December 7, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
229 
suspended from the roof of the conservatory, but 
Mr. Gibson considered that the atmosphere of that 
house was scarcely warm enough for it, and had it 
removed to a plant stove. Here it has made a 
remarkable growth, and even now is throwing up 
numerous young fronds. Both the barren and fertile 
ones are in robust health and present a fine appear¬ 
ance. Several crowns have grown out through the 
wires of the basket, so that the latter is completely 
covered and unnoticeable to the beholder. The 
whole makes a magnificent specimen about 5 ft in 
diameter. 
-- 
POTATOS-* 
When I was asked to read a paper before the Royal 
Horticultural Society on Potatos, our much-esteemed 
secretary was kind enough to say that the Council 
purposely wished to leave the title somewhat vague 
so that I might feel at liberty to take up whatever 
branch of the subject I might prefer. 
Naturally I appreciated the confidence thus shown, 
but in some respects it made my position more 
difficult, as the subject of Potatos, while not in itself 
perhaps particularly attractive even to the majority 
of horticulturists, is yet so comprehensive and 
inexhaustible that one scarcely kno vs where to 
commence. It might have seemed easier had I been 
asked to deal with any one of the many aspects of 
the question which the consideration of the Potato 
would naturally suggest, but, had this been the case, 
I should have felt I was only following where others, 
far more competent than myself, had already said all 
that could be said, and, perhaps, it was from a 
knowledge that every point had been so fully dealt 
with that Mr. Wilks thought it best to leave to the 
speaker the task of finding something new to say 
where everything interesting has already been said. 
However this may be, I could only agree to do the 
best I could under the circumstances. 
But what are the actual facts of the case ? 
If we take the origin of the Potato and its intro¬ 
duction into England, everything has already been 
written that could be desired, but the following 
extract from Loudon’s Encyclopaedia, published in 
1836, is of sufficient importance and interest to find 
a place in any paper on " The Potato ” :— 
“ It appears probable that the Potato was first 
brought into Europe from the mountainous parts of 
South America in the neighbourhood of Quito, 
where they were called papas, to Spain early in 
the sixteenth century. From Spain, where they 
were called battatas, they found their way to Italy, and 
there received the same name as the truffle, taratouHi. 
From Italy they went to Vienna, through the 
Governor of Mons in Hainhault, who sent some to 
Clusius in 1598. To England the Potato found its 
way from North America, being brought from 
Virginia by the colonists sent out by Sir Walter 
Raleigh in 1584, and who returned in July, 1586, and, 
‘ probably,’ says Sir Joseph Banks, ‘ brought with 
them the Potato.' Gerarde in his Herbal, published 
in l 597 > gives a figure of the Potato under the name 
of Potato of Virginia, whence, he says, he received 
the roots ; and this appellation it appears to have 
retained, in order to distinguish it from the Battatas 
or sweet Potato (Convolvulus Battatas), till the year 
1640, if not longer. Gough says the Potato was 
first planted by Sir Walter Raleigh on his estate of 
Youghall, near Cork, and that they were soon after 
carried into Lancashire. Gerarde and Parkinson, 
however, mention them as delicacies for the confec¬ 
tioner and not as common food. Even so late as 
Bradley’s time (171c) in his • Historia Plantarum 
Succulentarum ’ they are spoken of as inferior to 
skirrets and radishes. 
“ The use of Potatos, however, became more and 
more known after the middle of the eighteenth 
century and has greatly increased in all parts of 
Britain within the last thirty years. It is also very 
general in Holland and many parts of France and 
Germany and is increasing rapidly in Russia. In 
Spain and the East and West Indies they are not 
much cultivated owing to the heat of the climate ; 
but in all the temperate parts of North America, 
Australasia, and South America they are grown by 
the colonists. In China they are cultivated, but not 
extensively, owing to the slow progress which every¬ 
thing new makes in that country. Indeed, no root 
hitherto discovered is so well adapted for universal 
* A paper read and illustrated by means of the magic 
lantern, by Mr. Arthur W. Sutton, at the meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on Oct. 29th, 
use as the tubers of the Potato ; [for, having no 
peculiarity of taste, and consisting chiefly of starch, 
their farina is nearly the same as that of grain. 
Hence with the flower (flour) of Potatos, puddings 
and such preparations as do not call the gluten of 
wheat-flower into action may be made equal to those 
of millet or rice and excellent bread with a moderate 
proportion of good wheat-flour. Potato starch, 
independently of its use in the laundry and as a 
hair-powder, is considered an equally delicate food 
as sago or arrowroot. As starch and sugar are so 
nearly the same that the former is easily converted 
into the latter, the Potato yields a spirit equal to that 
of malt by distillation and a wine or beer by the 
fermentative process.’’] 
(To be continued.) 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT THE ROYAL 
AQUARIUM. 
The early winter exhibition of the National Chry¬ 
santhemum Society was held in the Royal Aquarium, 
Westminster, on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th inst. The 
leading feature was certainly the Chrysanthemums, 
although Cyclamens and Primulas also upheld their 
own. Independently of the cut blooms, which were 
magnificent for this time of the year, there were 
numerous groups in which plants or blooms of the 
favourite autumn flower constituted the primary and 
most Jelling feature. Never has the December show 
been more attractive, and the January shows which 
used to be held by the society could not compare 
with that got together on this occasion. 
The leading award for twenty-four Japanese 
bloo-ns of not less than eighteen varieties was taken 
by Mr. A. Haggart, gardener to Mrs. Johnston 
Foster, Moor Park, Ludlow. He had grand blooms 
of Duke of York, Viviand Morel, Mrs. C. H. Payne, 
Robert Owen, Lord Brooke, G. C. Schwabe, Mrs. 
W. H. Lees, Mdlle. M. Hoste, Etoile de Lyon, 
Golden Gate, Madame Ad. Moulin, Mdlle. T. Rey, 
Niveus, and others. Mr. Henry Perkins, gardener 
to the Hon. W. F. D. Smith, M P., Greenlands, 
Henley-on-Thames, was a good second with smaller 
blooms, which were, nevertheless, crowded upon the 
boards. His two blooms of R. Owen were grand. 
The third place was taken by Mr. W. Mease, gar¬ 
dener to A. Tate, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, 
whose exhibit was also good. There were eight 
entries in this class. 
For twelve bunches of Chrysanthemum blooms of 
any varieties Mr. Henry Perkins led the way with 
incurved, Japanese, and incurved Japanese blooms 
of a high order of merit. Stone and glass jars are 
hardly sufficient to display heavy blooms in the best 
manner possible, but no doubt this will be remedied 
in the near future. Mr. John Aplin, gardener to W. 
M. Baker, Esq., Hasfield Court, Gloucester, was 
accorded the second prize. Mr. C. J. Waite, gar¬ 
dener to the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher, 
came in third, and an extra prize was accorded to 
Mr. W. G. Gilbert, gardener to Be Le Neve Foster, 
Esq., J.P., Sennowe Hall, Guist. 
Mr. A. Haggart again came to the front for twelve 
Japanese blooms, showing several of the same 
varieties as in the class for twenty-four, and here 
again they were fresh and good. The second prize 
went to Mr. W. Messenger, The Gardens, Woolver- 
stone Park, Ipswich. Mr. John Aplin, gardener to 
W. M. Baker, Esq., Hasfield Court, Gloucester, 
took the third place. There were ten entries 
here. 
Mr. A. Haggart again took the lead with six 
Japanese, as good as those in the other classes. He 
was followed by Mr. John Aplin and Mr. W. Collins, 
gardener to J. W. Carlill, Esq , Ponsbourne Park, 
Hertford, in the order named. 
Mr. W. Neville, gardener to F. W. Flight, Esq., 
Cornstiles, Twyford, Winchester, took the leading 
prize for twelve incurved blooms in not less than six 
varieties. Mrs. R. C. Kingston, C. H. Curtis, Mrs. 
R. King, and Seedling No. 2 were his best blooms, 
and very creditable they were for the season. He 
was succeeded by Mr. A. Haggart and John Aplin in 
the order named. Mr. Henry Perkins secured the 
first prize for six incurved blooms with fine samples 
of J. Agate, C. H. Curtis, &c. Mr. W. Neville was 
second here, and Mr H. Alderman, gardener to 
Gilliat Hatfield, Esq , Morden Hall, Morden, came 
in third. The competition was stronger in the 
incurved class than we have seen it. 
Mr. R. C. Notcutt, Broughton Road, Ipswich, had 
the best twelve bunches of Japanese blooms, three 
in a bunch. All were of good quality, and the 
exhibit was notable for the number of incurved Japs. 
Tne second prize was taken by Mr. H. Alderman, 
and Mr. S. J. Cook, gardener to T. H. Harbridge, 
Esq., Holmwood, Hendon. All were cut with leafy 
stems. Mr. W. Slogrove, gardener to Mrs. Cranford, 
Gatton Cottage, Reigate, had the best six bunches 
which were beautifully fresh. He was followed by 
T. Tullett, gardener to G. Alexander, Esq., Warley 
Ledge, Brentwood, and by Mr. A. Newell, gardener 
to Sir Edwin Saunders, Fairlawn, Wimbledon Com¬ 
mon, in the order named. 
Mr. G. W. Forbes, gardener to D. Nicols, Esq., 
Regent House, Surbiton, had the best twelve bunches 
of large single Chrysanthemums, which were 
certainly attractive and pretty, but might have been 
more displayed. The second award went to W. C. 
Pagram, gardener to J. Courtenay, Esq., The Whim, 
Wey bridge. Mr. A. Felgate, gardener to Her Grace, 
Elizabeth, Duchess of Wellington, Burhill, Walton- 
on-Thames, was accorded the first prize for twelve 
bunches of small single-flowered varieties Mr. T. 
Tullett had the best six bunches of large-flowered 
single varieties, and was followed by A. Meridew, 
The Gardens, Camberwell. The same order was 
maintained in the class for six bunches of small- 
flowered single Chrysanthemums. Here again the 
art of displaying the flowers to the best advantage 
might be studied another year. 
In the amateurs’ classes the interest was also 
wonderfully well sustained and the competition 
close. Mr. H. Love, 1, Melville Terrace, Sandown, 
Isle of Wight, was first for six Japs., distinct, showing 
nice samples of Mrs. Jerome Jones, and Good 
Gracious. Mr. E. Linfield, 19, Vernon Terrace, 
East Finchley, N. W., was second; and Mr. W. 
Amies, South Ashford, Kent, third. The first prize 
for a large vase filled with Chrysanthemum blooms, 
and arranged with any kind of foliage, grasses, or 
berries, fell to the lot of Mr. D. B. Crane, 4, Wood- 
view Terrace, Archway Road, Highgate, N., who 
had a very pretty exhibit. Second came Mr. W. 
Green, Jun., Harold Wood, Essex; and third, Mr. 
F. Durrant, 4, New Road, Ware. 
In the classes for miscellaneous plants an excep¬ 
tionally large amount of well-grown and useful stuff 
was forthcoming. A grand table measuring 27 ft. 
by 6 ft. of well-flowered Cyclamen secured for the 
St. George’s Nursery Co., Hanwell, Middlesex, the 
first award in its class. The arrangement through, 
out was very effective, and the plants bore evidences 
of superior culture. Mr. J. F. McLeod, gardener to 
J. P. Morgan, Esq., Dover House, Roehampton, 
came in second with a smaller table measuring 9 ft. 
by 6 ft., inferior only in the matter of size to the first 
prize winners. Mr. McLeod showed the best twelve 
Cyclamens, and fine specimens they were ; Mr. W. 
Rapley, gardener to H. Gumling, Esq., Harroweald 
House, Stanmore, taking the second place. Nursery¬ 
men were excluded from this class. 
Mr. A. Newell, gardener to Sir Edwin Saunders, 
Fairlawn, Wimbledon, was the most successful 
competitor in a class for a collection of Primula 
sinensis. His plants were all strong, healthy, 
and vigorous samples of their kind. Mr. T. P. 
MacGregor, gardener to the Dowager Lady Hay, 
North House, Putney Hill, S.W., won the second 
prize. Mr. A. Newell also came Cut at the top of 
the list for twelve Primulas, Mr. McGregor again 
playing second fiddle. Mr. W. Mease, gardener to 
A. Tate, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, exhibited a 
dozen splendidly-bloomed double Primulas, and was 
rewarded with the first prize for the same. 
The premier award for a collection of flowering, 
berried, and foliage plants, arranged for effect on a 
table 9 ft. by 6 ft , was carried off by Mr. W. Howe, 
gardener to Henry Tate, Esq., Streatham Common. 
This was a really fine display, for not only were the 
Palms, Crotons, Ferns, Ericas, Roman Hyacinths, 
Bouvardias, and other subjects of which the group 
was composed, in excellent condition, but the 
arrangement was well deserving a tribute of praise. 
As usual the miscellaneous exhibits were very 
extensive as well as interesting and attractive, for 
the various floral groups literally blazed with colour. 
Very noticeable was an exhibit that came from 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. It 
comprised four dozen bunches of blooms of the 
finest of the many fine zonal Pelargoniums grown so 
well at Swanley, such sorts as Royal Purple, A. F. 
Wootten, Lord Farrer, Duchess of Devonshire 
