332 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 15, 1885. 
scale. Yet surely some of those above mentioned, with 
others, the names of which are familiar to readers of your 
Journal, ought to be in some way superior to the “ old 
sortsand if not these great Potato exhibitions, interest¬ 
ing as they are, and much as they may have done in stimu¬ 
lating growers to exercise more care in the selection 
and preparation of “ seed ” tubers, and to devote greater 
attention to culture generally, cannot be said to be com¬ 
pletely successful. Either six or seven “International” 
Shows have been held, I forget which, yet very few varieties 
indeed that have been introduced to the public by their 
agency and recommended by their authority have taken a 
commanding position as contributing to the national food 
supply. The one Potato that has spread over the land in 
acres, and is poured into the markets in tons, is the Magnum 
Bonum, and this it has done entirely on its own merits, for 
I have seen it stated it has not been “ certificated ” at any of 
those Shows. It appears time, in the judgment of plain men, 
that some other of the comparatively recent introductions 
that have figured in prize lists should have a higher mark of 
approval—namely, a wide public endorsement of their merits 
for general consumptive purposes. 
At the Exhibition alluded to the pinkish round variety 
Adirondack was conspicuous in several classes, and judgiog 
by appearances it would be regarded as a thoroughly useful 
variety, but is it so ? Is it a great cropper and of good 
quality, of medium or strong growth, and what time ready 
for lifting ? Equally commanding was the Yicar of Laleham, 
which must have had time to develope its qualities, yet “ all 
the world ” does not know its characteristics in those respects. 
Its rival in appearance and colour, the Dean, has of necessity 
not been so fully proved, yet some growers must know whether 
it is likely to be a serviceable variety or not. And what in 
those respects is known of the beautiful white kidney Snow¬ 
drop, the larger Cosmopolitan, Edgcote Seedling, andEdgcote 
Purple ? There has been time to prove those and others, 
and it is clear that many persons grow Beading Busset, 
for exhibition at least, and ought to be able to testify to 
its usefulness for general garden and field culture for con¬ 
sumptive purposes. Snowdrop is the most attractive white 
kidney Potato I have seen, and if it is as good as it looks 
must be a great acquisition. 
Some of the newer varieties exhibited at the Palace were 
all that could be desired in appearance, and as they have 
presumably been tested at Chiswick we must take them to 
be good in other respects, still some particulars regarding 
them would be acceptable to general cultivators. Chancellor 
was very fine as a white roundish variety, respecting which 
information would be useful. Prizes were taken in the white 
round and white kidney classes with Chancellor; are these 
two varieties of the same name, or were they different forms 
of the same variety ? There seem to be two General 
Gordons, one of which was certificated and the other not. 
It is almost certain that confusion will arise sooner or later, 
and disappointment be experienced in respect of these. 
There are also two Bountifuls, Fenn’s and Fidler’s, but as 
the raisers’ names will lapse in the course of culture, there 
will eventually be some difficulty in telling “ t’other from 
which,” and the practice of giving the same names to distinct 
varieties should be discountenanced. 
Harvester, Prime Minister, and M.P. were white rounds 
that commanded attention, and particulars respecting them of 
the nature indicated would be very acceptable to a large 
number of cultivators who are on the look out for something 
equally good as the Begents, but more productive and reli¬ 
able, Schoolmaster not proving satisfactory in some districts 
and by no means equal to the old favourite just mentioned. 
Amongst all the fine-looking Potatoes now arranged so 
temptingly at shows, some of them must be good and profit¬ 
able for growing on a large scale as staple table and market 
sorts; indeed it is not too much to hope that a few may excel 
those in general cultivation, but the virtues and habits of the 
newer sorts appear to rema’n in obscurity too long, and the 
ignorance of the majority of Potato growers ought, as far as 
possible, to be dispelled by persons who can enlighten on this 
important subject —A Country Gardener. 
PLANTING FBUIT TBEES. 
The time will soon arrive for those who intend planting 
fruit trees to arrange about proceeding with the work. The 
first consideration will he what to plant, and the next the pre- 
paration of the ground. Most gardeners have probably selected 
the varieties they wish to have, but many perhaps are in doubt 
as to what to choose so as to form a succession or meet the de¬ 
mands of a certain part of the season. I will name at the end 
of this article a succession of Apples, Pears, or Plums suitable 
for the garden or orchard, but it must be borne in mind that 
some varieties which succeed well in one part of the country 
are not so suitable in another. Gardeners should endeavour to 
ascertain what varieties are known to succeed well in the dis¬ 
trict before they decide. _ . . 
The preparation of the ground for fruit trees is important. 
Good drainage is indispensable, as without it the trees will not 
thrive, and if the ground is not drained naturally drains must 
be provided. Anyone who has noticed fruit trees planted on well- 
drained land will have perceived how healthily they start into 
growth, and what good crops of fruit they perfect; but on the 
other hand, when the ground is not drained the trees never start 
into clean growth, but become starved and subject to all the 
ills that attack fruit trees when the ground is a cold and 
sodden mass. Some soils are much more adapted for the culture 
of fruit than others, being both deep and fertile, and when this 
is the case the labour attending their cultivation is reduced to 
a minimum. The preparation of the ground in this case, ana 
when the trees are to be planted not too close,ys to allow each 
tree a station of 5 or 6 feet, working the soil to the depth of 
2 feet When the tree is planted place a little turfy loam and 
well-burned garden refuse about the roots, which will help to 
give the tree a good start. If the ground is being prepared 
for cordons, or the trees are to be close to each other, but 
to be eventually thinned, the whole space of ground should be 
worked. , 
In many instances the soil is not well adapted naturally lor 
fruit trees, but it must be bad indeed if Apples, Pears, or Plums 
cannot be brought to succeed fairly well. When the soil is noe 
very good, or the place the trees are to occupy is an old 
garden which has been under cultivation for a number of years, 
the ground must be worked to the depth formerly stated, but do 
not bring the subsoil to the surface if of a poor and hungry 
description. If the soil is heavy burnt clay and garden lefust 
and old lime rubbish should be added, and fresh loam and burnt 
refuse may be placed about the roots. _ . 
Early planting is desirable, as besides being better for the 
trees, the ground will not become wet from the autumn rains. 
It is also important to plant the trees as quickly as possible 
after they are received, but endeavour to choose a fine day. Gut 
off cleanly all bruised ends or portions of roots, and remove 
enough soil to permit the roots being spread out to their fuU 
extent. Place the fresh soil first among and over the roots, and 
then level the original soil, treading it evenly and rather firmly, 
but care must be taken that it is not in a wet state. Spread 
a coating of dry litter on the surface, which will keep out frost 
and drying winds. Securely stake standards and pyramids it 
exposed or likely to be injured by wind, but trees against walls 
should not be nailed in until just before the buds start, securing 
then, however, so as to prevent injury to the branches from 
being rubbed against the wall. 
The form a tree is to grow in will depend upon circumstances, 
and it can be understood how unwise it would be to plant 
standard trees in a kitchen garden, though it is generally tlie 
place where they have to be grown, The aspect is another con¬ 
sideration, for if the site is open to the full force of the winds it 
would be unwise even to plant standards in an orchard. Stan¬ 
dards are grown when the orchard is laid down to grass and 
sheltered, but when the site is exposed bush trees should be 
planted, keeping the ground clean through surface-stirring, and 
give a good coating of farmyard manure annually. Other crops 
could be grown between the rows until the trees require all the 
space. Growers for market generally have their fruit trees on 
worked ground, and standards and bush trees are generally 
adopted. Currants, Gooseberries, and Strawberries are grown 
between them until the permanent trees require the space. In 
kitchen or fruit gardens connected with private places Apple 
trees must be grown in the form of bushes or pyramids, Plums 
and Cherries the same, or if desired especially large and good 
