56 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 21, 1892. 
- The Potato Scab.— The Potato “scab” is intelligently 
discussed in a bulletin from North Dakota, a great Potato-growing 
region, and a few preventive points given which may save many a crop 
from partial destruction. It says that scabby seed Potatoes will pro¬ 
duce diseased crops; that healthy seed in a soil free from the scab or 
other diseases will alone give satisfactory results; that the disease 
germs of the scab often remain in the soil from season to season unless 
some means are taken to destroy them, and that diseased seed can, by 
being soaked in prepared solutions of chemicals, be made healthy and 
free from all taint. Corrosive sublimate has so far proved the most 
effectual for this work, and 2 ozs. of the poison in 2 gallons of hot water 
is the proper proportion. This should be stirred thoroughly, and then 
poured in a barrel containing 13 gallons of water. The seeds can be 
immersed in this for half an hour, then dried and cut up for planting. 
The solution can be used several times. 
- Fruit and Vegetables at Bedford. — The former as 
stated by a correspondent who favoured us with a report of the Bose 
Show on page 62 was remarkably good. Mr. G. B. Allis, gardener to 
Major Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, was first for a fine basket, Pines 
excluded, and Mr. Empson second; Mr. Empson leading for black and 
white Grapes and for a Melon, his bunches of Madresfield Court and 
Foster’s Seedling being evidently the produce of Vines in the highest 
state of perfection. Mr. Allis showed some fine specimens of Waterloo, 
Latest of All, and Oxonian (Eleanor) Strawberries, obtaining first for 
three varieties and also for very fine Boyal George Peaches. Vegetables 
were generally good, but Potatoes hardly up to the usual Bedford 
standard, Mr. G. Bobinson gaining first for the collection of twelve 
kinds, and also taking Messrs. Sutton’s prizes for six varieties and for six 
dishes of Potatoes and also for a collection of Salad. Mr. W. Kingston, 
Bedford, secured first prize in both classes for collections of Peas, staging 
Alderman (very fine), Duke of Albany, Duchess, Stratagem, Autocrat > 
and Charmer. Mr. Allis was first with twenty-four pods of Alderman 
in a strong competition. 
- Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association. —The Exeter 
Gardeners’ Association formed last year now numbers a hundred mem¬ 
bers. They meet in the winter months, but they decided some time ago 
to have a summer meeting in order to visit some of the more notable 
gardens in the neighbourhood. This event took place recently, when 
about seventy of the members turned up, amongst them being fifty-five 
practical gardeners, and the others being amateurs and honorary mem¬ 
bers of the Association. The places chosen for the visit were Winslade, 
the seat of the Bev. A. W. Hamilton Gell; Bystock, the seat of Mr. 
J. P. Bryce ; and Bicton, the seat of the Hon. Mark Bolle. At a dinner 
subsequently held the chair was taken by Mr. Andrew Hope, who dis¬ 
charged the duties of the position with his customary efficiency and 
geniality. At the conclusion of the repast the loyal toasts were 
honoured, after which the Chairman proposed “ Success to the Associa¬ 
tion.” He explained how the Association was started, stating that the 
idea originated with his co-secretary, Mr. T. E. Bartlett, It had worked 
most satisfactorily, and great benefit had resulted from it. They had 
already over one hundred members, and there was a balance in hand at 
the end of that, their first season, of £10. 
-Arsenic as an Insecticide.—A bulletin from the Iowa 
Agricultural Experiment Station treats upon the use of various forms 
of arsenic, and in various ways as an insecticide, and their effects 
upon the foliage. The conclusions which they give we condense. The 
oldest leaves and those affected by a fungus disease are more sus¬ 
ceptible to injury than young or healthy leaves. Dews and probably 
direct sunlight increase the injury done to the foliage, but applications 
made in bright sunlight or in the heat of the day do no more injury 
than those made in the cool of the day. Showers after application 
lessen the liability of injury to the foliage. When freshly mixed, 
London purple is most and white arsenic least injurious to the foliage, 
but if the arsenic stands long in the water before using it will do 
much greater injury than when freshly mixed. Lime added to arsenic 
when first mixed causes it to injure the foliage more, but when in 
solution, as when London purple or Paris green is used, it does not 
affect the foliage as much. London purple can be used eight or ten 
times as strong without affecting the foliage if the Bordeaux mixture 
is used with it. All the arsenites mix with resin compounds and 
with carbonate of copper solutions, and do no more harm than when 
mixed with water alone, but in sulphate of copper solution they 
injure the foliage much more, and so they do in soapy solutions. They 
do not mix readily with kerosene emulsions. 
- Fruit Growing at the Cape of Good Hope.—A circular 
has been issued by the Agent General for the Cape of Good Hope, 112 r 
Victoria Street, London, S.W., giving information with respect to fruit 
growing on a large scale at the Cape. Under certain specified conditions- 
it is pointed out that there are good openings for fruit farmers. The 
following extract from the report of Mr. P. Macowan, F.L.S., the 
Government botanist, is significant, but we are not guiltless in respect 
to this matter. “ The quality of fruit marketed is largely deteriorated by 
want of enterprise in arranging for its proper packing and transit. It 
is shaken down and tumbled into old gin cases and the like for jolting 
to market, hence it must be only three-quarters ripe to bear the rough 
usage without being turned to unsaleable pulp. Grapes are sent by 
tolerably careful growers in small baskets and arrive fairly well. The 
ordinary small farmer is satisfied with piling the bunches loose in the 
back of his cart till he has perhaps a hundredweight or more, and this 
mass he hawks about town as if it could be called fruit for the table. 
Of late years a very few of the leading growers pack their choice fruit r 
after selection and grading to size, in baskets and boxes containing a 
given number according to name and sample. But this care is quite 
exceptional; and the average fruitist here has yet to learn the first 
principles of marketing his produce. I cannot more suggestively point 
out the crude conditions of supply than by quoting the common phrase 
among sellers that ‘ spare ’ the fruit to the customer.” 
- Brighton and Sussex New Horticultural and 
Mutual Improvement Society. —At a largely attended meeting 
of the above Society, Mr. Balchin in the chair, a letter from the 
Committee of the Chrysanthemum Society wa3 read, to the effect 
that they were in favour of the amalgamation of the two Societies 
at the end of the financial year; and it was resolved that the 
joint Committee meet at the Imperial Hotel on Thursday evening, 
the 21st inst., to discuss details. Fifteen new members were 
elected. Some interesting exhibits brought by members were on the 
table, amongst which were some branches of Bed and White Currants- 
by Mr. E. Bunney of Coneyborrow, showing an immense crop of fine 
large fruit. From Hassocks Nurseries some sprays of Orchids were 
shown, Mr. Bichardson, Messrs. Balchin’s manager, intimating that 
they had all been subjected, during the winter months, to a much 
lower temperature than was generally supposed necessary for their 
successful culture, and that, if kept rather dry, many others can be 
grown under the same treatment. Mr. J. Bunney of Danny Park had 
a collection of early vegetables, and made some excellent remarks upon 
their good points. Mr. B. Mdler of Shoreham handed round a pot of 
Strawberry jam, with a spoon to taste it. It was made from fruit 
gathered in a soaking rain in July, 1889, and has kept till now quite 
sound. The whole proceedings show that the gardeners and amateurs 
of Brighton have taken up with spirit the work of mutual improve¬ 
ment.—B. I. 
- Common Carnations. —An hour or two before I read Mr. 
Martin Smith’s criticism of my note on common Carnations in a recent 
issue 1 came upon a wayside garden in which there were spreading 
masses of Pinks nearly a yard across and laden with flowers. They 
were common border varieties every one, most of them single, but their 
myriad tender-hued blossoms filled the place with brightness and the 
air around with perfume. I thought that in no great garden which I 
had ever entered had I seen a display of flower beauty more glorious 
than that which surrounded this cottage home. They reminded me of 
another garden in which, later in the year, Carnations are to my mind 
a dream of beauty, but they are of the same untutored race ; and of 
yet another garden wherein Boses are grown, that in spite of their wealth 
of bloom no exhibition box ever contains. Florists see no beauty in 
such types as these, but all are not so blind. The choice varieties are 
beautiful too, but they serve a different purpose. I do not depreciate 
them, but on the contrary I admire them deeply and hope to see their 
culture widely extend. There is not one of them, however, which I have 
grown or seen that can vie with the common border varieties I have in 
my mind for freedom of growth and flowering. Plants that seem almost 
as full of flowers as a sheaf is of corn commend themselves to me as 
generous, graceful and beautiful. If each individual flower is not up to 
the florist’s standard, what matters it? Mr. Martin Smith would make 
the difference between the types a question of good and bad. I deplore 
such a view being taken. They serve different purposes altogether, and 
each is good in its way. As it is Bose time let me take an instance from 
the queen of flowers. If I want blooms for the exhibition board I dare 
not forget Souvenir d’Elise, if for a wall in the free air I look beyond it 
to Gloire de Dijon.—P. 
