Ai ril 7, 1187. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
267 
early the lights can again be placed on, admitting air in mild weather, 
and cover in case of frost. They grow freely in the autumn, and can be 
potted when convenient in the same compost, using plenty of drainage, 
but do not let the |>ots be too large. Grown in this way they are very 
little trouble, and make useful plants. After they have flowered do not 
dry them, but treat them in the same way as before—that is, plant them 
out in frames and harden on a north border. I grow them with as many 
as a hundred splendid blooms on a plant, in 6-inch pots. I also find that 
the conns will last two, three, or even fonr years, treated in this way.— 
G. A. 
DEGENERATION OF THE CHAMPION AND OTHER 
POTATOES. 
1am glad this subject has, Since I drew'your attention to it, attracted 
the notice of so many able correspondents, ami particularly so that 
among the number is Mr. W. Iggulden. ’Tins ■ satisfaction is not 
diminished by his maintaining the negative in his Tecent paper on 
the matter. Permit me to draw attention, in a summarised manner, 
to what 1 consider defective conclusions therein, “If Potatoes are 
degenerating why is so much value attached to one of tho oldest, the 
Ashleaf Kidney?” This variety is generally grown in frames or warm 
southern borders, for early use, and the “seed,” or “sets,” intended for 
next season “greened” in the sun for weeks. If this treatment was 
practicable, or would pay, for those grown extensively for farm and 
market purposes, degeneration might be deferred in case of certain 
varieties, but in nine cases-out of ten would ultimately sapervono. If 
Mr. Iggulden denies this, let him look around and see where are the 
varieties grown that had a preference fifty Or even twenty years ago. 
My contention in reference to degeneration was, however, limited at 
first to the Scotch Champion on account of its precocity in sprouting 
almost as soon as it is lifted, and that growers of that fine variety thus 
lose the first and often the second growths. This tendency to sprout is 
not diminished if stored in open sheds and covered with fine-hay against 
frost or if stored in Potato houses, as 1 had them ; and still worse, if pitted 
in the open fields, as nine out of ten treat them in Ireland. This year, 
for instance, I saw the buds, or sprouts, out through the pits—through 
•I inches of covering—in January. No doubt the season -was abnormally 
mild. 
1 must confess I never tried Mr. Igguldeu’s method—“to leave a 
certain breadth in the ground until wanted for planting,”—of preventing 
the sets being weakened by sprouting. I am afraid' in iny own case this 
would be impracticable, as in my rotation of crops as soon as the Potato 
crop wa5 lifted in October Wheat was sown, aud is-now several inches 
high. Hut apart from this difficulty, or any risk from frost, or other 
objections that might be urged, the Champion will commenoe to grow 
as rapidly by being left untouched in the ground as if pitted, as I have 
repeatedly noticed. The Magnum Bouum is exactly the reverse, and if 
both are “ sown ” or planted the same day the latter will be a fortnight 
later in reaching the surface of the bed or drill, all else being equal. 
If leaving the Champion crop ■undug unlit planting time were a remedy 
it would have been adopted long since in Ireland. Still I know no 
other variety that can compare with this for general purposes in quality, 
even admitting the fault of coarseness ; and it is a confirmation of this 
view to have such authorities as Mr. W. Taylor and Mr. Iggulden 
coinciding. Notwithstanding my views as to the degeneration of the 
Champion, I am importing several tons of the best quality for a further 
trial direct from Scotland, and shall have most of them planted, this 
time in broken up new lea land, and with the tubers (large size) cut. 
Last season I planted them whole, but will not do so again. 
If I differ from Mr. Iggulden on some points, I am glad to agree 
with him—notwithstanding the orthodox opinion—that “ change of 
seed ” in some varieties “ is not always desirable.” Change the old Ashleaf 
Kidney, and you may never succeed in getting the true variety again. I 
am usingthe same “ seed ” of Magnum Bonum for seven years, and so long 
as it keeps so good as at present use 1 shall not be tempted to change. 
Instead of planting it last it ought., however, be planted first, and, 
like Mr. Iggulden, mine were all down before the 10th March. I am 
trying about three dozen varieties, chiefly new, including White Forty¬ 
fold, received from your correspondent Mr. lnglis, and shall report 
results by-and-by; but I am no sanguine, as I have already cooked 
some of them. 
I must thank Mr. Thomas Laxton, Bedford, for further answering 
the appeal. The whole of his letter is most important, but shall only 
ask space for the subjoined extract:—“ Herewith 1 send you ten distinct 
varieties of my seedling Potatoes for trial, which I think may prove 
suitable for your climate. They have been mostly grown on warm 
forward land, but the quality is generally different on cool late 8>ils and 
when planted late. Many growers here are disappointed with the 
‘ Champion ’ type, and now, when it should be good, they have it with 
‘ black eyes.’ It is my favourite Potato, and I do not believe there is 
anything between Myatt’s Ashleaf and that variety to come up to either 
in quality, and as a real nourishing foal. The T.apstone approache-’, 
but is a poor producer; all three are yellow-fleshed, and for quality give 
me the yellow-fleshed. Magnum Bonum I do not like in any way but 
as a producer.” Then follow the names of the varieties crossed to pro¬ 
duce those sent, closing with a request that they are not to find their 
way to “ trade hands.” Need I say that will be a point of honour with 
all sent me? Mr. Laxton concludes by saying those ten varieties have 
been selected from 200 he lias in stock, and that number had been 
tested from 1000—facts that will show how difficult it is to get a really 
good variety satisfactory in every respect. — W. J. Murphy, Clonme'. 
DRAINING FLOWER POTS. 
Too much attention cannot be devoted to this. No matter how good 
and suitable the soil is for plants, nor how genial the atmosphere may 
be, if the drainage is deficient perfect success will never attend the 
operations of the cultivator. I do not think it would be difficult to 
prove that three parts of the plants that- are in bad health throughout 
the country owe the origin of their infirmities to imperfect drainage, 
and where the rule is to pot plants only once a year deficient drainage at 
the commencement invariably leads to serious results before potting 
time comes again. So long as a plant continues in perfect health it is a 
pretty sure indication that the drainage is all right, but as soon as it 
exhibits the slightest sign of ceasing to thrive tho drainage is the first 
point that should be seen to. There is nothing in the whole range of 
garden operations easier than draining a flower pot. Boys who have not 
reached their teens are often set to do the work, and they can fill a pot 
to a certain depth with drainage as well as anybody, but draining pots 
for choice plants, or indeed plants of any kind that arc expected to do 
well, is no work for the inexperienced, but should be done by those who 
fully understand the advantages and disadvantages attending the work. 
As a rule properly placed drainage will always remain in good working 
order for twelve months at least, and it is only when the soil is washed 
amongst the drainage that it requires to be re-arranged. 
The most common material used for drainage is broken pots. Oyster 
shells are also excellent for the purpose, and broken bricks may also be 
used sometimes ; .but the way of placing them all is just the same, and 
there is really only one right way of draining pots, no matter what the 
substance used for drainage may be. A large piece of the material 
should be placed over the hole, smaller pieces being arranged over this, 
finishing with small pieces, as this j revents the soil passing down. 
There should be no putting the drainage in with a spade or trowel, or in 
large quantities at a time, but each of the large pieces should be lifted 
separately, and be put into its place with the hands. A few oyster 
shells at the bottom of the ipot and a little small material over them 
generally answers well as drainage for large-sized pots.—A GARDENER. 
SCOTCH ROeE* 
Before the Rose-planting season is over for another year I would 
like to call attention to these pretty Roses, which ought to be seen in 
every garden. They are not very rampant in growth, but assume the 
form of well furnished handsome bushes, with small foliage not unlike 
the Sweet Briar in its outline and size. The buds are small and they 
have none of the huge proportions of a Hybrid .Perpetual, but they are 
produced in the greatest profusion, and when open they cover the 
plant with a perfect mass of blossom. The flowers arc about the size 
of the wild Briar blooms, much more double and altogether more 
showy. They are admirably adapted for massing in beds in the pleasure 
grounds or by themselves anywhere, and although they vary in colour 
I must say I am very partial to the yellow flowering variety. It is as 
good in colour as the Marechal Niel, and is admired by all who see it. 
We had two or three rows of it amongst our II.I’.’s in a border, but 
they did not harmonise well with the large flowers, so we moved them 
into a bed in the pleasure grounds, and in June and July they are 
exceedingly attractive. Nothing could surpa-s their free flowering 
habit, and although individually the buds and blooms are not of much 
value, little branches may be cut with scores of blossoms attached, and 
these may be used for filling flower glasses with charming effect. They 
bear transplanting well, succeed in any rich soil, and I have never 
known them fail.— J. Muir, Mnrgam. 
SALADS A^D SALAD CULTURE. 
{Continued from page 246.) 
CELERY. 
Tins is not only an important ingredient in the salad, but an 
indispensable kitchen garden crop, and worthy of the best attention 
that can be given to it; and here I beg to repeat what I said in the 
early part of my paper—that I do not intend going into exhaustive 
details of cultivation, because that would be a paper in itself as 
regards Celery. I will therefore only allude to those points that 
are of most consequence to a gardener in a private establishment; 
market growers, and such as compete for prizes at Celery suppers, 
have their own methods and their own varieties, and they may 
confidently be left to take care of their own interests. The type 
of Celery best adapted to our purposes is to be found among the 
short, or medium and compact-growing sorts. These are w'ell 
represented by Turner’s Incomparable, Seymour's Superb White, 
Sandringham, Carter’s Ivory White. Cole’s Red Defiance, Major 
Clark's Red, Standard Bearer, &c. Several of these have more or 
less of the peculiarity of making nearly all their leaves of one 
length, and so have little or no waste about them. The Ivory 
White just named has this quality in a marked degree, and Standard 
Bearer is the hardiest of all. Theso dwarf sorts of Celery admit 
