270 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 24, 1887. 
and bottom, during the day, and damp is avoided, a 
sodden condition of the peat being also carefully 
guarded against. These results form a most conclusive 
argument against the necessity of high temperatures in 
growing Cattleyas successfully, and I am sure that the 
less artificial heat we give these plants in summer or 
winter the better will be the results.— J. II. Tacy Peck, 
Blaby, Leicestershire. 
Vanda. —The quotation under this heading at p. 
252 of your last issue, appeared originally in Sir W. 
Jones’ Arctic ^Researches, vol iv., p. 302, with the 
addition of Bacula Vanda, denoting “Loranthus.” 
The Malayan name for an epiphytic Orchid is “Angree,” 
which Kumphius latinised Angroecum. Ada is 
supposed to be the name of a lady the late Dr. Lindley 
wished to honour. It may, however, interest “F. W. 
B.” to know that one of the Bengalee names for ginger 
is “Ada,” and the Sanscrit name “Sringaveran,” 
signifying “antler-shaped,” the source of “Sringa,” 
from which we have the vernacular “sing,” a horn, 
whence Lieut.-Col. Madden traced the Arabic and 
Persian name “ Zingabil,” and the Greek “ Zingiberis 
I think with more consistency than others who trace it 
as a geographical name, derived from the source of 
supply, the island of Zanzibar. The antiquity of the 
use of ginger as food can be traced to the days of 
Confucius, 481 b.c. — TV. E. D. 
- -—-- 
gjBtfncm?. 
It is with regret we have to announce the somewhat 
sudden death of Mr. John Staples, gardener to H. 
Oppenheim, Esq., of Chipstead Place, Sevenoaks, in 
whose service he had been for several years. It appears 
that on Saturday evening, the 10th inst., Mr. Staples, 
who was in his usual health, spent some time at the 
Working Men’s Club in the village. On Sunday 
morning he complained of being unwell, and, indeed, 
was suffering from inflammation of the liver. He did 
not appear to get any worse, but early on the following 
Monday morning he expired, his death being most un¬ 
expected. Mr. Staples, who was very much respected, 
was a very successful prize-taker at the flower shows in 
the neighbourhood, and took a great interest in the 
Working Men’s Club in the village. 
We also learn with regret of the death, at 11, Carlton 
Street, Edinburgh, on the morning of the 19th inst., of 
Jemima Eliza Talbot, wife of Mr. David William 
Thomson, of Messrs. Ireland & Thomson, Edinburgh. 
-->:£<-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Manchester Horticultural Improvement. 
— Bee. 15th. —Mr. Bruce Findlay in the chair.—The 
paper read was by Mr. F. Robinson, on “The Potato.” 
In opening the proceedings the chairman said :—That 
the Potato is good for food is generally admitted. They 
had all heard of the Potato famine which took place in 
Ireland during the year 1847, and they also knew that 
considerable sums of money were sent from England to 
our suffering brethren across the water. Few persons 
had an adequate idea of the extent to which the Potato 
ministers to our necessities, and even to our luxuries ; 
hut some notion may be formed when it is stated that 
in 1879 we imported from the Continent 50,185 cwt. 
of Potato flour, 693 cwt. of Potato arrowroot, 9,832 
cwt. of Potato starch, and 470 cwt. of Potato starch 
gum, making, with 688,910 cwt. of Potatos imported, 
an aggregate value of £148,500, exclusive of what is 
produced at home. The imports of Potatos vary very 
much, according to our own crop. 
Mr. Robinson, after dilating upon the native habitat 
of the Potato, and upon the manner of its introduction 
into this country, said:—The Royal Society made 
exertions to promote the culture of the vegetable, but 
they faded for a long time to produce much effect, and 
judging from the opinions published respecting the 
plant one must conclude that the necessities of the 
poor of Ireland, who have been left too entirely to their 
own resources, did more to promote the culture of the 
Potato than aR the labours of the learned men. With 
the exception of Lancashire, the cultivation of the 
Potato in England was extremely slow. In Yorkshire 
it was known only as garden produce till 1760, and in 
Somersetshire a whole acre set aside for its benefit was 
a rare occurrence so late as 1770. In 1842 the Potato 
became affected by a serious disease, known as the 
Potato murrain, which was first discovered in Germany 
and Belgium. In 1844 it was found in Canada, and 
proved most destructive ; and in the following year it 
spread to this country, causing terrible devastation here 
and on the Continent. 
In addition to different modes of cultivation, attempts 
are ever being made to secure new varieties less sus¬ 
ceptible to disease than others ; but, so far, no great 
measure of success has been obtained. Frequent 
changes of seed are absolutely necessary, and hardy 
varieties should be selected which have not exhibited 
disease. From the official agricultural returns pub¬ 
lished last year, it appears that there were then 
1,364,350 acres planted with Potatos in the United 
Kingdom, and of this quantity more than 799,858 
acres were in Ireland. The cultivation has decreased 
since 1872, as in that year the land planted was a 
quarter of a million acres over the figures of 1886. In 
addition to this enormous production of our own, we 
annually imported extensively. In 1883 our imports 
amounted to 257,000 tons, and in the three following 
years the average was 125,000 tons per year. 
The cultivation of the Potato in France is much 
more extensive, for last year there were planted 
1,463,251 hectares, which was equal in extent to 
3,658,128 English acres, and the total quantity of 
Potatos yielded was about 11,287,764 tons. He had 
not been able to procure the returns for Germany ; but 
in 1886 Prussia produced 19,000,000 tons. Owing to 
the number of new and so-called new introductions, it 
was impossible to state with accuracy the number of 
varieties at present known in commerce. Kew kinds 
of a high-class character are always required, and con¬ 
currently with their introduction and distribution, 
those of inferior merit and most liable to disease are 
discarded. He estimated the number to be some 300 
kinds of white and coloured varieties, divided equally 
between the kidney and round shape. Some people 
would, no doubt, augment the list ; but the same 
kinds have so many synonyms, and were really only 
one variety. For agricultural purposes, from 12 cwt. 
to 14 cwt. of Potatos are planted per acre, the crops 
from which varied according to variety, state of the 
ground, locality, season, time for planting, and after 
treatment; but under good conditions, early kidneys 
maybe expected to produce 4 tons to 5 tons, Dalmahoy 
and Scotch Regents 6 tons, Champion and Magnum 
Bonum and Main Crop 8 tons, and Imperator 8 tons 
per statute acre. Under very favourable circumstances, 
however, many instances have occurred this season 
where farmers have realised 12 tons, and in exceptional 
cases, from 15 tons to 16 tons of the Magnum Bonum 
and Imperator varieties. Among the important points 
on which there is a difference of opinion is the question 
as to how long one particular variety will last. In the 
evidence given before the Royal Commission, it was 
stated that none last longer than twenty years. This 
is a subject on which, it appears, no printed records 
exist; but certainly twenty years is within the mark, 
as the Ashleaf Kidney has been recognised as a standard 
early variety for the past thirty years. In addition to 
these interesting facts and figures, Mr. Robinson gave 
some valuable practical information as to the propa¬ 
gation and cultivation of the Potato, and the best 
varieties to be planted. 
-- 
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS. 
Bed of Begonias, —Louis Bouquet: We have some doubts as 
to the advisability of dividing the tubers of your Begonias, that 
is, if they belong to the tuberous-rooted section, which you do not 
explain. According to the experience of some, this method of 
ropagaling the tuberous-rooted kinds is attended with some 
success; and we fail to see why it should not, provided the 
tubers are not allowed to suffer from stagnant moisture in the 
early part of their growth, till the cuts become healed over. 
Propagation by cuttings is certainly to be recommended ; but in 
order to get rooted .cuttings of the tuberous kinds, strong 
enough to plant out when bedding stuff generally is planted, 
the tubers ought to be started very early. There will be no 
difficulty in the case of evergreen kinds, which may be propa¬ 
gated and got ready at any time. We think that Lady Plymouth 
Pelargonium would constitute a fine contrast to Begonias in a 
bed, and the elegantly-cut and variegated foliage would show 
the latter off to advantage. 
Plants for Wall. — J. P. C.: The wall must be very much 
shaded where Currant trees do not prove satisfactory. Black 
Currants withstand the greatest amount of shade, and will fruit 
when most other things fail. Red Currants, Gooseberries and 
Morello Cherries should grow in such situations. But if the 
wall is very much shaded and even overhung by trees, it is 
useless to expect trees and shrubs to grow with any degree of 
satisfaction, far less to fruit. The drip of Beech trees is very 
detrimental to the growth of almost anything underneath it, and 
when trees greatly overshadow a wall on which flowering or 
fruiting subjects are grown, there is no hope for the latter till 
they reach the top of the wall and enjoy a fair share of light, 
when the upper branches only will flower or fruit. In such 
cases we would advocate pruning back or entirely removing the 
overshadowing trees if they can be spared, otherwise, the shaded 
wall might be covered with ornamental Ivies, of which there is 
great variety, and grow with great satisfaction in shaded places. 
Hedge Dying.— J . P . C .: Hedges are always a source of great 
annoyance when planted in such places as you mention. 
According to our experience Beech has always proved the most 
persistent and most difficult to kill when planted in close 
vicinity to, or immediately under the drip of trees. It certainly 
does not grow so vigorously under the conditions mentioned, 
but su ciently well, however, to form a screen. The gaps in 
the hedge mentioned might be filled up with that or the common 
Privet. If the ground is rich, various other things might be 
proposed. The Cherry Laurel and Aueuba japonica grow well 
even when heavily shaded by trees, but they would not, we fear, 
make good hedges when associated with, other subjects, although 
we have seen grand banks of the former when allowed some 
freedom of growth and not too hard pruned. 
Books. — A. H.: Mawe's Every Man his own Gardener is a 
very old work, which is out of date, and long out of print. The 
last edition we have is the nineteenth, published in Dublin in 
ISOS. You can only get a second-hand copy now, as oppor¬ 
tunity offers. 
Names of Plants. — Exmouth: 1, iEschvnanthus speciosus ; 
2, a garden variety of Lantana ; 3, Jasminum Sambac, probably ; 
4, a Bignoniaceous plant which we cannot name without flowers, 
probably it is Adenocalymna nitidum. J. E. Looker : 1, Cattleya 
Eldorado splendens; 2, Eria alba, probably. 
. Names of Fruit.— J. T.Poe: Cox’s Orange Pippin. 
Communications Received. — J. D.— H. A S. —W. B.— 
D. & R—T. M. & S.-B. S. W.—E. W. & S.—N. H. P—B. L.— 
tV. G.—J. P.—J. L. B.—B. L.—B. D. W.—W. J\ M.—A. O.— 
H. J. C.—J. B.-F. & A. D. & Sons—F. W. B. 
-- 
TBADE CATALOGUES EECEIYED. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading.—Amateurs’ Guide in Horticulture 
for 1SS8. 
Edward Webb A Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge.—Spring Seed 
Catalogue for 1SSS. 
James Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.—Vegetable, 
Flower, and Agricultural Seeds. 
B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper 
Holloway, N.—Flower, Vegetable, and Agricultural Seeds. 
Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, Lonuon.—Trade Catalogue 
of Flower, Vegetable, and Farm Seeds. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent.—Descriptive List of 
Chrysanthemums. 
W. Thompson, Bridge House, Newtown, Pembeiton.—List of 
Chrysanthemums. 
W. H. Hudson, West Green Road, Tottenham.—Dutch Bulhs, 
Japan Lilies, Tuberoses, &c. 
G. Stevens, St. John's Nursery, Putney, S.W.—Catalogue of 
Chrysanthemums. 
--—r-X<~- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
Becember 21sL 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report a good 
inquiry for French Italian Rye Grass, stocks of which 
are much reduced. American Red Clover continues 
firm ; French and German is offering at slightly 
reduced rates ; supplies of English are small, values 
remain unchanged. White Clover, Alsyke and Trefoil 
remain unchanged. Sainfoin firm. Bird Seeds sell 
slowly at prices current last week. 
-- 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET. 
Becember 22nd. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. i s.d. s.d 
Apples, i sieve. 13 3 6 Pears, 4-sieve. 26 60 
Grapes .per lb. 1 0 3 0 Pears, French, doz. ..16 2 6 
Grapes, Chan. Islands, • Pine-apples, St. 
per lb. 1 0 13 Michaels, each .... 3 0 SO 
Kent Cobs_1001bs.o5 0 Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 10 2 0 
Melons .each 0 6 2 0 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 2 0 
Beans, French, per lh. 0 6 
- - " 0 
0 
9 
Beet, per dozen. 2 
Cabbages_per doz. 2 
Carrots.per bun. 0 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 4 0 
Celery, per bundle ..20 
Cucumbers, each_0 6 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 
Herbs, per bunch.... 02 
s.d. 
3 0 
3 0 
2 6 
6 0 
s.d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 
Lettuces .. per dozen 2 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket 0 9 
Onions, per bushel ..40 
Parsley, per bunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen.. 1 6 
Sea Kale.. per punnet 2 6 
Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb.10 
Turnips_ per bun. 0 6 
s.d. 
5 0 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, SOs. to 100s. per ton ; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 6 0 
Azalea .... 12 sprays 1 0 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 
s.d. 
9 0 
1 6 
1 0 
4 0 
2 0 
s.d. 
s.d. 
6 0 
6 0 
Camellias.... per doz. 3 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 1 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 bun. 6 0 IS 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 blooms 2 0 6 0 
Epipliyllum, 12 blms. 0 4 0 6 
Eucharis, per dozen.. 6 0 SO 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 6 0 9 0 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Hyacinths, Roman, 12 
sprays 0 0 1 C 
Lilium longiflorum, 
12 blooms 6 0 9 0 
Lilium speciosum, 
12 blooms 
Lily of the Valley, 
12 sprays 10 2 0 
Marguerites, 12 bun... 3 0 
Mignonette, 12 bun... 3 0 
Mvosotis, 12 bunches 
Pelargoniums,12 spys. 0 9 16 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, 
12sprays.. 0 6 0 9 
Primula, double, bun. 0 9 10 
Roses (coloured) .... 1 0 40 
Roses, Tea, per dozen 10 3 6 
Roses, mixed, per doz. 10 2 0 
— Saffrano .. per doz. 0 9 16 
Steplianotis 12 sprays 9 0 12 0 
Sunflower_12 bun. 
Tropseolums . 2 0 3 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 0 9 1 
Tulips ....12 blooms 10 1 
Violets.12 bun. 10 1 
— French.... 12 bun. 162 
-Parme. .12 bun. 4 0 5 
White Jasmine, bun. 09 0 
White Lilac per bun. 6 0 7 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
s.d. s.d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, doz.. 6 0 IS 0 
Chrysanthemums ., 6 0 12 0 
Cyclamen_per doz.lS 0 24 0 
Cyperus ..per dozen 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz.. 30 0 60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 
Epiphyllums, per doz.lS 0 30 0 
Erica, various ..doz. 9 0 IS 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., do .. 4 0 IS 0 
F cus elastica each ..16 76 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each. 2 0 10 6 
Hyacinths, 
per doz. pots 9 0 12 0 
Marguerites per doz. 9 0 12 0 
Mignonette, .per doz. 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums,scarlet, 
per dozen . 3 0 6 0 
Poinsettias ..perdoz.12 0 IS 0 
Single Primula or 
sinensis _doz. 4 0 6 0 
Tulips . .per doz. pots 8 0 10 0 
