124 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
down weeds, and to admit tlie sun and rains; and tlie young plants should 
be nicely earthed up as soon as they are of sufficient size. I need scarcely 
say that Potatos should always he planted in an open situation, where they 
will receive plenty of sun and air. This is absolutely necessary in order to 
have tubers of good quality. 
Varieties to Grow. —These are now so very numerous that it is difficult 
to make a selection without omitting some really good kinds. As almost 
every locality has its favourite kinds, it is a very safe practice to grow these 
sorts, adding to them such others as have been proved to be meritorious. 
It is a good practice to get the seed occasionally from another locality, as 
this improves the quality of the crop, but if the soil is regularly trenched 
there is not the same necessity for frequent change of seed. For early use 
there is nothing better than a good strain of Asli-leaved Kidneys, but these 
are now so numerous, and each kind is so strongly recommended, that it is 
a somewhat difficult task to select. In speaking to an acquaintance of 
mine lately on this matter, he said he grew nearly a dozen sorts last season 
which had been sent him by different persons, but he found them so much 
alike he threw the whole together when taking them up, as he had not con¬ 
veniences for keeping them separate, and even if he had, they so nearly 
resembled each other that it was not desirable to do so. The following I 
have had good here, but doubtless the list does not include all the best 
sorts :— Early .—Ash-leaved Kidney, Early Ash-leaved, Mona’s Pride, Eoyal 
Asli-leaved, Myatt’s Prolific, and Early Handswortli. Second Early .— 
Lapstone or Haigh’s Seedling (which is one and the same kind, and one of 
the finest of Potatos, but suffers much from the murrain), Dalmahoy, and 
Daintree’s Seedling. General Crop .—Flukes, Skerry Blue, York Begent, 
Fortyfold, White Rock, and Scottish Regent. 
General Remarks .—Potatos intended for seed should always be taken up 
before they are fully grown, as they make better sets, and grow with more 
vigour than when fully ripe. But Potatos for eating should always be 
allowed to ripen properly before they are taken up ; for when dug up before 
they have done growing, they are not so mealy or so finely flavoured as when 
left to mature properly. 
By carrying out these different matters I have generally had very satis¬ 
factory crops of Potatos, but I regard the trenching of the ground as the 
most essential point in their culture, and I am much inclined to believe that 
if it were more generally adopted, we should not have much to complain of 
about our Potato crops. 
Stourton. M. Saul. 
A TRIO OF FIRST-CLASS MARANTAS* 
There are few family groups of plants with ornamental foliage that 
would go further in affording materials combining rare beauty and pictur¬ 
esque variety for the decoration of a plant-stove, than that of the Marantas, 
in which are popularly included certain species that more strictly belong 
to Calathea and Plirynium, though for all gardening purposes they may 
be regarded as one. The Caladiums may be more flaunting in their 
colouring, and may create a more favourable first impression ; but we 
doubt if even they, with their soft-textured flabby leaves, could stand a close 
comparison with the polished parti-coloured and more permanent-leaved 
Marantas. Whatever his special predilection, whether in favour of Arads, 
