NOVEMBER. 
321 
ACHIMENES “ METEOR.” 
(Plate 132.) 
Of the many interesting hybrids which we have made our readers 
acquainted with, there has been none more intensely beautiful than 
Mr. Parsons’ Achimenes Meteor, the figure of which, in the 
present number, is one of Mr. Andrews’ happiest delineations. 
Very many of our readers, however, have doubtless seen it, during 
the past season, at the great exhibitions. Its foliage is a rich 
dark glos,sy green, and its flowers are large and of the greatest 
.brilliancy. It was raised by Mr. Parsons, of Danesb’ury Park, 
who writes that “ Sir T. Thomas was the parent, fertilised with 
the pollen of a very fine seedling of the coccinea family, but much 
larger, and brighter in colour.” Mr. P. adds, “ My object has 
been to obtain a bright scarlet of the size and habit of the more 
common kinds, and, after several years’ perseverance, I have so 
far succeeded.” 
The Achimenes is too well known as one of our best decorative 
plants of easy culture to require any praise here; there is now a 
great variety, of nearly every shade of colour, and many of great 
excellence. We have so frequently treated upon their culture 
that we cannot do better than refer our readers to p. 66, in our 
vol. for 1850 ; p. 115, in that of 1852; p. 122, in that of 1855; 
and p. 353, in that of 1856; where all neccessary information 
for the production of the finest specimens can be obtained. 
POTATO CULTURE AND DISEASE. 
In answer to many inquiries about the system we recommend for 
securing the largest return for the trouble and expense this crop entails, 
we can only inform our readers that we have very little new to com¬ 
municate. But there are two or three facts in reference to Potato 
culture which may be useful for some of our readers to know, and 
which the past season has so far confirmed, that they may be laid down 
as general rules for our guidance. 
The havoc which the disease has made in the crop of the present 
year, 1857, is sufficiently indicated by the wholesale prices now quoted, 
viz., 8/. per ton for the best samples, and which in some instances that 
have come to our knowledge have been exceeded. Now, 8/. a ton is a 
trifle over IT^. per sack of twelve score pounds, and this, observe, the 
wholesale price, to which a full one-third must be added before they 
reach the consumers in large towns. A price like this, which may be 
termed a prohibitory one to many families, renders it imperative for all 
VOL. X , NO. cxix. u 
