27 S 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 13. 
roots, which I could not have easily neutralised under 
the circumstances. The kind seemed to me to have so 
many advantages, and hoping there would be nothing 
hereditary in the malady, f saved seeds, and from these 
obtained plants for the main spring and summer crop, 
which were to be grown in five lights of the pit, a sec¬ 
tion of which was lately given. Here the plants grew 
as well as could be—extra luxuriance being guarded 
against, as those who will examine the section will see, 
by a limited amount of feeding ground—and a quantity 
of line clean fruit has been secured, averaging from 
eighteen to twenty-three inches in length. But if one 
j fact be worthy consideration—though I would not lay 
I great stress upon it, farther than a note of care and 
| beware—that fact would seem to say, that the disease is 
i apt to become constitutional and hereditary, for the 
same plants from seeds thus obtained, that produced 
these line fruit, would also produce some affected 
with this loathsome - looking disease. With the ex¬ 
ception of two or three spots, it has not shown itself 
much on the stems or leaf-stalks, but has chiefly con¬ 
fined itself to the fruit, breaking through the skin, 
sometimes in dots, and then for larger spaces. If 
allowed to go on, the parts thus affected begin to rot 
and decay. If moved off at once, and the parts dusted 
with lime, sulphur and charcoal dust, the parts will 
generally heal up, and nothing be seen of where the 
excretion stood, but a healed scar, or cicatrix. It will 
be recollected, that by means of pipes I could give 
bottom-heat, and top heat, dry heat, or moist heat, at 
will. I found that the disease was most apt to manifest 
itself, when—after nice sunny .weather, during which 
there was a happy relative action going on between 
roots and branches, a sufficiency of moisture below and 
above, and all regulated for the benefit of the plant, by 
the glorious sunbeam—there followed a few days of 
cloudy, cold weather, and less fresh air was given than 
was demanded in the circumstances, not so much from 
inattention, as from disappointed hopes of the sun 
appearing, and thus so far economizing the fuel-heap. 
A free, moist root-action, by having the rubble round the 
pipes moist, and a little heat in these pipes, when a 
strong sun dispensed with the necessity of heating the 
surface pipes; and the keeping heat in both set of pipes 
in cold dull weather, so as even then to give a circula¬ 
tion of air, seemed to bo the chief means of mitigating, 
though not entirely removing, the evil. Syringing with 
the sulphur and lime-water was, also, I think, attended 
with benefit. Frequently, three weeks or a month would 
elapse without a fruit showing a gummy spot, but very 
likely, when I had just got the leugth of supposing I had 
conquered the evil, one would give unmistakeable signs 
I of the malady. The above means, however, seem to 
minimise its virulence. When grown in dung-beds, I 
would recommend a healthy root-action, and linings 
| sufficient to give plenty of air in dull weather. In the 
meantime, until more is known of it, it would be advi- 
1 sable not to save seed from infected plants. 
11 ' reasons bo required why such space should be taken 
up with such matters in this place, these may be found 
in the many inquiries made; the more than usual 
prevalence of the evils complained of; and the appli- 
| cability of much that has been advanced, to plants in 
general, and to such plants as tho Melon in particular. 
R. Fisfi. 
JOTTINGS BY THE WAY. 
STATE OF THE CROPS. 
During the progress of my journey, my attention was 
naturally drawn to the appearance of the various crops 
on the farms as I passed by them. The com crops, 
such as Wheat, Barley, Oats, and Beans, I never saw 
look better, with some few exceptions, on hilly ground, 
where they evidently suffered to some extent from 
drought. This remark applies to the time when I first ! 
started from home, early in June; towards the latter i 
end of the month the genial showers that had fallen i 
had materially improved even these dry hilly fields, j 
In a large field of Wheat, near Liverpool, I was sorry 
to sec many of the heads of Wheat corn had become 
smutty and black, but that is the only field that I 
saw that had suffered from that disease. Tho first i 
Wheat I saw in the ear was in North Wales, on the 
flat grounds near the sea, through which the Chester 
and Holyhead railway runs. If this warm, showery 
weather continues another week or two, I believe tho 
crop will be above the average. The Bean crop is 
forward, and will, with a moderately fair autumn, be 
housed early, and, consequently, well. Oats very 
luxuriant, and of the darkest green, and the same 
remark applies to the Barley. Peas suffering in fields 
for the want of the early rains. In gardens the crops 
of this useful esculent are plentiful. 
The Potato .—It is an undeniable fact that the plants 
never looked so well as they do this year. Up to the 
24th of June I had never heard of, nor seen, any 
symptom of that fell disease which some years back 
threatened to banish this root out of cultivation. On 
that day, a friend, of mine, at Chester, dug up some 
Ash-leaved Kidneys, and to my sorrow, showed me some 
few that were unmistakably diseased; I think he said 
about one-fifth of the crop were in that condition. I 
made enquiry of several growers throughout Lancashire, 
the county that has been celebrated for its excellent 
Potatoes, and was assured that the disease had made its 
appearance, though but slightly as yet. At the moment 
I am writing this the weather is close and sultry, with 
rain falling in quantity, just the sort of weather that 
increases the disease with wonderful rapidity. -New 
Potatoes are plentiful in the various markets, and are 
selling this day, June 29th, at one penny per pound, 
and the price is expected to be still lower in a day or 
two, because there is such a large breadth planted, and 
the crop is so good. Let us hope the disease may not 
spread, and then tho Potato crop will help to feed all 
classes, and to keep down the price of bread. I saw, in 
the Manchester and Liverpool markets, large stocks of 
old Potatoes, which, it appeared to me, tho holders had 
kept too long ; the new ones having come in so early and 
fine, that the old ones would be useless, unless used to 
feed cattle. Perhaps some may say, these men that 
kept them back are rightly served, because they ought 
to have sold them and been content with a moderate 
price. 
Hay harvest has began here and there in the north, 
but not generally. The crops are decidedly light, and 
will be considerably under the average, especially on 
the hill sides. It is a matter of great regret that irriga¬ 
tion is not more put in practico, the benefit being certain 
and immediate, to a great degree. The reason why so 
palpably a beneficial practice is not more acted upon, 
may be traced to tho uncertainty of our climate. Some 
seasons wo have abundance of the early and latter rain; 
in fact, sometimes too much. In such seasons, the 
machinery and expense of irrigation, the farmers say, 
would bo thrown away; and as the rains may fall in 
due season any year, that trouble and expense may be 
avoided. Or, in other words, we will always expect 
rain to fall, and if iu some years it does not, wc must 
be patient and content. Is this wise? Are such notions 
worthy of the age? I say, No. Man has given to him 
certain powers of mind by which he may controul the 
elements, in many instances, to his benefit and comfort, 
and he commits wrong if lie neglects to use them. The 
benefits of irrigation are immediate; the parched pas¬ 
ture or meadow will, when properly irrigated, soon turn 
