392 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 19,1887. 
goes on to say, t! It is a very one-sided argument.” It would be if I 
did it, or attempted to do any such thing. I am not aware I have 
advanced the results of any of my own experiments in my criticism of 
Mr. Abbey’s remarks. 
If Mr. Abbey would lead us to believe that farmyard manure is only 
valuable because of its soluble silica and silica-dissolving acids, why 
does he “ trouble with manure at all ? Why not go in for silica pure and 
simple ? By the application of quicklime it may be made soluble ” 
(Johnston). The quicklime acting on the manure in the soil would 
produce a good crop of hay the first year, but the following crop would 
explode the silica theory, and the land would become barren, and pure 
silica would never restore its fertility. Will Mr. Abbey try this experi¬ 
ment ? and if he will not, why not ? 
If Mr. Abbey is convinced that farmyard manure owes its virtues to 
the presence of silica and silica-dissolving acids, will he quote some 
other authority besides himself ? For my part, I have not had sufficient 
practical experience to offer my own opinions to the readers of the 
Journal ; I prefer rather to avail myself of the teachings of standard 
authorities. 
I will follow Mr. Abbey—with the Editor’s permission—on this 
subject, as far as my abilities will allow ; but I beg to remind him that 
what I took exception to was—1, The reason he gave for applying farm¬ 
yard manure to clay soils—viz., because silica was deficient in such 
soils ; 2, His saying that soil could not be maintained fertile by means 
of artificial manure alone. I gave the case of Mr. Prout as a practical 
proof to the contrary. Beyond that I simply expressed an opinion, and 
stated what I looked forward to in the future.—D. Gilmour, jun. 
ARE POTATOES DEGENERATING ? 
Seeing in your columns that this question still occupies the atten¬ 
tion of some writers, and having as an amateur been a cultivator of the 
“ noble tuber” for nearly fifty years, during the last twenty of which I 
have been a constant exhibitor at the metropolitan as well as local 
shows, I trust these few lines may not be out of place, but assist in 
elucidating the question. 
During the first years of my experience I grew the varieties common 
in this neighbourhood at the time—viz., The Shaw, All Eyes, Denne 
Hill or Irish Kidney, Lapstone, Old Fluke, Noblower, Cockney, Regent, 
Fortyfold, Sheepstail Kidney, Jersey Blue, Yorkshire Blue, and that fine 
Potato Dawc’s Matchless. All the above were considered good, some of 
them superb ; but where are they now? Not one to be found in this 
locality. Why is this ? From one and all falling easy victims of the 
disease. Their yielding so readily made growers look for varieties that 
withstood it better. Importers have had something to do with supply¬ 
ing other sorts in their places, as from America we have had a great 
number, few of which remain good standard varieties at the present 
day. 
Is it from their earliness that Ashleaf Potatoes frequently escape 
disease ? or does the fact of the old Ashleaf (Green Shoot), being a 
non-flowerer, in any way assist in its prevention in that variety ? I 
have noted some of our freest flowerers as being of the finest table 
quality—American Purple, Woodstock Kidney, Edgcott Seedling and 
other Lapstones, Victoria, Schoolmaster, and other Regents, Snowflake, 
Beauty of Hebron, Early Rose, and others, although not all being free 
setters or seed bearers, and I think it would be difficult to find an equal 
number so susceptible to the disease. In the spring of 188G I bought 
several varieties of seedlings, the first season they were sent out ; but, in 
a season not noted for severe disease, I found one-fourth of them badly 
affected. A feature in the growth of some American varieties by myself 
has been that in the course of a few years they become of better appear¬ 
ance and quality—notably Snowflake, Adirondack, Queen of the Valley, 
and White Elephant. Has soil or climate anything to do with this ? or 
is this any process of degeneration ? As to planting weakened sets, I 
never heard it advocated, and I am sure anyone with an eye to profitable 
culture or exhibition would soon find a means of preventing seed 
Potatoes from too early spearing, without leaving them, to my mind 
somewhat slovenlike, undug all the winter. I had on the 4th of April— 
not having then began cropping - about eighty varieties by me, and 
certainly not three of them were injuriously sprouted, nor had they been 
brutted, many of them being scarcely started now (May 7th). I quite 
agree with the opinion that many useful sorts have been ousted out of 
catalogues to make room for others less worthy of a place ; this may be 
attributed to the rage of the present day for novelties. My practice is 
to dig the whole unoccupied space in my garden before the severest 
frosts come on and leave it in that state till February. When paying a 
visit to Mr. J. Hughes at Eydon Hall in January 7th, 1885, I found his 
Potato ground all prepared in the same way. 
As to change of seed, and with it change of soil and climate, I must 
confess I am very partial to it, as I have had several instances where I 
have for the first year or two grown from seed so obtained much finer 
specimens than 1 have ever since been able to do from seed of my own 
saving ; and in conclusion must confess my belief that I have seen what 
I can in no other way account for if not from degeneration.— Audax 
Trepidus. 
The sample of the seedling Potato Champion x Magnum Bonum 
late Potato which was sent you for cooking (page 374) was from a June, 
1886, planting on a rough headland of the cold drift clay or tilt at 
Bedford, which I will venture to say has not for many years past known 
manure, no artificial having been applied by me to the crop, and this I 
consider good soil for quality in late Potatoes, especially those of the 
Champion type. Market gardeners in this county make a great mistake 
in endeavouring to grow late sorts of Potatoes on the warm and fertile 
garden soil of the district, which although admirably adapted for early 
Potatoes is most unsuitable where good late quality is sought, and espe¬ 
cially when such sorts are, as is frequently the case, planted early and 
afterwards clamped for winter sale. A clear indication of the results of 
this practice is shown by the market quotations of Bedfordshire-grown 
winter Potatoes, which are invariably lower than those of other districts; 
and I am not sure that early planting and high cultivation has not 
something to do with the supposed deterioration or dying out of some of 
our best sorts of Potatoes. I am not, however, and never have been a 
believer in the dying out of originally vigorous varieties of fruit, vege¬ 
tables, and plants, having never observed a single instance of permanent 
deterioration where the circumstances for the continuation of the variety 
have been as favourable as those under which it was launched, and the 
verified case of the Fluke Potato alluded to by “ Thinker ” may perhaps 
yet, on further thought, receive explanation. 
In considering the question of the co-called change of seed in the 
Potato, the fact should not be lost sight of, that in replanting Potatoes 
on the same land year after year, the plant is practically restored to its 
former soil. It is not, however, quite the same thing as repotting in old 
soil, but more like growing the same kind of plant in the same character 
of soil; in fact, like growing Chrysanthemums for show yearly in the 
same particularly formulated compost. My mind is open on the point 
of change of seed in the Potato, and perhaps a thoughtful thinker may 
be able to close it by carrying the idea further than I am able to do.— 
T. Laxton. 
Perhaps you will think this subject has been sufficiently discussed, 
but I should like to say a few words. Mr. Iggulden thinks a change of 
seed is not of much advantage, and to a great extent I agree with him ; 
but still there are some cases where it is a decided gain. I have changed 
seed Potatoes from a light to a heavy soil, and been the loser by the ex¬ 
periment. I have also changed seed Potatoes from a heavy to a light soil, 
and a very fine crop has been the result. These experiments have taken 
place during recent seasons with Magnum Bonum. Our soil is a heavy 
one, but I find Magnum Bonum and Schoolmaster do- well with us, par¬ 
ticularly the latter. Our seed has been unchanged for the last five or six 
years, except a portion by way of experiment ; but still our crops are 
good, and so is the quality. We take care, however, to plant a good 
sample of seed, discarding all small ill-shaped tubers. This I look upon 
as an important point, as I believe there is a good deal in a careful 
selection of seed.—E. B. 
1 1 am very glad your fluent and graphic correspondent, “A Thinker,” 
has reviewed what you have published on this subject, and at the same 
time giving excellent advice on Potato culture. Without any wish to 
prolong the discussion permit me to differ from his seeming approval of 
Mr. Iggulden’s remedy for Champion precocity—degeneration—“ the 
simple method of leaving the tubers in the ground until wanted ”—that 
is, during the whole winter. Why, that is equivalent to pitting them, 
which many year’s experience, I must say, even with 20 inches of clay 
over them, will not prevent sprouting. As to the query of “ room 
enough in Ireland,” unfortunately, with an exodus of 17,000 a month, 
this must necessarily be so.— W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
ANTHRACITE COAL. 
In your issue of May 5Lh, page 354, your correspondent “ Daventry ” 
asks for the experience of those of your readers who may have used the 
above coal. We have used it here for a number of years, and would 
not now like to be without it. We use it mixed with coke. Our boilers 
are the Cornish Trcntkam, and heat between 2000 and 3000 feet of 
4-inch piping. There is no difficulty whatever in keeping the fires in. 
We seldom bank our fires up after 10 P.M., and often long before that 
hour, and on several occasions have found them in good condition the 
following day at 2 P.M., so that the coal does not burn rapidly but 
slowly, giving out intense and steady heat. Not half the attention is 
required as with ordinary coal or coke, and a great saving is effected as 
well. In severe weather it is a great relief to both master and man to 
find the pipes hot and fires in good condition on going round the first 
thing in the morning.—JAS. Spottiswood, Queen's Park, Brighton. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
In taking a retrospect of this controversy I can only find that what¬ 
ever role I "assumed I have treated the author of the book with 
courtesy. If Mr. Molyneux had met me in the same tolerant spirit 
there would have been no reasons for his implied puny threat of the 
consequences of my treading on his coat tail. He chooses rather to 
assume the “ Sir Oracle ” role, and all through the controversy to treat 
me as a foetnan altogether unworthy of his steel, and in his last reply 
he descends from his high horse to fight a la Donnybrook fair. The 
opinion of his friend intimidates me as little as it proves me to be in¬ 
capable of knowing a good flower, or of expressing clearly the results 
of my experience. I have studiously kept personal matters in the 
background, not because I had any occasion to be ashamed of my 
flowers, and the allusion to them is unworthy of Mr. Molyneux’s posi¬ 
tion. However, in self-defence allow me to say that there is also some¬ 
what of a lottery in obtaining situations with their conveniences and 
