1874. J 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
67 
might rage in the stems and leaves; and subsequent experience has entirely con¬ 
firmed him in this view. 
Mr. Barnes’ remedy is, it will be evident, that of preventing the drip from 
the leaves, with the moving-spores it would carry with it, from reaching the 
roots, and by this means he has succeeded in obtaining crops with from 90 to 95 
per cent, of sound tubers. He argues that there is 'no doubt whatever, were it 
possible to prevent the slightest taint from the leaves falling on the tubers, that 
there would not be such a thing known as a diseased Potato. One very success¬ 
ful plan of doing so has been tried, viz., cutting off the haulm immediately the 
fungus appears ; but this, though effectual, interferes too much with the produce. 
The mode of planting recommended is as follows :—‘‘ Commencing at one 
side, I make trenches from end to end of the plot to be planted, at distances of 
3 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. 6 in., according to the stem-length of the variety I intend to 
plant; each trench is 12 in. wide and about 6 in. deep. The manure is now put 
in, if the ground was not manured in the autumn, which I consider preferable, 
and two rows of sets are planted, one row close to each side of the trench, thus— 
.*.*.*. The mould that was taken out in forming the trenches is now 
replaced, and as much more added as will raise the double rows into ridges about 
4 in. or 5 in. higher than the intervening furrows. The ridges should be flat- 
topped, and not more than 14 in. wide, or they will encroach too much on the 
interspaces, which must be broad enough to allow the stems to be bent down 
without those from opposite ridges overlapping them. Planted in this way the 
crop does not require earthing-up. Not later than July 12 the crop must be 
gone over, and the stems gently but firmly bent down by the hand into the 
spaces between the rows, and any straggling leaves still lying over the roots should 
be stripped off at the same time. One man will easily do from half an acre to 
an acre a day, so that the cost is very trifling, especially as a saving of labour 
has been effected in planting, &c. The bending-down of the stems, in a proper 
manner and at a proper time, is very important, as the whole success of the plan 
depends upon this being effectively done. A slight modification of the plan is 
necessary in fields where the crops are of great extent, and a good deal of the 
work is done by the plough. 
I have followed this method for twenty-three years, and constantly with the 
same success, no matter how wet the season might be. My garden is composed 
of a light open limestone earth, which is one of the worst on which to raise 
sound Potatos, the spores readily finding their way to the tubers, so that my 
success is solely due to the method of planting, and the practice of bending 
down the stemi,” 
GAKDEN GOSSIP. 
jN the Eeport of the Directors of the Chiswick Garden, it is stated that a 
Trial of Grapes will forthwith be instituted there. Many new varieties of the 
Grape Vine, it is observed, have been introduced to our gardens within the 
last few years, and it has been thought desirable to devote a house to the 
growth of these, with a view to a closer observation of their peculiarities and merits. The 
small curvilinear vinery in which the different sorts of White Muscats had been brought 
together some years since for a like object, which has been accomplished, has been set apart 
for this purpose. Such work as this, and the trials of Vegetables and Flowers which are every 
year made at Chiswick, well befits a Society like the Royal Horticultural, which was founded 
for the advancement of Horticulture. It is to be wished that circumstances permitted more 
of this kind of work to be taken in hand, and that the strife and bickerings which have of 
late been too notorious might be abandoned, and an united and unanimous effort made to 
put the affairs of the Society on a more secure foundation. 
G 2 
