42 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[Marcti, 
NEW POTATOS. 
I N tlie course of some remarks on the 
novelties among esculents, the Gardeners' 
Cj) \ Chronicle very aptly remarks that “ new 
r vegetables are scarce though new names 
are abundant.” The same authority, however, 
remarks that “ Potatos form an exception to 
the general rule, for here we have decided 
novelty—decidedly new and improved varie¬ 
ties, produced, moreover, in no haphazard 
manner, but with considerable skill and de¬ 
finite purpose. There can he no question 
that if the numbers of varieties of the Potato 
have increased during the past few years, they 
have become improved also in appearance, 
and much more so in quality. The high 
quality of the new Potatos submitted during 
the past year, and their fine appearance, were 
particularly noticeable. Mr. Fenn, the most 
successful raiser of new varieties, is to be 
congratulated on the success of his efforts. 
Our thanks are due to him especially, and to 
Mr. Alexander Dean, who is a very worthy 
disciple. 
“ Of Mr. Fenn’s seedlings Standard is a 
very excellent round white. Fenn's No. 29, 
a very handsome pale red kidney, is a most 
extraordinary cropper, and one of the finest 
Potatos as regards quality. Mr. Dean’s Lord 
Mayor is a rough-skinned round white. Early 
Cluster, a very early half-round white, with a 
remarkably short top, will prove extremely 
valuable for forcing. Cosmopolitan, the pro¬ 
duce of a cross between the American Success 
and Woodstock Kidney, is early, large, hand¬ 
some, a great cropper, and of good quality. 
Garnett’s Seedling, from Mr. Garnett, is a fine 
large white kidney. Foster's Seedling, a beau¬ 
tiful round, pale yellow-fleshed variety, is also 
to be noted. Victoria Kidney (Edwards), a 
wonderfully flattened and very distinct form of 
Paterson’s Yictoria, is another fine variety. 
Forty fold White (Farquhar), very much after 
the Schoolmaster type, is also deserving of 
notice. Defiance (C. Lee & Son) is a large 
purple kidney, handsome, and stated to be an 
extraordinary cropper. 
“ Of American Potatos the number of new 
aspirants is still as great, and the advance in 
point of quality equally, if not more, decided. 
The newer seedlings raised by Messrs. Brow¬ 
nell and Messrs. Rand, and about to be sent 
out by Messrs. Bliss & Sons, of New York, 
are very superior as regards quality to any of 
those of earlier introduction, as proved in 
the trial-grounds at Chiswick, the following 
varieties being specially selected :— Vermont 
Champion, round white; Iroquois, obloDg 
white ; President, round white ; Fremont, 
large long white; also of somewhat older 
date, Adirondack, round white, splashed with 
pink round the eye—a very beautiful variety, 
almost sure to become a favourite; the Queen 
of the Valley, oblong. pale pink ; Matchless 
(Hooper), very beautiful rosy-pink, and an 
extraordinary cropper. White Elephant 
(Daniels) and St. Patrick (Yeitch) deserve 
notice also, as being very serviceable and 
meritorious sorts'.”— (n. s., xviii., 141.) 
VINES AND VINE CULTURE. 
Chap. XVIII.—-The Varieties of Grapes. 
( Concluded .) 
THE descriptions of the varieties of Grapes 
included in our Synoptical Table are 
(gg, here resumed from page 20 :— 
Waltham Cross (92). —An oval white 
Vinous Grape. 
Vine. —Growth remarkably strong and robust; 
moderately fruitful. Leaves large, deeply toothed. 
Fruit.—Bunches very large, long and regularly 
tapering, on strong stalks, evenly shouldered; freely 
set. Berries very large, long ovate, fully larger than 
those of the Muscat of Alexandria, which it greatly 
resembles when perfectly ripe. S/cin thick, pale 
yellow. Flesh firm or hard, sweet, but by no means 
rich in flavour. Handsome in appearance, and keeps 
well after ripening. 
History, fyc. — A seedling raised by Mr. William 
Paul, of Waltham Cross, about the year 1870. Re¬ 
ceived a lst-class Certificate from the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. 
Cultural Notes. —Being a late grape, it succeeds 
best in a house suitable for Muscats, where sufficient 
heat can be applied to ripen the fruit well. Is not 
much cultivated. 
Season.—Ve ry late; one of the latest grapes in 
cultivation. 
Merits. —Very large and handsome, but quite 
second-rate in quality. 
West’s St. Peter’s (80).—-Ah oval black 
Vinous Grape. Synonyms: Money’s West’s 
St. Peter’s, Oldaker’s West’s St. Peter’s. 
Vine. —Growth very free, but moderately robust. 
The young shoots firm, and always well ripened ; very 
fruitful. Leaves of moderate size, rugose, very deeply 
toothed, with reddish venations and leaf-stalks. 
Fruit. — Bunches medium-sized, rather thin, 
broadly shouldered, on strong but thinuish very 
wiry foot-stalks; very freely set. Berries medium¬ 
sized, rouudish ovate. Skin thin, membranous, 
very black, and covered with a fine bloom. Flesh 
tender, very juicy, sweet, and at all times remarkably 
fresh and pleasant. 
