254 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 22, 1892. 
Second Quarter Plot.—Undressed. 
Eow and variety. 
Weight of 
sound tubers. 
Weight of 
diseased 
tubers. 
Total. 
cwt. qr' lb. 
cwt. qr. lb. 
cwt. 
qr. 
lb. 
1. Myatt’s . 
1 2 17 
— 3 25 
2 
2 
14 
2. Snowdrop . 
1 3 10 
— 1 21 
2 
1 
3 
3. Beauty of Hebron ... 
2 0 10 
— 1 12 
2 
1 
22 
4. White Elephant . 
2 0 25 
— 3 21 
3 
0 
18 
5. King of the Russets... 
3 2 5 
— — 12 
3 
2 
17 
6. Cosmopolitan . 
2 0 0 
— 1 7 
2 
1 
7 
7. Magnum Bonum. 
3 0 21 
— — 5 
3 
0 
26 
8. The Bruce. 
3 2 0 
— — 7 
3 
2 
7 
9. Carters’ Surprise. 
2 1 10 
— — 25 
2 
2 
7 
10. Imperator. 
3 2 23 
— — 16 
3 
3 
11 
Totals . 
26 0 9 
3 2 11 
29 
2 
10 
Third Quarter Plot. — Dressed. 
Weight of 
Weight of 
Row and Vari.ty, 
sound 
diseased 
Total. 
tu bers. 
tubers. 
cwt. qr. lb. 
cwt. qr, lb. 
cwt. 
qr. 
lb. 
1. Myatt’s . 
1 1 13 
— - 0i 
1 
1 
13i 
2. Snowdrop . 
1 1 21 
— — 0^ 
1 
1 
211 
3. Beauty of Hebron ... 
1 3 12 
- - ]3 
x 4 
1 
3 
13f 
4. White Elephant . 
2 3 17 
— — 0 
2 
3 
17 
5. King of the Russets... 
2 2 9 
— — 0 
2 
2 
9 
6. Cosmopolitan . 
12 7 
— — 0 
1 
2 
7 
7. Magnum Bonum. 
2 3 0 
— — 0 
2 
3 
0 
8. The Bruce. 
3 0 23 
— — 0 
3 
0 
23 
9. Carters’ Surprise. 
2 2 0 
— — 0 
2 
2 
0 
10. Imperator. 
2 3 8 
- - 0* 
2 
3 
8i 
Totals . 
22 3 26 
- - 2! 
23 
0 
Of 
Fourth Quarter Plot. — Undressed. 
Weight of 
Weight of 
Row and Varietv. 
sound 
diseased 
Total. 
tubers. 
tubers. 
cwt. qr. lb. 
cwt. qr. lb. 
cwt. 
qr. 
lb. 
1. Myatt’s. 
0 3 14 
— 1 14 
1 
1 
0 
2. Snowdrop . 
0 2 26 
— 2 14 
1 
1 
12 
3. Beauty of Hebron ... 
0 3 16 
— 2 23 
1 
2 
11 
4. White Elephant . 
1 0 14 
— 3 7 
1 
3 
21 
5. King of the Russets... 
12 0 
— 1 0 
1 
3 
0 
6. Cosmopolitan . 
0 3 5 
— 1 0 
1 
0 
5 
7. Magnum Bonum. 
1 0 20 
— 0 1 
1 
0 
21 
8. The Bruce. 
3 1 11 
— 0 2 
3 
1 
13 
9. Carters’ Surprise. 
1 1 0 
— 0 14 
1 
1 
14 
10. Imperator. 
2 1 7 
— 0 20 
2 
1 
27 
Totals . 
14 0 1 
3 1 11 
17 
1 
12 
The following table 
gives the totals of the 
two 
duplicate 
experiments :— 
Dressed 
Undressed 
In favour of 
plots. 
plots. 
dressed plots. 
cwt. qr. lb. 
cwt. qr. lb. 
cwt. 
qr. 
lb. 
Weight of sound tubers... 
58 0 0 
40 0 10 
17 
3 
18 
Weight of unsound tubers 
-11 
6 3 22 
6 
3 
11 
Total yield . 
58 0 11 
47 0 4 
11 
0 
7 
It will thus be seen that in whatever aspect the experiment is 
looked at it is in favour of the dressing by the Bouillie Bordelaise. 
So far as sound tubers are concerned, the yield is over two tons 
per acre more than in the undressed portion (the two plots being 
less than half an acre), while the quality of the tubers is better. 
On Friday last a large number of persons interested in the 
subject carefully examined the crops on the ground immediately 
the work of lifting and weighing was completed, and there was 
an unanimity of opinion that the trials were well planned, well 
carried out, and conclusively in favour of Bouillie Bordelaise, when 
properly prepared and applied, as an antidote of the Potato disease. 
Its effect on the plants is shown in the illustration from a photo¬ 
graph taken across the ground where the ends of the dressed and 
undressed rows meet at the line of sticks. The difference is so 
striking, that—to cite the words of an old Potato grower who 
was prejudiced against the “ doctoring ”—“ there is no getting 
away from it.” Messrs. Carter & Co. will presumably dress the 
whole of their Potatoes next year, except perhaps a few patches 
here and there for “ taking the disease,” as they like making 
experiments for public enlightenment. 
NOTES ON HYACINTHS. 
At our spring exhibitions the Hyacinth is the chief source of 
attraction amongst bulbous plants. When staged in the best 
possible condition few plants can equal it for compactness and 
beauty. 
Bulbs that are imported vary from three to five years of age. 
The very best should be the latter. Quantities that are annually 
sent to this country as fully developed bulbs would probably be 
better if grown for another season or two. Be this as it may, good 
bulbs are of the first importance if large spikes of fine flowers are 
to be produced. It must be remembered that the condition of the 
bulb at potting time has much to do with the success of any 
exhibitor. If a start is made with bulbs that are poorly grown, 
badly developed, and imperfectly ripened, however well they may 
be grown, the exhibitor has but a poor chance in competition with 
another who starts with roots of the first quality—that is, bulbs 
which have been grown to their full size and have been thoroughly 
developed and properly ripened. 
How are we to distinguish good from inferior bulbs for this 
purpose ? By what must we be guided in making a selection ? 
Large bulbs are not always the best, therefore size is no criterion 
of development and solidity. Bulbs that are capable of producing 
fine spikes should be firm and solid ; they should scarcely yield to 
the pressure of the thumb close to the crown, and should be heavy 
for their size. They can almost be judged by their weight. Bulbs 
secured from a reliable source, solidity, and weight are the points 
desirable. A small bulb is often heavier than a large one of the 
same variety. In the selection of bulbs some knowledge of the 
size they naturally attain should be possessed by those to whom 
the selection is left. 
Intending exhibitors must not, however, be misled by supposing 
that the secret of gaining the post of honour in competition with 
others depends solely upon having first-class bulbs to commence 
with. This is not the case ; however good the bulbs may be they 
need growing, and the most careful treatment during the season of 
growth. I am certain that a person with second-rate bulbs well 
grown would easily beat first quality bulbs grown in an inferior 
manner. Although large spikes and bells, combined with colour 
and freshness, go a long way, they do not always carry the 
exhibitor to a successful issue. They need all these qualities, and 
in addition should display at a glance that they have been grown 
well and staged at the exact time they are at their best. Some 
judges place considerable importance on the condition of the spike 
alone, but my contention is that the spike is only part of the plant 
to be judged. A well grown plant with a slightly inferior spike, as 
regards size, must of necessity often be placed before a poorly 
grown plant with a large spike. Those familiar with the culture 
of Hyacinths can detect almost at a glance whether an inferior 
spike is due to cultivation or to the condition of the bulb before it 
was potted. 
What constitutes a well grown Hyacinth plant ? It should be 
dwarf according to the variety ; the flower spike should be stiff 
almost capable of supporting itself without a stake ; the spike 
should be large, well lengthened out, with bold bells that furnish 
it without crowding. As the varieties differ widely in this respect, 
each should be judged according to its individual merits. The 
toliage should also be stiff with a dark healthy green appearance. 
It should reach to the base of the spike, or an inch or two above 
it, and the tips in many cases should bend out slightly. Every 
Hyacinth does not assume this habit, but the foliage is upright and 
inclined to arch towards the spike. When the point of every leaf 
is slightly turned outwards throughout a collection it may be safely 
inferred that they are not natural, but have been turned out by the 
exhibitor. In some cases the tips of two leaves only will turn out¬ 
wards, in others four, and so on, while the remainder invariably 
stand upright. A good spike should be even all round from top to 
bottom, the base should be even, and the top of the spike well 
filled with well developed bells, which should be as even as 
possible throughout. 
What concerns cultivators most is the methods of culture that 
should be followed throughout, in order to produce examples as 
near perfection as it is possible to grow them. In detailing these 
