228 
THE GARDENING WORLD. December 11, 1886. 
of all sections, and believe that whilst pleased 
enough to enter into honest competitions with 
their produce, they will be only too ready to 
associate with a permanent society from higher 
and more intelligent motives. 
The recent Tercentenary Conference, although 
sadly shorn of elements of usefulness—due, 
without doubt, to abrupt conception and im¬ 
perfect organisation—yet showed, amongst other 
things, very fully that the Potato has both 
historical and literary associations. Nay, more— 
it has its geographical ones; and in other ways, 
both as an article of food, and because of its 
proneness to disease, it has very interesting 
physical attributes also. "What a wealth of 
interest there lies in these features, and how 
largely that interest might be developed by a 
society! Then, the Potato is an object of 
special botanical, and hence scientific, interest; 
and apart from its derivation, there may be 
found wonderful interest in the further develop¬ 
ment of known species, most of which have 
been left to starve in botanical gardens as mere 
tuber-bearing curiosities, with but little regard 
to their possible value as food products. Cer¬ 
tainly, it is evident that a society which is 
specially concerned with all that relates to the 
Potato will be the most fitting instrument for 
the conduct of enterprises of this kind. 
Then, we have very much yet to learn in 
regard to the disease, its action on Potato crops, 
and the best means of checking its ravages 
where they exist. It is true we have had little 
cause for trouble of late; but that should not 
tend to make us careless on a matter of such 
exceeding importance. Again, a society may 
Avell take into consideration the subject of food 
as derived from the Potato ; we see in it an 
important article of commerce, and feel that it 
demands, in that direction, the closest watch¬ 
fulness and attention. That we should still be 
so largely dependent upon other climes for a 
considerable bulk of Potatos for ordinary con¬ 
sumption shows that a society might find plenty 
of useful work in the encouragement of home 
production. Then, we may find it useful also 
in assisting to obtain for Potato growers fair 
and reasonable rates for transit. A large dealer 
stated, on Friday evening last, that he could 
have Potatos sent to London from France 
cheaper than he could send them from Reading 
to London, thus establishing for the home 
grower a great injustice, to the profit of the 
foreign grower. 
Again, there are not merely methods of cooking 
Potatos, but diverse forms in which they may 
be served up or utilised as good and pleasing 
food. There is a considerable trade growing up 
in the preservation of Potatos in a dried or 
desiccated form, for exportation and feeding of 
troops or other bodies of men. Potatos for this 
purpose must be both dry in texture and have 
considerable density or solidity of flesh. Here, 
again, is a direction in which a society might 
help in useful work; for it is of vast importance 
to us, as an insular nation, that we should, at 
all times, have at our disposal varied and 
healthful food resources. Then, we may come 
to the more purely garden aspects of the Potato; 
its cultivation both for ordinary consumption 
and for exhibition : and, finally, the holding of 
exhibitions, which have always proved of ex¬ 
ceeding interest, and which may be greatly 
intensified if to ordinary show competitions be 
added all those accessories to which we have 
alluded. 
The recent Potato Conference has demon¬ 
strated one thing fully; it is that any society 
formed for the study and encouragement of the 
Potato may find, without doubt, a most admir¬ 
able and central home at the St. Stephen’s 
Hall, in which the recent conference was held. 
This is a lofty and capacious building, easy of 
access, and would, without doubt, be freely 
placed at the disposal of a society for all its 
purposes. Specially, too, does there seenLto be 
one illustrious gentleman marked out for the 
society’s jxresident in Earl Cathcart, who has 
shown a devotion to the interests of the Potato 
far beyond that displayed by any other of his 
class, and hardly less than seen on the part of 
anyone. We can but hope that his lordship 
will readily accept such a position ; and wo 
trust, further, that the approach to be made on 
the subject will result in success. 
We hope, therefore, it will be seen that the 
suggestion that a Potato Society is desirable is 
both a safe and a broad one. We have so 
largely indicated the nature of the work it 
might discharge, and the ground it might cover, 
that none can conclude the proposal is interested 
or limited. There is ample room for the in¬ 
clusion of the specialist and the generalist, the 
botanist and the gardener, the producer and 
the consumer, the greatest and the least. The 
greater the breadth of its personnel and its con¬ 
stitution, the less room for trade interests or 
personal jealousies; the operations of the society, 
indeed, may include everything which concerns 
the Potato. We should like to see such a body 
having its scientific and its practical committees, 
each one dealing with special matters, and even 
again sub-dividing for sectional purposes; in¬ 
deed, we might go on enumerating lengthily 
what work a society as suggested might perform. 
Our hope is that soon, and ere the echoes of the 
recent conference have died away, steps will be 
taken to promote the establishment of the 
society; and when so much is accomplished, 
we can but hope for it earnest, hearty and 
unselfish support, believing that, as an article 
of food, the Potato merits all the good which 
can be accomplished in its behalf. 
-►feSSc-- 
Chrysanthemum growers in [’the Metropolitan dis¬ 
trict may fie reminded that the Annual Dinner of 
the National Society takes place, at six p.m., at 
“ The Old Four Swans,” Bishopsgate Street, on Monday 
next, when the Holmes testimonial will be presented. 
As there will doubtless fie agreatrunon “Jubilee” 
next season, as a name for all sorts of things, it may 
be useful to record the fact that the name has already 
been selected for a new Potato, for a new Pea, and, 
lastly, for a new Primula, shown at Kensington on 
Tuesday. To save confusion in the trade, we shall be 
glad to record any other subjects that have been so 
named. 
On Tuesday the Prince and Princess of Males received 
their Imperial Highnesses Prince Komatsu (uncle of 
the Mikado of Japan) and Princess Komatsu at Marl¬ 
borough House, when Prince Komatsu invested his 
Royal Highness with the Grand Order of the Chrysan¬ 
themum. His Royal Highness ought now to become 
patron of the National Chrysanthemum Society. 
At the opening of the Chrysanthemum Show in- 
Edinburgh, on Tuesday, the Lord Provost remarked 
that the artists and poets of China and Japan had 
lavished much of their finest and best thought and 
labour in representing this flower. In Japan there 
was an Imperial Order of the Chrysanthemum, which 
had been conferred on the Prince of Males by a special 
envoy from the Emperor of Japan. In China a liquor 
was distilled from the flower, which was regarded as an 
elixir vitce, and a powder made from it was prescribed 
as a cure for drunkenness. He wished they had some 
of it in this country ! 
Mr. Alexander Ross, formerly gardener to the 
Right Hon. R. Bourke, has been engaged as gardener 
to Capt. Baird Hay, Belton, near Dunbar, N.B. 
The Electric Light and Trees and Flowers. 
In the neighbourhood of the tower lights, with which 
so many of the American cities are now illuminated, 
the influence of the arc light upon vegetation is be¬ 
coming very noticeable. A gentleman in Davenport, 
Iowa, whose garden is within 100 ft. of an electric 
light tower, says that his Lilies, which ordinarily close 
their petals long before sunset, now again unfold a few 
minutes after the lamps begin to burn. It is also 
observed that the foliage of the trees in Detroit was 
more luxuriant this summer whore the light has fallen 
on them. -^Manchester City News. 
Part II. of Yol. vii. of The Journal of the 
Royal Horticultural Society-, which consists of 
Reports of the Primula Conference held in April last, 
and of the Orchid Nomenclature Conference at Liver¬ 
pool in June, has been issued during the present week. 
The twelfth annual dinner of the Lambeth Amateur 
Chrysanthemum Society took place on Friday, Dec. 3, 
at the Bridge House Hotel, London Bridge ; Mr. T. 
Elms presided, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. 
Me are pleased to hear that the prospects of the society 
are most promising for the future. Mr. T. F. Davison, 
9, Union Square, Newington Causeway, is the hon. 
secretary. 
Mr. David Crombie, lately gardener at Sunderland 
Hall, Selkirk, has been appointed gardener to Viscount 
Powerscourt, Powerscourt, Co. Micklow, and entered 
on his duties last week. 
At the meeting of the Floral Committee of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society held at the AVest- 
minster Aquarium on Mednesday, only one First Class 
Certificate was awarded— viz., to Mr. Beckett, Alden- 
liam Park Gardens, Elstree, for AVhite Ceres, a fixed 
sport, pure white, from the fine pale pink late Japanese 
variety Ceres. It is larger and fuller than Ceres, and 
undoubtedly a very fine variety. Several other novel¬ 
ties were exhibited, but no other awards were made. 
At the same meeting Mr. Harman Payne exhibited a 
unique collection of coloured plates of some 200 varieties 
of Chrysanthemums, some of which were published over 
ninety years ago, and include all the original sorts 
received from China. Mr. Payne, who has written 
a history of the Chrysanthemum, and has spared no 
pains or expense to make his collection as complete as 
possible, well deserved the society’s Silver Medal which 
was awarded to him. 
The following are the dates fixed for holding the 
Exhibitions of the Royal Botanic Society 
during 1887 : Spring shows—AVednesdays, March 23rd, 
April 20th ; Summer shows—Wednesdays, May ISth 
June 15th; Evening fete (probable date)—AYednes- 
day, July 6th ; Exhibition of American plants, by Air. 
Anthony AA r aterer, Knap Hill, Surrey—daily during 
June. 
The annual meeting of the National Auricula and 
Carnation and Picotee Societies was held in the 
east crush-room of the Albert Hall, on Tuesday last, Air. 
Harry J. Veitch in the chair. Among the members 
present were the Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain and Alessrs. J. 
Laing, J. James, H. Cannell, G. Paul, R. Dean, Duflield, 
Hill, H. Turner, Pearson and J. Douglas, hon. sec. 
The presidents, vice-presidents and committee were 
unanimously re-elected. Alessrs. T. Fife and C. 
Phillips, both of Reading, were elected members of the 
committee of the Auricula Society ; and Air. T. E. 
Henwood, of Reading, and Air. AI. Rowan, of Clapham, 
were elected members of the committee of the Carnation 
Society. Air. Rolt resigned his office of treasurer of both 
societies, and Air. Shirley Hibberd was elected in his 
stead. Air. J. Douglas was re-elected as secretary. Air. 
Harry J. Yeitch was re-elected as one of the auditors ; 
and Air. Aloore, Botanic Gardens, Chelsea, was elected 
co-auditor, in the place of Air. Hibberd, resigned, on 
his appointment as treasurer. It was decided to hold 
the Auricula show on April 26th, 1SS7, and the Car¬ 
nation and Picotee show on July 26th. It was also 
unanimous^ decided to alter the title of the National 
Auricula Society to that of the National Auricula and 
Primula Society. Owing to the illness of the treasurer 
the statement of accounts was not presented to the 
meeting. 
-- 
ON DIGGING. 
I remember reading some time since in The Gar¬ 
dening World (p. 485, vol. ii.) an article on “Spades,” 
and as the time has arrived when all cleared ground 
must be turned over, it may not be out of place to 
otter a few remarks on the best way of proceeding with 
this sort of work. Let me say at once, however, 
that these remarks are not intended for professional 
gardeners, who I feel sure know quite as much as I 
can tell them on the subject; but for the amateurs, who 
form no inconsiderable portion of the readers of your 
paper. Digging is not looked upon as an artistic opera¬ 
tion, like budding a Rose or grafting an Apple tree, 
but is generally considered the meanest occupation in 
connection with gardening. Anyone can dig, so at 
least many think, and the work being about as heavy 
as any which has to be done, is too often entrusted to 
