December 19. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
223 
absolutely now; but tbo general principles which govern 
this, as well as most other things, cannot be too well 
understood to ensure success. 
Like many other things, a sacrifice is made in obtain¬ 
ing the earliest, in proportion to the forcible means 
adopted; for the same roots which would produce an 
abundant crop in favourable out-door circumstances, 
will be found to be much less prolific when urged into 
action before their accustomed time, and their growth 
and health maintained solely by artificial means. This 
is no more than all other garden products are subject 
to; for the earliest Grapes, Peaches, and other fruits, 
are all, more or less, obtained at the sacrifice of quantity, 
or some other cost, incurring a loss proportionate to the 
forcible moans used. 
Amongst heating materials, that which conveys a 
gentlo, moist warmth to the roots is of most service; 
because it is the root part of the vegetable that is of 
service, and not the top ; hence tbo propriety of having 
something in the way of the old-fashioned dung bed. I 
generally plant my first crop on a bed of the dryest 
and best leaves that can be got, and as soon in the 
autumn as they are available, which, however, is seldom 
before the end of November; the gentle heat they 
impart is sufficient at this early season; and as they 
advance, protection, in the shape of covering, is given 
as wanted, and, if needs be, linings of hot dung like¬ 
wise. This latter, is, however, not always to be had; 
for the demand for it, for other purposes, in mid winter 
and early spring, often precludes the possibility of having 
it as an auxiliary to the leaf bed ; but this latter main¬ 
tains its heap pretty well, and in my case, it is generally 
surrounded by a large heap of store leaves, which 
maintain a nice, useful warmth a long timo. In fact, I 
often place an old frame on the heap of leaves so 
collected, and plant the Potatoes in it accordingly ; but, 
in my case, leaves are, perhaps, more plentiful than in 
every place, that a something else must be used instead. 
Those who have sufficient structures of glass, or 
brickwork, heated in some way or other, by fire, or 
water, or both, will not be in any difficulty in securing 
their object, because there is that steady, continued 
heat to depend on, which other modes cannot always 
command, and, in times of severe frost, the necessary 
additional warmth to meet the exigence of the case can 
easily be had; but as few can spare such a place for 
Potatoes, it is better to depend on the more humble 
mode detailed above, or in some other resembling them. 
For instauce, many people, who have not a range of pits 
heated by fire-heat, have their cold-pits sufficiently 
deep to admit about three feet of fermenting material, 
which ought to be of a kind that does not readily lose 
its heat. I have sometimes found tan very good that 
way ; but somehow, of late years, it does not seem to bo 
so good as formerly, that I have, more than once, been 
deceived in its not heating at all. Well-tempered dung 
is better, or a mixture of dung and leaves is, perhaps, 
better than cither alone. At all events, it is advisable to 
have something that will retain its heat until the middle 
or end of Februray, at least; and it is needless to say, 
that most of brick pits are so constructed, as to prevent 
heat being applied after the bed is onco made, In such 
beds, it would be better to delay the making up until 
Christmas, because the “ growing period ” would then 
have arrived, in which a decided progress is made; 
whereas, early in the autumn, there is a considerable 
time in which little advance takes placo ; but even this 
delay might be turned to account, by having the 
Potatoes brought forward in some other place, and 
then planted in the bed when it is ready to receive 
them; and-they may be brought forward in some odd 
corner, without interfering with anything else. 
Any dark placo will do to start them in that is somo- 
whatwnrm; and the best way is to pot each Potato in 
a separate pot (say a five-inch one), with tolerable good 
soil; and do not, by any meaus, allow them to get too 
long in the top, for that will render their after-transplant¬ 
ing into the prepared bod, a greater trial to them. It would 
be better to havo the pot well filled with roots, than that 
the top should be long and unwieldy, for the roots will 
be progressing in the right way towards the object 
required; whereas, the development of the top will be only 
so much loss, for the energies of the plant will be drawn 
that way, to the serious decrease of the more legitimate 
part. Good, sound Potatoes put in pots, and planted in 
somo place where they may have top-air, will immediately 
commence growing, if they be of the proper sort, and 
will continue to do so as long as they are wanted ; and 
they plant into their proper beds very easily, and with a 
certainty of their doing well there, other things, of courso, 
being favourable likewise. Although the wish is usual 
to make a bed that so much labour attends produce as 
much as possible, yet it is doubtful whether planting 
thick is likely to accomplish that object. Potatoes may 
be planted closer in a frame than is usual for the crop 
out-of-doors. This is easily done; but rows any closer 
than eighteen inches apart cannot benefit anything; 
and kinds with large spreading tops ought to be wider. 
Let the earth be good, and for those transplanted from 
pots, it had better be warmed in the bed ero they be 
turned out. 
It is useless recommending any particular kinds, for 
every district has its favourite. That which I grow, 
partakes much of the Aak lcaved Kidney in the appear¬ 
ance of tuber, but the foliage is different. It has, 
however, only a local name; but it is a good variety, 
and small or cut sets of it germinate moro freely than 
j the Ask-leaved variety, whilo it is quite as early; in fact, 
moro so. There are, also, rouud Potatoes in great num¬ 
bers, all early in their way; but most people prefer the 
Kidney for appearance. 
Let the soil be good that they are planted in, and the 
situation be an open sunny one, otherwise, the object is 
defeated, for Potatoes will not grow without that all- 
important ageut the sun; even in the dark days, when 
he seldom makes his appearance, they seem to miss him 
much, if their situation is such as prevents his shining 
on them, and .a sickly elongation of top is the result. 
Covering well up at night will be necessary at all times, 
and in periods of frosty weather, it may, perhaps, be 
necessary to have it on for a day or two together; but in 
a usual way, uncover every day, and also give air on all 
favourable occasions, for the Potato, though easily af¬ 
fected by the least frost, is, nevertheless, much hardier 
than the Cucumber, and if daily inured to it will endure | 
almost total exposure with benefit, whenever the external 
air is above 4.0°; but, of course, the matter may be 
carried too far. The happy medium is to prevent an 
| undue development of top, without, at the same time, 
checking the root. When that is accomplished, success 
is certain. J. Robson. 
NEW PLANTS. 
Cassiofe fastigiata ( Pyramidal-shaped Cassiope). 
This plant has been by some botanists included in the 
genus Andromeda, and in allusion to its likeness to the 
species which compose that genus, when it was found desir¬ 
able to rename this plant, it was called Cassiope, because 
this was the name of Andromeda’s mother in fabulous his¬ 
tory. Dr. Wallich named it Andromeda cupressiformis, or 
Cypress-shaped, which was certainly a very descriptive 
name. Sir W. Hooker appropriately calls it “ a charming 
plant." It was raised from Himalayan seed by Mr. Moore, 
of tbo Glasnevin Botanic Carden, Dublin. The seed was 
collected by Major Madden in the North Western 1 limalaya, 
at a height of from 12,000 to 13,000 feet. Dr. Wallich found 
