442 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 1,;, 1'888- 
do not requ re a lengthenel period of rest, but during this time 
syringing must cease, and a considerable reduction made in the 
quantity of water supplied to the roots, but even at this season 
they must not be dried, or evil results will follow. 
Insects should be carefully watched for, and speedily destroyed 
if they make their appearance on the Cypripediums, or their leaves 
will quickly become marred and disfigured, and the plants fall into 
a sickly condition. Black thrips and red spider are amongst their 
worst enemies, but these may be effectually kept in abeyance by 
steaming the house occasionally with tobacco* juice from the 
thanatophore. 
DR. PATERSON’S ORCHIDS. 
On the 10th inst. I had the pleasure of looking into Fernfieldi 
Bridge of Allan, of having a “ crack ” with the worthy Doctor, 
hearty and enthusiastic as ever, a sight of the latest additions to 
his wonderful collection of “auld airn nackits” and valuable 
curiosities, and an inspection of the Orchids. Visitors daily turn 
into Fernfield, but I fancy it is not every day that the Doctor 
among them in a group of four embraces at once a blooming lass of 
sweet nineteen and a wondrously hale old gentleman of ninety-four 
years. The houses are again ali but filled with young Orchids in 
the Fernfield state of health, and will before very long need all 
the accommodation at command. With others in bloom I found 
about a score of Cattleyas, including 0. G-askelliana, C. Percivaliana, 
Ac. ; Masdevullia ignea, M. Lindeni, Maxillaria picta, Miltonia 
spectabilis, Odontoglossum Alexandras, Oncidium cucullatum, 
O. macranthum, 0. Marshallianum, O. unguiculatum tigrinum, 
Phalaenopsis grandiflora, Pleione lagenaria, Vanda tricolor, Zygo- 
petalum Mackayi. ’ Jb 
In the open flowers were still plentiful. In a hasty glance I 
observed Chrysanthemums, Rose Souvenir de la Malmaison and 
others, two lines of Yucca filamentosa, Tropaeolums in profusion, 
Phloxes, &c., and everything was, as usual, in apple-pie order.—- 
A Noktiiern Amateur. 
THE JENSEN SYSTEM OF MOULDING! POTATOES. 
During two successive seasons elaborate experiments and carefal 
observations were made as to the effect of the Jensen system of mould- 
i n »* The experiments were made at Chiswick under the superinten¬ 
dence of the Scientific Committee. Although results of considerable 
practical interest were obtained, yet the primary object of the experi¬ 
ments was frustrated by the non-appearance, or, rather, by the scanty 
development of the Potato mould. Moreover, it became apparent that 
the cost of the experiments, as then carried out, would be such as to 
preclude their imitation on a large scale for practical purposes. 
. During the present season the Potato disease set in at Chiswick with 
virulence about July 29tb. Up to that time no attempt had been made 
to check its course or to note the conditions under which it occurred ; 
but at the suggestion of Mr. Plowright two rows in juxtaposition were 
submitted to experiment on August 10th. 
Two rows were 30 yards in length, the variety selected Schoolmaster, 
and the conditions as absolutely identical as possible, except that the 
one row was left moulded in the ordinary way, while the other was 
high moulded that is to say, banked up on one side to form a ridge, 
while the haulm was slightly bent over to the other side. In the 
ordinary system of moulding a furrow is left along the top of the ridc-e 
into which it is surmised that the spores fall, washed off by rain from 
^ ^e moulding, it is supposed, obviates this by securing 
the tall of the spores on the ground between the rows, and not on the 
rows themselves. As the disease appeared to be equally severe on both 
rows and was, moreover, far advanced, but little expectation was 
indulged in that the results would be of any value. 
... Nevertheless, on September 29th, the Potatoes in the two rows were 
lifted and examined, as dug, by Mr. Barron and Dr. Masters. It speedily 
became apparent there was a considerable difference between the two 
rows, and that the tubers from the high-moulded row afforded a much 
cleaner and more even sample. With a view to put this general im¬ 
pression to a numerical test, fifty tubers from each row were taken 
indiscriminately twenty-five by one observer, the remainder by the 
othei, so as to equalise, as far as ] ossib e, the " personal equation.” 
These hundred Potatoes were then examined with a more careful 
scrutiny, each one being cut open to ascertain whether or no it was 
diseased I he result was as follows Out of fifty taken from the row 
moulded in the ordinary way, thirteen were found diseased, or 26 per 
cent. ’ 1 
Out of fifty taken from the high moulded row five only were 
noted as diseased, or 10 per cent. No doubt a more careful examination 
by the microscope would have indicated a larger proportion of disease in 
each case, but it is not likely that it would have very materially 
altered the proportion either in one direction or the other. In order, how¬ 
ever, to obtain further information upon this point, twenty-five tubers 
from each row were put aside for future examination. Of fifty tubers 
set aside at the time of lifting to show how many would show disease 
subsequently, the result is now—ordinary moulding, thirteen tubers 
diseased, twelve sound ; high moulding, all sound. 
HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSES IN POTS FOR FORCING. 
The reason many fail with these Roses in pots is simply because- 
they commence forcing them before they are thoroughly established.. 
No greater mistake can be made, for the plants make only puny growth 
and produce the poorest flowers. This is not all, for they seldom succeed 
satisfactorily afterwards. They are ruined to start with, and those who 
wish to attain success in their culture will be wise to establish the plants 
thoroughly in pots, and then, if they are required to bloom early, to 
train them with the same care as Azaleas or Camellias require. Start 
the plants earlier each year, which will enable them to make and ripen 
a good growth, so that they have time to rest before being pruned. 
Whether the plants have to be purchased, or home-grown plants are- 
lifted, potting should not be delayed until the autumn has advanced 
and the plants are destitute of foliage. Very often when potting is- 
delayed severe weather sets in and delays the operation longer than 
cultivators might desire. There are others who think all will be well if 
the plants are potted any time during the winter or before they show- 
signs of growing in early spring. Such notions would soon be obsolete- 
if the trouble was taken to pot one lot of plants in October and another 
in February and then compare the results. 
It has been said by certain cultivators that they have lifted plants at 
the end of November and during the following month and have forced' 
them successfully, the plants yielding very fine blooms. I do not doubt 
this, but it would be interesting to know wdiat is meant by forcing. If 
the plants produced fine blooms I am mistaken if they did not allow 
them to come fonvard in cold frames or cool houses under almost natural 
conditions. I do not term protection by the aid of a cold frame or cool 
house, forcing. I have had good flowmrs from plants planted outside in 
December, but have always been of opinion that I have had better front- 
those planted in October, and finer growth the first season. 
I have always found some difficulty in getting Roses from nurseries* 
for potting as early as 1 desired, and could never make out the reason. 
On two or three occasions, perhaps more, I have had a polite note 
saying they had not commenced lifting, the plants were scarcely ready. 
But when I purchase again I shall be prepared to take all risk, and shall 
have my plants from the middle to the end of October according to the 
season. A few soft young growing shoots on the top need not alarim 
anybody. When getting the plants from a distance the only risk to fear 
is that of the roots being dried before they are packed in damp straw.. 
I have had plants from a distance and potted them at once on arrival; 
the foliage has remained fresh for a very long time afterwards, and 
they have made quantities of roots that have reached the sides of 
the pots before the end of November. Plants lifted at home have* 
certainly the best chance, but if obtained from the trade early, and the 
plants receive proper treatment afterwards, they will not be far behind 
when the season for flowmring arrives. I prefer the trade size plants- 
to start with, and think they do better in the end than larger but older- 
plants that may have been growing without being disturbed for some 
years. _ 
When ordering plants it is wise to specify that they are required for 
pots, and those worked close to the root will be sent. I would not pot 
dwarfs that have a long stem, but all the principal growers work as- 
close to the root as possible now. The Briar is decidedly the best stock 
on which to grow Roses in pots. The plants as a rule are not quite so 
large as those worked on the Manetti, but they start better the first 
season, and in the end make the best plants and last in good condition* 
considerably longer. _ 
For plants of the ordinary trade size 7-inch pots are the most 
suitable at first. These should be well drained by placing one good! 
crock at the base, hollow side downwards, and then a number of smaller 
pieces round and over it. Over this place a little fibry loam to keep the 
smaller particles of soil from intermixing with the drainage, and on this 
a pinch of soot, which will act as a preventive against worms entering 
the pot through the hole at the base. 
The plants need as a rule very little preparation. The unripe ends of 
the shoots are removed, and straggling ones cut back, leaving them 
about 2 feet long. The roots will need trimming ; damaged portions 
should be cut back to where they are sound with a sharp knife, and 
strong fibrelcss roots may be well shortened back. 
The soil must consist of good fibry bam of an intermediate nature 
between light and heavy ; if the former, dry some clay and reduce it to 
powder and then add it to the loam. In this condition it can be mixed 
