March 23,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
225 
next is Phely H., who says, “ It’s a very good sort.” The next says, 
“ It’s hard to get the real thing ; ” but I am referred to B. S., whose 
authority all agree is unquestionable, and he it is who procured for 
me the specimens sent to Fleet Street. About a month since we saw 
in the Dublin papers particulars of an order cabled by the Editor of 
the “New York Herald” for 18,000 pieces— houtonnieres, to be 
shipped to New York on March 1st., and ere this I do hope that 
18,000 in the distant land have received this bit of the “ old country.” 
It is easier to imagine than describe the associations with that bit of 
green which will for the time take them back to the hills and valleys 
of “ Dear Ireland.” “ When a man cannot get to his own country 
it is a good thing to he in sight of it,” and surely no better medium 
could be found to bring in view those scenes of home and fatherland 
endeared by absence. 
In the country districts the day—17th March—is strictly kept as 
a holiday, and the invariable etiquette of the “ Wearing of the 
Green ” is to fix it in the band of the hat. In Dublin and the 
suburbs workmen are content to pursue their usual avocations, while 
the haut ton of young Ireland in the city relegate the emblem to the 
buttonhole ; but in both town and country the institution known as 
“ Patrick’s pot ” gets due consideration. This pot is in reality a 
glass of—well, fill it up at discretion, it generally consists of the 
wine of the country, which repeated at intervals throughout the day 
results in what is known as the drowning of the Shamrock, though 
the Trefoil plays a passive part. Lest the inference might be drawn 
from the above remarks that our festival results in a kind of glorified 
Denny brook Faw, I hasten to say those days of revelry are now 
ancient history ; as a rule the day is kept wisely and well, and due 
honour is paid to the Missionary Bishop who fifteen centuries ago 
gave to Ireland her emblem of the Shamrock.— E. K., Dublin. 
[The specimens received, and very good they are, are of Trifolium 
minus, which we regard as the true and original Shamrock, and 
the influence it exerts on those who are “ in the country, but not of 
it,” is pleasingly apparent in “ E. K.’s ” communication.] 
POTATO CROPS AND CHEMICAL MANURES. 
Experiments were carried out here last summer with the view 
of testing the comparative value of manures for the production of 
Potatoes. Eleven distinct compositions were carefully measured, 
several of which did not show good results. The best were 
chemical manure—kainit, superphosphate, and nitrate of soda, 
3 lbs. of each per perch, or 12 cwt. per acre. Half the nitrate of 
soda was applied when planting, the remainder at moulding time 
in May or June. The produce from this amounted to 156 lbs. per 
perch—over 11 tons per acre. The cost of this manure would be 
£3 per ton here. The land without manure produced at the rate 
of 6 tons 3 cwt. per acre. The gain from the manure was at the 
rate of 5 tons per acre ; this was the average of several perches. 
The same composition applied all at once when planted, produced 
142 lbs. per perch. 
Fold manure, 4 cwt. per perch, equal to 32 tons per acre, 
yielded 120 lbs. per perch ; cost at bs. per ton, £8 per acre. Half¬ 
fold manure, with 4J lbs. of the above mentioned chemical manure, 
produced 138 lbs. per perch. This experiment showed chemical 
manure to be the most profitable, especially, I should say, where 
fold manure had been used for previous crops. There is nothing 
extraordinary in this yield, although it was about 4 tons per acre 
more than from another experimental field. This difference 
appeared to be entirely in the nature of the soil not previously 
manured. We have from 10 to 11 tons per acre grown in fields 
in this district annually, where the crop is properly catered for. 
The experiments mentioned were conducted on land that was 
badly ploughed, and yet the results were fairly good for the open 
field. 
Potatoes in the Garden .—The soil here is light, and stable 
manure is dug in during the winter. We usually dig two spades 
deep, so the soil is very open, consequently warm for the climate. 
As we use a large amount of stable manure we apply lime to 
decompose it, and have added 6 lbs. or so of chemical manure per 
perch. With this practice we have produced quite extraordinary 
crops for many years in succession, and there is no reason why 
others should not be able to do the same. What we have done 
has been just in the ordinary course of gardening ; we have care¬ 
fully weighed the crops because so fine. We have had at the rate 
of 14 to over 24 tons per acre. The varieties we have found so 
productive were obtained from Messrs. Sutton & Sons—namely, 
Supreme, Windsor Castle, Sutton’s Seedling and Perfection, with, 
as late sorts. Triumph, Masterpiece, Satisfaction, and Abundance. 
In many places second early Potatoes are useful. These may often 
be lifted before the disease becomes prevalent, and the crops being 
out of the ground early a good second crop of green vegetables is 
obtainable.— George Harris, The Castle Gardens., Alnwick. 
Rose Show Fixtures in 1894. 
June 27th (Wednesday).—Windsor (N.R.S.). 
„ 28th (Thursday).—Canterbury, Eltham, and Sutton. 
„ 30th (Saturday).—Sittingbourne. 
July 3rd (Tuesday) Farningham and Bagshot. 
„ 4th (Wednesday).—Croydon and Reigate. 
,, 5th (Thursday).—Hereford and Norwich. 
„ 7th (Saturday).—Crystal Palace (N.R.S.). 
„ 10th (Tuesday).—Grioucester and Wolverhampton.* 
„ 11th (Wednesday).—Hitchin. 
,, 12th (Thursday).—Bath, Harleston, Woodbridge, and Worksop. 
„ 17th (Tuesday).—Helensburgh. 
„ 19th (Thursday).—Halifax (N.R S.)., Halesworth, and Trentham. 
„ 21st (Saturday).—Manchester. 
„ 26th (Thursday).—Southwell. 
* A Show lasting three days. 
Any date of Rose shows, or of other horticultural exhibitions where 
Roses form a leading feature, not named above, I shall be glad to receive 
as soon as fixed, for insertion in future lists. — Edward Mawlbt, 
Mosebank, Berhhamsted, Herts. 
Reigate Rose Association and Clashing of Shows. 
Seeing the letters in the Journal of Horticulture respecting the 
above subject I think it only a duty if I explain maters. First—It is 
the Cottage Garden Society that has picked up the Reigate Rose 
Association, and the Show of the former has always been held on Wed¬ 
nesday, as it is the early closing day with all shopkeepers ; then we had 
to fix the date at a time when the Roses were likely to be at their best 
in the Reigate district. Our date was fixed on December 2nd, 1893, 
and although we were aware that the Croydon Show was generally on 
that day, the matter was thoroughly and honestly discussed, and 
considering that we must either clash somewhere or alter the day 
(Wednesday) we thought we were in duty bound to study the home 
growers and supporters. I can assure your readers that we acted in no 
spirit of opposition in any way, and we ask those who have Roses to 
try and support both shows.—W. Wells, Hon. Sec. 
Gustave Piganeau. 
I have been much surprised that there has apparently been no great 
demand for Gustave Piganeau, especially after its phenomenal success 
of gaining the N.R.S. medal so many times during 1891-92. When a 
Rose is sufficiently good to carry off this honour against the whole of the 
older introductions, one would expect a large demand, but I am assured 
it is not so. Much has been made at different times of its moderate 
growth, but as it is so free blooming, surely this is no bad characteristics 
Some plants which were established on the Manetti last spring, and not 
turned into the open on account of the excessive drought, are now 
proving what a grand variety this is under glass. Its freedom in pots is 
equal to La France and G4n6ral Jacqueminot. I had intended planting 
them out this winter, but press of work caused delay until we considered 
them too forward. They are in large 48’s, and although only mulched 
with loam and manure are now carrying three to five blooms of fair 
substance, brilliant colour, and standing boldly above the foliage—a 
most valuable property with Roses in pots.— Practice. 
National Rose Society’s Provincial Shows. 
As I am probably the amateur in the Isle of Wight to whose 
letter “ D., Deal," (page 186) refers in your issue of March 8th, I beg 
to state that I assumed no fanciful line at all, but the very simple divi¬ 
sion of north or south of London. This was what was intended, I 
know, by several at least of those who first urged a southern show. It 
was assumed or stated in various letters to you and to a contemporary 
that the southern show was to precede, the northern to follow, the 
Crystal Palace Show. Why should this be soon any other principle? 
If we come to ridiculous questions about the Trent, the Wash, the 
Humber, cricketing counties, and similar matters, there is no reason why 
both provincial shows should not be in July. London is the true centre 
of England when judged by the only true principle for our purpose— 
the means of communication ; and Windsor, as I stated, is not a southern 
town—that is, between any southern growers and London—but a 
suburban town, on precisely the same footing as the Crystal Palace. 
There are four towns which might justly claim an early consideration 
from the National Rose Society’s Committee for the southern show. 
They are Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton and Ryde. I have 
been unable to get to any committee meetings for some time, or I should 
have protested against the selection of Gloucester so soon ^ after 
Hereford. Of these f< ur, Portsmouth is the most naturally suitable, 
but appears to be at present hopelessly apathetic. Southampton might, 
perhaps, like to step in where Portsmouth has failed. Winchester has 
a good Rose society existing, and iu fairly accessible. Ryde would 
do more |good than any other of the four, by breaking entirely new 
