324 
THE FLORIST. 
reasons : one is, that the roots have a larger pasturage : the principal 
one, however, is that water passes from them more freely, and is there¬ 
fore less liable to render the crop diseased towards the latter stages of 
its growth, nor will they suffer so much should dry weather intervene 
early in the season, and when a rapid growth is essential to the early 
ripening of the crop. Every care should be taken to keep the crop 
forward, by timely planting, and performing the requisite hoeings and 
earthing up directly the growth of the plant will permit. Should weeds 
afterwards make their appearance, remove them by hand, and on no 
account allow them to make progress towards the end of the season, 
when the tops begin to decay, as they prevent the sun and air from 
acting on the leaves of the plant, and, indeed, help the disease to spread 
itself. 
With the above precautionary means the crop of late Potatoes will 
have nearly attained their full size by August—about the time the 
disease attacks the crop—and will therefore be prepared to withstand its 
effects. Even should the tops become attacked, there will be sufficient 
vitality in them to finish the ripening process. Do not dig them sooner 
than the middle of September, as they will keep better from being well 
matured in the ground, and taking them up offers no immunity from 
the disease—as some suppose—neither will cutting off the tops, when 
attacked, do so; on the contrary, it prevents in a measure the ripening 
process, and the roots eat close and waxy, and do not keep so well. 
If possible, take up the crop only in dry weather, and pit them 
immediately. Narrow pits in a dry situation are best, covered with 
clean straw and earthed up each day, all being done in dry weather. 
When the crop is stored in large quantities together they heat, and if 
there is any latent disease in the roots it will spread and rot them ; 
this, and pitting the crop when wet, are the two principal causes of the 
Potato rotting in the pits. 
Nothing in the shape of cultivation will entirely prevent the disease; 
but the above hints, deduced from long observation and experience, 
will, we believe, do all that can be done towards securing a fair return. 
Even this present year, so disastrous generally, good crops have been 
obtained by following these instructions; whereas, all but universal 
failure has attended the planting of Potatoes on unfavourable soils and 
situations. 
EARLY PEARS. 
In reading the report of the Pomological Society, in the last number 
of the Florist, I was struck with the remarks on the Poire Peche. 
Ihe words “ Not an early Pear,” were not well chosen, for it is not a 
late Pear, and then came the question, what is an Early Pear? A 
late Pear is pretty well defined, for we all think of Febiuary and March 
when we talk of late Pears ; but, according to our present definition, an 
early Pear is one that ripens from the end of July till the middle or 
perhaps the end of September. I must however add that, although I 
believe this is the general idea, I have in my own mind confined the 
