September 5, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
7 
We know something of the remuneration of growers 
who cultivate them well, and how profitable a branch 
of agriculture Potato culture is. With some it is not 
so, however. Wet, tenacious land does not suit Potato 
farming, and when seasons are adverse and conducive 
to disease the loss is complete. In Ireland, where 
“lazy bed” culture is practised, the Potatos are mostly 
of fine quality. We have often thought of trying this 
method of culture on some ground where Potatos are 
“waxy” and inferior, but have never seen the system 
adopted out of Ireland. The two kinds of Potato which 
we have seen so extensively grown this year are Vic¬ 
torias and Champions ; lately, we walked over from 
Perth into the Valley of Strathearn, where some im¬ 
mense fields represent the most painstaking cultivation. 
The ground is worked into a tilth, seldom seen in 
gardens ; the rows are almost as straight as gunbarrels, 
and “furrowed” up to a considerable height, leaving 
channels to take off the surplus water easily. The 
width between the rows averaged nearly three feet, and 
I think much of the cultivator’s success may be attri¬ 
buted to plenty of room being allowed for the haulm to 
develope itself, with a free current of air passing along 
the drills. These finely managed fields might invoke 
the exclamation, often made, that “they were like 
gardens!” Vegetable gardens forsooth. It would give 
one especial pleasure to see one kitchen garden out of 
every dozen in such high cultural order. It is now so 
common to find private gardens so short of labour that 
an attempt to keep them in order would be courting 
failure in the other departments on the place. 
We noticed along the route to Dunkeld the same 
consummate care in conjunction with Potato culture. 
By Callander, in “ crofts” and cottage plots, they are 
planted in wide drills, earthed up in'the manner already 
referred to, which appears to be the general system 
of culture. Along the beautiful route to Balquidder 
(where the remains of Rob Roy were interred in 
the picturesque churchyard) Potatos seem to receive 
much attention, and Champions appear to be the 
favourite. On ground not too rich they seem to do 
well everywhere, and are almost totally exempt from 
disease. When we see large quantities of Potatos in 
sound condition and of excellent quality as late as 
August (and while we write, August 25th, fair samples 
are still to he found), one is prompted to enquire into 
the cause of such late and sound preservation ; but 
nothing definite can we learn which is not understood 
and practised in other parts where such late keeping is 
unknown. Early planting does not seem to be a 
general practice in fields, neither is early lifting often 
seen. October and November are the months during 
which late Potatos are removed from the soil. They 
are generally put into pits in the /\ form, and well 
covered in the usual way. 
During spring they are examined, and afterwards 
placed into cool sheds and turned occasionally, re¬ 
moving growths and any decaying tubers. The late 
kinds are dug from the fields in such good condition as 
one seldom sees in gardens. Early kinds are not often 
cultivated in the fields except in favoured localities such 
as the west coast of Ayrshire, and they are not far be¬ 
hind those grown in South Wales and the south-west 
of England. The large consignments from Belgium 
and Holland reduce the value very much of early home¬ 
grown produce. 
It is often said that the manuring of Potatos heavily 
is conducive to disease. We observe that the large 
growers do not manure lightly, but prepare for the 
Potatos in a manner which answers well for a crop of 
cereals the following season. In gardens we notice that 
one of the common evils is to give Potatos too little 
space for their development, and the shelter (often on 
the outskirts) about gardens is against the well being 
of a crop which requires so much air. The planting of 
Brussels Sprouts, Borecole, or other crops between the 
rows is also much against the well being of the Potato 
crop. Kidney and very early kinds suffer little from 
this practice, but they are best when grown under the 
conditions of those cultivated in the fields. We do not 
think that the rage for very early Potatos is so pre¬ 
valent as it was many years ago—certainly not in 
Scotland. We have never made much difference in ora 
practice in the north or south, and the past season has 
been one of our best with forced Potatos which we have 
experienced for years. Dry, light sandy loam, used 
quite clean, with a portion of Thomson’s Vine Manure 
in it, produced clean large tubers of the finest quality, 
and the varieties most valued for very early work are 
the old Ashleaf Kidney, Mona’s Pride, and Veitcli’s 
Prolific Kidney. Much bottom heat or heat of any 
kind to Potato pits and frames is a positive evil, re¬ 
sulting in long lanky tops and few tubers. Two suc¬ 
cessions are had from pots, first in March and the second 
early in April, then two or three pits keep up the 
supply till those planted from pots at the base of walls 
are ready about the end of June. 
At one time we gave some -pleasure to others, but 
little satisfaction to ourselves, by growing in pots 
Ashleaf Kidneys to be ready at the new year. French 
cooks delight in these small fry, but we look upon such 
practice as the insignificant parts of gardening. A 
simple way to attain the same object is to plant in July 
on a well broken piece of ground Kidney Potatos which 
have been kept late by lying on a cool, airy space (a 
stone floor in the shade does well). They give little 
trouble to keep them growing late, and a frame may be 
placed over them to keep off frost (say, early in October), 
or they may be left to take their chance of having their 
tops cut off, and litter placed over the surface of the 
soil will keep the tubers secure, until they are lifted as 
they are wanted for use, and that may be from December 
onwards till those in pots are ready. This practice was 
taught us many j^ears ago by the late Mr. George 
Glenny, of Fulham, and samples so raised at one time 
brought to market-men fabulous prices for “new 
Potatos.” Pot culture is often ignored as useless, by 
attempting to force the crop too rapidly, which, in con¬ 
sequence, is useless. They require at all times an 
abundance of light and air. Judicious watering is very 
essential when quality is valued.— M. T. 
--»¥<-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Plants Out of Doors. —Plants that have been 
stood out of doors to harden and ripen their growth 
will need watching to see that they do not get dry at 
the roots, which Azaleas and others growing in peat 
are apt to do. To prevent this, it is a good plan, when 
watering, to go over them two or three times, and fill 
up the pots to ensure the balls being soaked thoroughly 
through. 
Insects. —Azaleas are always more or less subject to 
thrips, and especially in hot, dry seasons like the 
present, when, if not checked, they breed at a great 
rate ; but as the buds of the plants are now formed, 
and the shoots and young leaves tolerably firm, these 
insects may be assailed and got rid of at once. To ac¬ 
complish this, all that is necessary is tobacco water or 
nicotine soap, either of which, diluted well, kill the 
thrips and their eggs. The best way to apply the 
liquid is to lay the head of the plant to be operated 
on over a tub or other vessel to save waste, when the 
insecticide may be syringed on the foliage so as to wet 
every part without any waste. 
Solanums. —These are among the very best plants 
amateurs can grow, but to have them really good, they 
must be well looked to and kept supplied with plenty 
of water, for if allowed to get dry at the roots, not only 
will red spider assail and damage the foliage, but the 
flowers will fail to set, and any berries there may be 
on will not reach the size and colour they ought to do. 
Sweet Scabious. —Among flowering subjects, few 
(if any) are more useful for greenhouse decoration than 
these, and as they come so freely from seed, and afford 
such a variety of colour, everyone should grow them, 
and if sown now they will come in early in spring. 
The best way, however, for those who happen to have 
any in borders is to put in cuttings of the most distinct, 
or take up and save the plants by potting them, when, 
if stood under a wall and kept damped overhead, they 
will soon get fresh hold and be able to take care of 
themselves. 
Salvias. —There are several of these that are almost 
indispensable for winter, and among them S. splendens 
Bruanti, S. Bethelli, and S. rutilans are the most 
desirable, all of which may be kept in a small size 
if not propagated too early, and had in fine bloom. 
The way to manage them now is not to pot on, but to 
give plenty of liquid manure, to keep the shoots strong 
and the leaves green and healthy ; but as they will 
soon suffer from cold nights, the plants should new be 
stood in a frame. 
Cyclamens. —It is time now that these, were re¬ 
potted, the most suitable soil for them being a mix¬ 
ture of peat and loam with a little sand ; but on 
no account should they have large pots, as those of 
6-in. size are quite big enough for any of the bulbs. 
When potted, the best situation for them is a cold 
frame, where they should be kept a little close and 
warm, and just damped overhead to give them a start, 
but little or no further watering wall be required till 
they get well into leaf. 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
The Vinery.— It often happens with amateurs that 
the vinery has to do duty as a plant-house, in which 
case it is somewhat difficult to treat the Grapes pro¬ 
perly at certain seasons, the most trying period, 
perhaps, being that when they are ripening, a time 
when it is necessary to keep a somewhat dry atmosphere, 
with plenty of air on, or the fruit will not colour 
properly, and finish perfect in bloom. This being so, 
the plants should be made subordinate to the wants of 
the vines for a week or two, or moved out, and stood 
in a pit or frame, as then there will be no necessity to 
use water ; and if the pipes or flues are kept just warm 
by night, as well as during cold, sunless, or wet days, 
with the ventilators slightly open that vapour may be 
driven off, the vines will feel the beneficial effect at once, 
and be able to ripen both wood and fruit. Shanking 
is a malady about which little is known, but there can 
be no question that when it occurs there is something 
wrong at the roots, and the only thing that can be 
done just now, is to cut the affected berries out, but a 
little later on the sure remedy is to overhaul the border, 
and remake it, or add a good deal of fresh soil, a work 
that will be treated of when the time comes. 
Young Vines. —Although it is always well with young 
vines to give them full play, and let them run pretty 
much at their will, till they get well up the rafters ; all 
laterals should now be removed, and only the main 
leaves left, as then the waning strength will be con¬ 
centrated in the buds, and the increase of light and air 
will harden and mature the rods. If these are yet in 
a green backward condition, the treatment recom¬ 
mended for ripening Grapes ought to be pursued till 
the bark assumes a nut-brown colour, and the foliage 
turns and drops away of itself. 
Peaches and Nectarines under Glass. —These, 
when the fruit is gathered, are often left uncared for, 
but that is a time when they require a good deal of 
attention, as having to be kept dry, or not sjwinged, 
red spider assails them, and this parasite must be got 
rid of, if the leaves are to be kept healthy, or in a con¬ 
dition to perform their office till the buds are plumped 
up. The way to deal with the insects referred to 
is to well wash the trees with water from a garden- 
engine, and to repeat the same every afternoon on fine 
days till they are clear, leaving the house wide open 
both day and night, to keep the air cool. 
Watering. —One of the most frequent causes of red 
spider is dryness at the roots, and if these are under 
glass, the border should be examined, and, if found 
necessary, a heavy watering given, but while this is 
being done, a watchful eye ought to be kept to see that 
the water does not get away at the sides, or down 
cracks, without soaking the soil. 
Peaches Outdoors. —One of the greatest plagues 
on Peach walls is the earwig, which eats into the fruits 
while they are quite green and hard, and unless stop¬ 
ped and destroyed, soon spoil the greater part of the 
crop. The readiest way of getting rid of these tiresome 
pests is to get Bean stalks, or any other hollow tubes 
of that kind, and cut them into lengths 8 ins. or so, 
and stick them about in the trees, when the earwigs 
will enter them for shelter during the night, and may 
be blown out into a bottle containing a little water, 
and then given to fowls. 
Strawberries.— The dry weather has been very 
trying for these, and particularly for young plants that 
have been recently transplanted in new beds, where 
they ought to be well attended to with water to keep 
them growing, or they will be unable to form crowns 
sufficiently strong to fruit next year. 
Liquid Manure. —If liquid manure can be had, 
and applied once or twice a week, in a properly diluted 
form, it will do much good, and the same for pot plants 
intended for forcing, which should be stood on boards 
or a hard bottom to prevent worms getting into them. 
