate about the time of earthing up with dry 
wood ashes, a little soot, and Peruvian guano mixed together and left 
in a heap twelve hours before using.— Thomas Shingles, Tortioorth 
Gardens , Fal/ield. 
Hampshire. — 1. February. *Rivers’ Royal Ashleaf, Myatt’s 
Prolific Kidney, Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf, and *Extra Early Ver¬ 
mont. Soil.—The soil is a light stony loam resting on a gravel 
bottom. 2. March and first week in April. *3choolmaster, ‘'‘Pater¬ 
son’s Victoria, Woodstock Kidney, and Covent Garden Perfection. 
Soil.—These are planted in a soil consisting of loam, leaf soil, and 
vegetable manure. 3. Third week in February and first week in 
March. *Magnum Bonum, *Scotch Champion, *Dalmahoy, and 
Lapstone. Soil.—Medium loam, and consisting principally of peat with 
sand. Manures and Application.—I apply to the soil in which the 
first earlies are planted a good quantity of well-decayed leaf soil with 
a small proportion of soot. The second earlies are planted in a com¬ 
post of stable manure and guano in small quantities. For the late 
varieties I add to the soil before planting a good share of farmyard 
manure. General Culture.—Plant the tubers in rows from 2 to 3 feet 
apart according to the haulm they make ; the Magnum Bonum and 
other varieties make such a vigorous growth that I allow them 3 feet 
between in the rows, and the tubers 2 feet apart. They are frequently 
hoed and kept clear of weeds when growing. As soon as they are 
fairly up they are earthed. Last season I had very few diseased 
tubers.— Henry Charles Ogle, Chilworth Manor Gardens, near 
Romsey. 
1. Middle of February. *Myatt’s Prolific Ashleaf, Suttons’ Fill- 
basket, and *Coldstream. Soil.—Very light sandy loam, trenched 
deeply and manured with vegetable (leaf) soil every year. 2. Middle 
of March. Woodstock Kidney, Lapstone, and *Covent Garden Per¬ 
fection. Soil.—Similar to the last, and trenched every year, but it is 
manured in alternate years only. 3. First week in April. ‘•‘Reading 
Hero, *Magnum Bonum, and *Paterson’s Victoria. Soil.—A loam of 
medium texture, which is trenched every alternate year, and long 
stable manure worked in. General Culture.—The early and second 
early kinds are planted in drills 4 inches deep, 2 feet apait, and 
15 inches from set to set, and are covered in with the hand ; and as 
soon as the tops are above ground are earthed up in the way Potatoes 
usually are earthed when about a foot high. This protects *them 
from frost, and no other earthing up is needed. The late kinds are 
planted with broad-pointed dibbers 4 inches deep, and are earthed 
when the tops are about 9 inches high.—W. WlLDSMlTH, The Gardens, 
HecJcfield Place, Winckfield. 
1. As soon after March 1st as the ground is found in good condi¬ 
tion. *Early Hammersmith, *Myatt’s Prolific Ashleaf, Rivers’ Royal 
Ashleaf, and Mona’s Pride. Soil.—Old garden soil; originally heavy 
clay, now moderately light and full of vegetable matter. 2. End of 
March. *Snowflake, Woodstock Kidney, *Covent Garden Perfection, 
and Lapstone. Soil.—Same as for first earlies. 3. From 1st to 20th 
of April. *Suttons’ Reading Hero, Scotch Champion, *Paterson’s 
Victoria, and Dalmahoy. Soil.—Heavy clay. Manures and Appli¬ 
cation.—In rich garden ground I have obtained the best results from 
the use of wood ashes and charred rubbish strewn rather thickly over 
the sets when planted. Heavy dressings of rich manure usually pre¬ 
dispose to disease; but on ordinary farming land manure is necessary, 
but ought to be applied and ploughed-in in the autumn. General 
Culture.—Potatoes once planted only require to be kept free from 
weeds until fit to be earthed up. Peruvian guano is strewn between 
the rows at the rate of about 2 cwt. per acre just previous to that 
operation being performed.— James Bell, Strattieldsaye, (1 inchfield. 
