480 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 7, 1896- 
possible to raise from any given piece of 
ground. Quantity and quality ought to be, 
and we believe are, to a large extent, the 
leading motive with all the more extensive 
raisers and growers in Great Britain. The 
production of beautiful varieties solely for 
exhibition purposes may militate against 
this in a small way. This feature is more 
than counterbalanced, however, by the pro¬ 
duction and exhibition at times of varieties 
of monstrous size, more suitable for cattle 
food than table use. We hope this is a 
mere passing whim, and that the British 
public, rich and poor alike, will presently 
recognise that Potatos, huge, ugly, and 
emulating Vegetable Marrows, are no more 
to be recommended for table use than 
big Cabbages, Mangold Wurzel, or field 
Turnips. The desire to make the most of 
the space at command for the growth of 
Potatos in field and garden, will, however, 
have a restraining effect upon size so long 
as the tubers are good marketable samples. 
The peculiar nature of the British climate 
makes it imperative that disease-resisting 
varieties should be pushed to the front, in 
order to secure the heaviest production per 
acre. The reason for this is not far to seek. 
The early part of the season, when the days 
are long and the nights proportionately short, 
is very dry, and vigorous growth, of course, 
impossible. Climate, furthermore, is a far 
more important factor in cultivation than 
tillage and manuring, simply because water 
is the vehicle by which alone plant food can 
be conveyed into the interior of vegetation 
and utilised. Tillage and manuring, how¬ 
ever, are aids in any case. Early Potatos 
reach maturity before moisture, as a rule, 
comes to their aid. Then it becomes 
evident that we are dependent upon main- 
crop or late varieties for weight of crop ; 
but the mischievous and often disastrous 
effect of the Potato disease militates against 
our efforts. Disease-resisting varieties at 
once become the mainstay of the situation. 
Whatever success may attend the operations 
of spraying with fungicides, such can only 
be regarded as a secondary aid to cultiva¬ 
tion, bearing in mind the expense and 
labour that must necessarily be attached to 
the same, and all tending to reduce the 
profit and just recompense due to the 
cultivator. 
As a tribute to science, however, we 
should be the last to throw cold water on 
any of its triumphs or enterprises. A good 
old gardener once told us he would not like 
to eat Potatos that the disease was not 
capable of attacking. Probably he based 
his opinion on Scotch Champion and similar 
kinds of poor quality, but that and others of 
a similar character have been superseded 
by newer sorts of better quality and equally 
disease-proof, even in the country of their 
origin. The disappearance of old sorts 
recalls the question of the degeneration of 
varieties or the life of individual sorts. 
Professor L. H. Bailey believes that a 
decade is the average duration of a Potato. 
During that time it gradually departs from 
its original form and character, and, we 
should presume, quality as well. While 
this might apply to Tomatos and other 
subjects annually raised from seeds, we 
doubt if it would apply equally to the 
Potato only occasionally renewed in that 
way. Nevertheless there is reason to 
believe that two or three decades would be 
sufficient to render a variety unable to hold 
the held against vigorous-growing sorts of 
recent origin. 
Our methods of cultivation have much to 
answer for the deterioration of the in¬ 
dividual, though gardening science is gradu¬ 
ally improving the masses in that respect. 
Change of seed should never be lost sight 
of, because the planting of Potatos, that 
have been brought from a clayey locality, on 
light land, and vice versa, has the effect of 
giving a new lease of life in many cases to 
old varieties by increasing their vigour. 
Fresh or virgin soil has a remarkable effect 
upon the production of heavy crops of clean 
tubers free from disease. Light but rich 
sandy loams are most favourable to the 
well-being of Potatos, so that efforts should 
be made to plant upon such whenever 
possible, and to avoid land that has recently 
been under that crop. In gardens of 
small size it is, of course, impossible to 
carry this out in all cases, but it should be 
done where practicable. The more general 
diffusion of the science of good gardening 
will eventually do much to remedy various 
existing evils, by securing a proper rotation 
of crops and the use of suitable manures. 
The garden proper will be devoted to the 
raising of early varieties, because the 
necessary shelter can be commanded, and 
the proper attention given, while the field 
will be the place for maincrops. The rais¬ 
ing of new varieties will keep up the vigour 
necessary to productiveness. 
-- 
What is the cause of the Potato disease ? It is all 
due to the rot-tatery motion of the earth.— J. S. 
Introduction of the Potato—Maud; “To whom 
did Sir Walter Raleigh introduce Pat Tatey ? ” 
Ethel ; " Why, to Queen Elizabeth of course ! ” 
Old yet ever new.—When the last trumpet shall 
sound, a Britisher will be telling his delighted 
audience that Sir Walter Raleigh introduced the 
Potato. 
Mr. W. H. Whittaker, for close upon five jears fore¬ 
man for Colonel Stracey Clitheroe, Boston House, 
Brentford, has been engaged as head gardener to Sir 
Hickman B. Bacon, Bart., Thonock Hall, Gains¬ 
borough. 
Love of dress.—Mrs. J-issaemichty parteeclar 
that she will allow naething fatever to come on the 
table unless properly dressed. Even the Tawties at 
times maun be brocht in smilin’ an’ reekin' in their 
jackets.— Jarge. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, West¬ 
minster, i lo 4 p.m., on Tuesday, March ioth. At 
three o'clock a lecture will be given by Mr. James 
Barkham, on “ Melons." 
West of England Chrysanthemum Society has added 
many new classes to the schedule, and it appeals to 
the public for subscriptions in aid of the only flower 
show of importance in the west of England. Special 
prizes are offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Jarman, 
Lethbridge, and Chalice. 
Reading Giant Potato has been exhibited after it 
was twelve months old as an indication of its long- 
keeping qualities. Alongside of the young tubers, 
lifted in October, the old ones looked rather dusky 
and belated, but the fact of their having kept that 
length of time is ample proof that they would 
furnish a supply till the new crop is ready for use. 
The Paxton Potato —At the show of the United 
East Lothian Agricultural Society, the first prize for 
the heaviest yield was taken by The Paxton, exhi¬ 
bited by Mr. Tyohe, Newtonlees. The crop was 
estimated at 24 tons per acre. It is said to have 
been raised in Germany as a cross between Victoria 
and Magnum Bonum, being therefore come of 
British parentage. It is of the best quality. 
Newcastle Flower Shows.—The schedule of the 
Durham, Northumberland and Newcastle Horti¬ 
cultural Society, shows that there are about 250 
members who subscribe 10s 61 . to 21s. annually, 
and 1,000 associates who subscribe 5s. annually 
and receive in return passes and tickets for 
the shows, of which there are three—namely, in 
spring, summer and autumn, the latter being for 
Chrysanthemums. Owing to the additional expense 
of holding the latter, a strong effort is being made to 
largely increase the membership. 
What is the difference between a Potato and a 
Volunteer? One shoots from the eye and the other 
from the shoulder. 
A queer clock.—When may a man be said to 
possess a vegetable timepiece ? When he gets a 
Potato clock (up at eight o’clock). 
When phonetic spelling comes into general use we 
shall write Pot8o, and this will also do duty for the 
rustic mode of pronunciation “ Potatey."—S. 
Potato starch.—It is stated that about 15,000 tons 
of starch have been made from Potatos this season in 
the three states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North 
Dakota.— American Gardening. 
No need to quarrel.—Ludus: “You are always 
blaming someone for quarrelling with their bread and 
butter; why do you never mention Potatos?" 
Jocus : “They are too mealy-mouthed to quarrel 
with anybody." 
Appreciation.—A correspondent, who formerly con¬ 
tributed to The Gardening World under the nom 
deplume of "Caledonian," wrote us as follows, under 
the date of February 6th, 1896 :—“ Glad to see 
progress all along the line in your paper, and in 
taking lately such important notice of my auld hame. 
Scotland is sadly forgotten, but I trust your efforts 
may be taken advantage of by Scotsmen.— John 
Cameron, The Gardens, Byethorn, Corbridge-on-Tyne." 
[It will always be our endeavour to serve the interests 
of gardening in general and of our readers in particu¬ 
lar.—Ed.] 
Horticultural Exhibition in Egypt.—The first horti¬ 
cultural show ever held in Cairo was opened by the 
Khedive on January 25th, in the presence of the 
Princes of the Khedival family and many noble 
personages. The Khedive expressed the hope that 
the show would be an incentive to developing the 
cultivation of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, 
Amongst the products shown were the Arrowroot. 
Ginger, fibre of Agave rigida, and the Coffee in full 
bearing. The Government experimental gardens at 
Cairo and Barrage were doing much to further the 
work. 
Brighton and Sussex Horticultural Society.—At the 
monthly meeting of this society, on the 20th ult., 
the chair was taken by Mr. W. Balchin, Jun., when 
Mr. James Hudson, of Gunnersbury Park, read an 
interesting paper on “ Hard-Wooded Greenhouse 
Plants." He dealt with a large number of subjects 
that were at one time common, but now seldom 
seen, as well as with the better-known species still in 
cultivation. Pots of Strawberry Stevens' Wonder 
were shown by Mr. J. Stevens. Mr. James Bunney 
showed sixteen dishes of Apples, and Messrs. 
Bilchia & Sons showed hard-wooded plants and 
Orchids. 
Vagaries of Fern life in Scolopendrium vulgare.—At 
the meeting of the Linnean Society on Feb. 20th, the 
chair was occupied by the president, Mr. C. B. Clark. 
On behalf of Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., a paper was read 
by Mr. Druery, in which details were given regard¬ 
ing the culture of divided and re-divided prothalli of 
Scolopendrium vulgare. Apart from the fact that 
by such subdivision, and the consequent separation 
of parts bearing archegonia and antheridia, the 
oophoric stage of Fern life was maintained for a 
number of years without the sporophoric generation 
appearing, the ultimate results, when fertilisation 
eventually took place, were very remarkable. In 
numerous instances several marginal plants appeared 
on the same prothallus of presumably the parental 
type, but single plants originating from the centre of 
each prothallus, though of varying character, were 
all distinguished by bearing prothalli upon their 
edges or terminal points, such prothalli developing 
root-hairs, archegonia, and antheridia, although the 
young plants had formed a distinct axis of growth 
and thrown up a circle of such aposporcus fronds. 
The paper embodied also the observations of Mr. C. 
T. Druery, Prof. F. O. Bower, Prof. Farmer, Dr. 
Scott, and Mr. Lang on material sent to them ; and 
one of the plants in question clearly showing the 
aposporous growths was exhibited by Mr. Druery in 
illustration. A discussion followed, in which Dr. 
Scott, Mr Lang, and Mr. Druery remarked upon 
the interesting nature of these and similar breaches 
of the law of alternation of generations in the 
Archegoniatae. 
