246 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t September 14, 1855, 
- Prices for Potatoes. —It would appear that iu some parts 
of the country farmers are obtaining fair prices for their Potato crops. 
An auction of 150 acres of growing Potatoes was recently held at the 
Stewponey Hotel, in the Stourbridge district, when 9 acres of Bruce and 
Magnum Bonum Potatoes realised £17 5s. per acre, these being offered 
by Mrs. Giles of Ash wood ; and llj- acres of Magnum Bonum and 
kidney Potatoes, belonging to Mr. T. Dorrell of Enville, made £17 per 
acre; and 11 acres of Magnum and Stourbridge Glory Potatoes, belong¬ 
ing to Mr. G. Elwill, £15 Ss. per acre. 
^- The Evening Primrose as a Vegetable.—T he “Lyon 
Horticole ” has a long and interesting chapter on the great value as a 
vegetable of the common ffinothera biennis, the very common weed 
known as Evening Primrose. Though introduced, it says, from America 
as early as 1614, it has only recently been known as a kitchen 
vegetable. It says that it is becoming wild in France, and is known by 
the common name of Donkey Flower. It questions the accepted origin 
of the name, and contends that the botanical name is rather derived 
from onagra, and not, as generally supposed, because the roots exhale 
the odour of wine. From the shape of its roots it is called in France 
the Leg of St. Anthony. However, it is as a vegetable that we have to 
ilo with it. If the seeds are sown as soon as they ripen young plants 
grow at once, and the plant throws up flower shoots early next year. 
This is the case with all plants known as biennials; but if we save the 
seed and sow it in the spring at the same time as we do Salsafy, 
Parsnips, and similar biennials, the plants make roots only that season 
intjtead of flowers. The author of the paper compares the roots with 
t'le Salsafy in value. It is stored away for use from November to April. 
Under good culture, it states, the roots develop to quite a large size. It 
also states that it is far superior as a vegetable to the recently intro¬ 
duced Stachys from Japan. 
- Boot Fungus. —Intelligent raisers of trees and plants muse 
be familiar with the work of root fungus, and with its effects on the 
foliage. In most cases the result is to turn the leaves from deep 
green to a golden yellow, as in the Peach, the Norway Spruce, and 
the White Pine. In the Carnation the glaucous grey green is changed 
to a sea green, and so on with other things. The rapidity with which 
the mycelium, or “ spawn,” as gardeners term it, travels under ground 
is wonderful. In a bed of Carnations planted out in early spring for 
removal in the fall to the Carnation house the writer saw a circle con¬ 
taining a few less than 100 plants infected, and which had to be 
rejected. This fungus had started from some half-decayed wood, and 
then had radiated some 15 feet to the circumference of the circle infest¬ 
ing every Carnation root in its march, and this 15 feet had been all 
developed in four months certainly, and probably much less judging by 
the fact that the leaf tint had all been completely changed. Just how 
the change is effected so as to give the yellows to the Peach, Spruce^ 
Pine, and other plants, is not known. No trace of the original fungus 
can be found in the woody structure, yet the wood impregnated with 
some deleterious substance is capable of carrying the disease to other 
plants by inoculation. But the fact remains that root fungus is the 
primary cause.—(“ Meehans’ Monthly.”) 
- A Crop op Fine Apples.—W ells Palace and some part of 
the grounds are surrounded by a moat and high wall. Against a sunny 
portion of the latter, and within a few feet of though well above the 
water, Mr. J. B. Payne, the head gardener in charge of the place^ 
some years since planted several Apple and Pear trees. From the 
first these trees thrived and fruited well, and I have seen several good 
crops of fine fruit on them. Apple Peasgood’s Nonesuch has repeatedly 
been very fine, but this year the crop quite eclipsed anything seen 
on the tree before, and, as far as my experience goes, anything of 
the kind ever seen elsewhere. Early in August I counted sixty-two 
fruits on the tree, every one of which were quite equal to taking 
prizes at leading shows in the west of England. Becently Mr. Payne 
exhibited twelve of the fruits at Bath, and it may safely be asserted, 
nothing else in a generally excellent Show attracted so much atten¬ 
tion. At one time I saw not less than a dozen policemen discussing 
the merits of this particular dish of fruit, and the member of the 
force who happened to be in charge of that end of the tent was 
quite delighted when a medal, in addition to the first prize, was 
awarded to Mr. Payne. Those twelve fruits weighed in the aggregate 
15 lbs., the heaviest being 16 inches in circumference, and weighing 
22 ozs. All, in addition to being large and well formed, were richly 
coloured. Mr. Payne has good cause to be proud of his production. 
—W. iGGULDEN. 
- School Gardens. —I was much interested in Mr. Wright’s 
article on this subject (page 201). He correctly remarks that it is not a 
“novel idea,” for I well remember thirty-seven years ago the school¬ 
master of the national schools at the village of Bocester in Staffordshire, 
Mr. Jenkins, suggesting to some of us lads that we should make flower 
borders round the playgrounds. As space was limited and many wished 
to take part in the work it was arranged that a lad of the “ first class 
(no “ standards ” then) should make and keep the portion allotted to hira,. 
having his “ chum ” for assistant. I remember it gave some of us a good 
deal of pleasure, and brightened up the barren yards during the summer.. 
Nor were the girls forgotten, for we made their borders too. About a. 
dozen of us each had a plot of ground in a field for growing vegetables^ 
but there was not any provision for instruction^ so we were dependent 
for this on our respective “ dads.” Truly this is very meagre compared 
with the splendid facilities afforded to the present school boys of Surrey,, 
still it was a step in the right direction ; and probably one of the earliest 
attempts to instil a love for gardening into the minds of the youths of 
the working class, and as such is, I think, worthy of being placed on. 
record.—T. S., Ilcthbury Hill. 
CLERODENDRON TRICHOTOMUM, 
When flowers of this fine hardy Clerodendron were exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, at the recent Agricultural Hall 
Show they attracted much attention, and the Floral Committee of the 
Boyal Horticultural Society awarded a first-class certificate. As a rule 
the blooms appear in September, and, as will be seen by referring to the 
illustration (fig. 35), they are produced in terminal cymes. They are 
white with a reddish purple calyx, and are fragrant. 
Clerodendron trichotomum is native of Japan, and was introduced 
many years ago, but it does not appear to be generally grown. It is a 
vigorous growing shrub, frequently attaining a height of 8 feet in 
sheltered positions. The leaves are dark green and comparatively large, 
being about 6 inches in length and proportionately wide. This species 
is sometimes described as a greenhouse plant, but it is quite hardy, and 
forms a striking feature in a shrubbery at this period of the year. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
September 12th. 
There were comparatively few exhibits at this meeting, and the 
attendance was not very large. Fruit was, however, well represented, 
and there were some good collections of Boses and Dahlias. Orchids 
were likewise fairly well shown. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: P. Crowley, Esq. (in the chair) j 
Messrs. John Lee, T. F. Bivers, Harrison Weir, G. Bunyard, J. Cheal, 
W. Warren, A. Dean, H. Balderson, J. Smith, G. Norman, W. H. Divers, 
G. Wythes, T. J. Saltmarsh, and J. Wright. 
Mr. W. H. Divers, The Gardens, Ketton Hall, Stamford, sent a seed¬ 
ling Peach raised from the Byron Nectarine, fruits medium sized, round 
and mottled like Grosse Mignonne, a freestone of excellent quality, 
ripening several days later than Lord Palmerston. The variety is 
named Duchess of York. An award of merit was unanimously awarded, 
another year’s trial being thought advisable before granting a first-class 
certificate. Messrs. Bobert Veitch & Son, Exeter, sent their new Peach 
Late Devonian, rather small dark coloured fruits grown in the open air 
and not in the best condition, some being distinctly over-ripe. No 
award was made. Mr. J. Miller, The Gardens, Buxley Lodge, sent 
dishes of splendid Peaches grown against an open wall, and a cultural 
commendation was unanimously awarded. 
Mr. Walter Weir, Acton Park Gardens, Wrexham, sent bunches of 
his new Grape Cape Muscat, berries black, ovoid, of good size, and well 
coloured. It is a very refreshing Grape with a combination of Muscat 
and Black Hamburgh flavour, and the crackling skin of Lady Downe’s 
Seedling. The seed was received by Mr. Weir from the Cape, hence the 
name given to the variety. The bunch somewhat resembles Alicante. 
An award of merit was unanimously awarded, and still higher honours 
may be in store if better specimens should be forthcoming. 
Mr. J. B. Payne, Palace Gardens, Wells, sent twelve magnificent 
fruits of Peasgood’s Nonesuch Apple, gathered from a tree trained 
against a cold, damp stone wall supporting a terrace, aspect south-east. 
The tree has been planted seven years, and covers a space 17 feet wide 
and 14 feet high. The crop this year was thinned to sixty-two fruits, 
none weighing less than 1 lb. The fruits sent would much exceed 
that weight, and were beautifully coloured. No other kind of fruit had 
been found to succeed against the wall. A bronze Banksian medal was 
unanimously recommended. 
Messrs. W. E. Browne & Son, The Nursery, Wells, sent a dish of very 
large Apples named Monster Pippin, for a certificate, but it was 
determined to be Warner’s King ; also a dish of Bartlett's Glory 
a splendid Apple resembling Cellini in appearance, but much larger 
and firmer, six fruits weighing 7 lbs.; in season from November till 
January. It was raised by a market gardener, whose name it bears 
(award of merit). 
