486 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 23, 1892. 
cent., and under curative treatment from 12 to 5'5, and what is 
even more important is the fact of the gains in sound tubers being 
much greater than the reductions in the weight of diseased ones. 
This was the case generally except in Cheshire, where the 
shrivelled foliage greatly diminished the crop. It appears very 
clear that the mixture was at fault in that county, which shows 
that no reliance can be placed upon the results of a single set of 
experiments. Taking four counties the following table shows 
what was the 
Gain in Sound Tubers per Acre. 
Stations. 
Treatment. 
Gain. 
Co.st of 
Dressing. 
Value of 
Gain. 
Nett Value 
of Gain. 
ton cwt. 
lb. 
£ 
S. 
d. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
£ 
8 . 
d. 
Preventive... 
0 
6 
56 
0 
16 
3 
1 
2 
9 
0 
6 
6 
JL/ V 0 • • • 
Curative. 
0 
17 
95 
0 
8 
6 
3 
2 
5 
2 
13 
11 
Lincoln ■ 
Preventive 
only. 
1 
1 
32 
0 
17 
0 
3 
3 
10 
2 
6 
10 
Preventive... 
3 
18 
0 
1 
5 
6 
13 
13 
0 
12 
7 
6 
ixent ... 
Curative. 
2 
10 
0 
0 
8 
6 
8 
15 
0 
8 
6 
6 
Pieventive... 
1 
12 
96 
1 
4 
0 
4 
18 
7 
3 
14 
7 
Curative. 
1 
7 
48 
0 
8 
6 
4 
2 
9 
3 
13 
9 
The gains have been rightly regarded as substantial, though 
it must be owned in neither of these four counties was the 
disease either entirely prevented or cured. To effect this there 
must be some means of preventing the dressing from being 
washed off by rains. In France it is claimed that this was 
managed by the addition of 20 lbs. of molasses to the mixture ; 
it is also noteworthy that there the quantity of lime was 
increased to 20 lbs. It was probably owing to an excess of 
sulphate of copper that the foliage sustained such severe damage 
in Cheshire, and it is certainly advisable this season to try 
20 lbs. of the quicklime and 20 lbs. of sulphate of copper to 
100 gallons of water. Due care must also be taken to mix 
well, and not to apply till haulm growth is well developed ; the 
quantity per acre ranging from 80 gallons to upwards of 
100 gallons. 
Similar experiments in Scotland were a failure from mismanage¬ 
ment, the preparation being neither well mixed nor applied at the 
proper time. Trials in Ireland were also unsatisfactory for very 
similar reasons. Those carried out by private individuals were 
mostly successful, and there is every inducement to try again in a 
more thorough and comprehensive manner. It is noteworthy that 
sulphate of iron proved useless as a preventive of disease. Both 
the blue vitriol and quicklime have long been in use in agriculture 
for other purposes ; neither is expensive, and the dressing ought to 
be tried again and again till the matter is well thrashed out. What 
a boon it will be to have a preventive of disease so simple in 
character and so cheap ! No other vegetable can approach the 
Potato in importance as an article of food, and a means of 
prevention of disease in it would prove so great an advantage that 
our best efforts should be devoted to the experiments suggested and 
to others with different quantities of the lime and vitriol. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM, 
Nitrate of soda and muriate of potash have both done good work 
recently as surface dressings ; the soda to give a brisk start to crops 
growing slowly, and the potash to assist spring corn of yellow hue in 
well-drained land. The effect of both fertilisers was excellent, that of 
the potash being remarkable for the speedy disappearance of the sickly 
yellow from the corn blades, which are now of a rich deep green colour, 
simply because the soil fertility was made perfect by the addition of the 
potash in which it was so deficient. Let there be no mistake made about 
this ; first ascertain it the drainage is good in the land of an unhealthy 
crop of corn, discoloration and slow growth but too frequently arise 
from a want of drains. We saw a field of Wheat recently with the plant 
discoloured and stunted, though it was a southern slope which might be 
drained most easily ; yet a dense growth of Coltsfoot among the corn 
showed plainly that it was cold, wet land which was the cause of what 
was practically a failure in the corn crop. To use surface dressings 
of nitrate of soda on such neglected land would be mere waste ; to 
use potash would be a mistake. Manure cannot act well in water¬ 
logged soil. 
A recent inspection of farm buildings for repairs, and of two farms 
for sale, again showed how common negligence of trifles is among 
farmers as well as owners of such property and their agents. Tenants 
often ask too much ; agents generally concede too little. Tenants fall 
into a slovenly way of always having yards and buildings untidy. If 
only agents would look more closely after repairs, upon the sound 
principle of a stitch in time, they would then be able to induce tenants 
to acquire habits of neatness and decency. Negligence in buildings 
must cause sickness among stock, and also impart impurity to milk. In 
a fine cow house out of repair we found floor, walls, and stall divisions 
positively coated with filth several inches deep. We took advantage of 
the occasion to point out the evil of this, and had to insist upon a 
thorough cleansing before the workmen began the limewashing, which 
we make a point of when repaws are done. At every homestead we find 
unsound roofs, broken doors and gates, floor, walls, and drains all out of 
repair. Can one wonder that tenants become careless when such things 
are left to go from bad to worse year after year ? An estate which we 
have now in hand has been sadly neglected for many years ; we are now 
taking the homesteads in turn, and giving all the buildings, farmhouses, 
and cottages a thorough overhauling, placing all in sound repair, and 
giving a finish to the work by seeing to outer drains, and having all 
roads and paths dressed with sufficient gravel from the estate pits to 
make them neat and useful. Tar, paint, and whitewash brushes are all 
at work too upon walls and woodwork, in the interest of the landlord 
and the contentment of his tenants. 
SEEDSMEN AT THE WARWICK AGRICULTURAL 
SHOW. 
We have not been favoured with the customary facilities for 
reporting the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at Warwick, but we 
understand that the large seed firms are well represented there. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co. display groups of permanent pasture 
Grasses and Clovers, arranged so as to furnish reliable information to 
those who are unskilled. Undesirable plants are also 6h''wn. This 
exhibit is essentially practical in character, and cannot fail to prove 
instructive. Cross-bred Wheats are also exhibited, and a large demand 
is springing up for them both in this country and in Canada. There is 
a grand display of the new well-known Elephant Swede, and the stand 
is materially brightened by choice flowers, such as Gloxinias and 
Petunias. Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ handsome range of two-storied offices 
in solid English Oak and Walnut is found on the right of the entrance. 
It is the s-ame as at the Windsor Show three years ago. The important 
subject of laying down land to grass is dealt with in a practical 
way, and samples of seed as well as growing specimens of the best 
Grasses are shown. A miniature meadow of a few weeks’ growth is 
especially interesting. There is a large and fine display of agricultural 
roots, and educational cabinets of Grasses, seeds, and plants, also a 
charming group of choice Gloxinias. Messrs. Webb & Sous have a 
handsome and instructive stand, containing a very fine display of dried, 
natural, and other Grasses,.also others in growth, with samples of seeds. 
Beautiful miniature pastures and lawns testify to the excellence of their 
seeds and manures. Cereals are large!/ shown by the Wordsley firm, 
and their Wheats, Barleys, and Oats have become famous. There is a 
fine collection of Potatoes, including varie ies raised by the firm, such as 
Stourbridge Glory, a really splendid variety, which will become widely 
popular. Vegetables and roots are abundantly and finely shown. 
Report speaks favourably of the excellent results that have followed 
the use of Messrs. Webb’s manures, for the manufacture of which they 
have special works on the Lancashire coast. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In the Day'. 
Rain. 
1892. 
June. 
Barometer 
at 32'-,and 
Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inchs, 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 12 
29-929 
49-8 
48-6 
N.E. 
61-6 
64-3 
50-2 
99-8 
51-1 
0-102 
Monday .. 13 
3U-081 
51-8 
46-1 
N.E. 
58-3 
62-1 
40-9 
118-9 
34-8 
— 
Tuesday .. 14 
30- 25 
50-4 
45-2 
N.E. 
57-1 
57-7 
40-9 
102-6 
31 9 
— 
Wednesday 15 
30-057 
55-4 
48-1 
N.E. 
56-0 
64-9 
38-6 
116-3 
31-9 
— 
Thursday.. 16 
29-932 
56-9 
52-0 
S.W. 
56-1 
63-0 
46-9 
95-4 
40-1 
0-111 
Friday .. 17 
29-979 
53 2 
45-2 
N.W. 
66-1 
64 2 
44-7 
121-3 
40-S 
— 
Saturday .. 18 
30-001 
54 8 
46-2 
W. 
55-3 
64-8 
41-9 
114-0 
37-2 
0-010 
30-015 
63-3 
47-3 
57-2 
61-6 
43 4 
109 8 
33-2 
0-223 
REMARKS. 
12tli.—Overcast, with frequent slight showers in morning; very wet from 0.30 P.M. to 
2 P.M.. and frequent driazle till 6 P.M.; fair night. 
13th.—Cool, with occasional bright sunshine. 
14th.—Cool and overcast almost throughout. 
15th.—Generally cloudy, but occasional sunshine. 
ICth.—Overcast morning, with occasional spots of rain; frequent showers from 1 P.M to 
midnight. 
17th.—Fine, with frequent bright sunshine. 
18th.—Brilliant early ; cloudy with frequent slight showers after noon. 
A cool and rather cloudy week, temperature about 6° below the average and 10® 
lower than that of the prec^ng week.—G. J. BYMONS. 
