390 
r HE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 19, 1898. 
into account when the tubers are grown as 
human food. Good table quality and disease 
resisting power should be placed in the 
front rank of recommendations even if the 
weight on any given piece of land might be 
less. 
Noteworthy peculiarities of the soil at 
the Quemerford station, as shown by 
analysis were the relatively large percent¬ 
age of matter insoluble in hydrochloric acid 
(7 1 *99), the small quantities of lime (4-01), 
and carbonic acid (2*08). One of the objects 
of the experiments was to test the cropping 
qualities of the well-known Potato Reading 
Giant against the newer variety Wonder. 
Taking an average of 22 perches in each 
case it was found that Reading Giant gave 
8 tons 17 cwt. 45 lbs. per acre; while 
Wonder gave exactly one hundredweight 
more. After removing the small and worth¬ 
less tubers from both varieties it was found 
that Wonder weighed over 16 cwt. less than 
Reading Giant. After being cooked the 
former had the best appearance, but the 
latter the best quality. Here again we 
should advise judges at horticultural shows 
not to be misled by mere appearance, but 
to take mealiness and flavour into account 
when making awards for boiled Potatos. 
Another object of the trials at this same 
station was to prove that nitrogen, phosph¬ 
ate and potash are generally desirable when 
artificial manures only are applied to this 
particular crop. Our opinion is that it 
entirely depends upon the composition of 
the soil, which in this particular case was 
only moderately fertile. The three ingre¬ 
dients of plant food above named consisted 
of equal weights of each to which the term 
“ complete chemical manure” was applied. 
The nitrate of soda was applied at three 
dressings, while the kainit and super¬ 
phosphate were applied on the 24th April. 
When this complete manure was applied 
at the rate of 8+ cwt. per acre it gave an 
average return of 9-34 tons per acre for the 
two varieties of Potato. When i2f cwt. 
was applied the return was 9-23 tons ; and 
4i cwt. gave 8'4o tons of tubers per acre. 
The difference is certainly not so great as 
one might have expected, and the reason is 
not very obvious. We note that the variety 
Wonder gave the largest return in each of 
the three cases, but it also gave the greatest 
proportion of small and diseased tubers. 
Numerous other statistics of the trials at 
Quemerford are given in tabular form, and 
are well worth careful consideration. 
Turning to the trials at the Lickhill 
station, we note that the analysis of the soil 
showed 32-6 per cent, of matter insoluble 
in hydrochloric acid ; 25-241 of lime, and 
18-378 of carbonic acid, the first named 
beinsr much less, and the two latter greatly 
in excess of the percentages at Quemerford. 
The organic matter and combined water, 
as well as the more important elements of 
plant food present showed that the soil at 
Lickhill was more fertile than at the other 
trial ground. Seventy-eight perches of land 
divided into thirteen plots of six perches 
each were placed at the sendee of the trials 
at Lickhill. Three plots were left un¬ 
manured by way of a check, and gave an 
average of 5 tons 15 cwt. 22 lbs. of tubers 
to the acre. 
The three plots (18 perches) of land de¬ 
voted to trials with farmyard manure gave 
rather interesting results, various important 
facts being deducible from the table of 
statistics. The manure was applied at the 
rate of 16 tons per acre, and the average 
return for the three plots was 9 tons 17 cwt. 
of tubers, being considerably greater than 
that from any chemical manure or combina¬ 
tion of them. From results like these, some 
people are ready to assume that Potatos 
should never be grown without this particu¬ 
lar fertiliser. We consider that the results 
were due entirely to the nature of the soil, 
which was light and contained a large 
percentage of lime. A mechanical improve¬ 
ment of the soil during the dry summer oj 
last year, particularly during the early part 
of it, was effected by the moisture-holding 
character of the farmyard manure. On the 
other hand we note that the greatest weight 
of diseased tubers was found on these plots'. 
Farmyard manure always encourages the 
Potato murrain during wet weather, and 
this was more than plentiful before the sum¬ 
mer was over. The money value of the 
increase per acre was £g 10s. so that when 
the cost of the manure (£4) was deducted 
it left a margin of profit equivalent to £5 
10s. as the net profit arising from the use 
of farmyard manure on this particular soil. 
The.varieties of Potatos employed in the 
Lickhill experiments were Daniel’s Dread¬ 
nought, Stourbridge Glory, Reading Giant, 
Imperator, Reading Russet and Early 
Puritan. 
Complete chemical manure at the rate of 
i2f cwt. per acre gave an average of 9-96 
tons of tubers ; 8+cwt. gave 9-71 tons ; and 
4i cwt. gave 8-31 tons. These facts speak 
for themselves when the varieties of Potatos 
used, the character of the soil, the cost of 
the manure, &c., are taken into considera¬ 
tion, showing how necessary it is to weigh 
everything in the balance when the most 
profitable culture is the object under con¬ 
sideration. An important result of the trials 
both at Quemerford and Lickhill was that 
cut sets of Potatos gave a poorer return 
than whole tubers even under fairly equal 
conditions as to soil and manures. There 
were also some interesting experiments 
with nitragin, that is, with the microbes or 
germs that produce the well-known nodules 
on the roots of leguminous crops, and fix 
the free nitrogen of the atmosphere. 
-- 
Another Record for Gardeners. — Father and son 
were for over sixty-two years head gardeners at the 
same place. The father was thirty-two years, the 
son over thirty years in succession without a break, 
and the latter still looks fit and able to command for 
years to come a body of "snag-catchers.”— F. B., 
Penshurst. 
A Forest of Rubber Plants. — A company is being 
floated to work a forest of Para Rubber (Hevea 
brasiliensis) said to cover an area of 137 square 
miles in the State of Amazonas, Brazil, and to con¬ 
sist of 1,000,000 matured trees ready for tapping. 
The estate lies on both sides of the winding Rio 
Teffe, a tributary of the Amazon, so that there is 
weter communication all the way to the Atlantic. 
A Caution.—A man called upon me the other day 
in answer to my advertisement " businesses for sale,” 
stating he wanted one for his son. Selecting one 
and noting down the particulars carefully he made 
arrangements to go and see the same. I, of course, 
enquired where he lived, and he gave me a bogus 
address (which I have since found out), saying that 
he was staying at the King's Cross Hotel (but here 
he tried the old trick). Says he, “I did a most 
stupid thing this morning, I came away thinking I 
had a pound in my pocket, which I find is only a 
shilling; lend me one.” ".What?” said I; "try 
that game here ! Get out as quick as you can or I 
shall help you.” Needless to say he went much 
quicker than he cime. Should he attempt a similar 
game the following description will help anyone to 
recognise him :—height, about 5 ft. 4 in. ; age, about 
52 ; thin, bald-headed ; whiskers all over his face, 
cut short and getting grey ; genteelly but shabbily 
dressed ; can tell his tale well, and limps a little when 
walking. The only regret I have now is that I did 
not help him off my premises with my foot.— Alfred 
Outram, F.R H S. 
[On the next occasion this pest of society makes 
his appearance, an 1 asks for £1 it should be given 
him, after which he may be handed over to the tender 
mercies of the law.—E d.] 
The Kew Guild.—The annual general meeting of the 
Kew Guild takes place always on the last Thursday 
of February, so that the forthcoming meeting this 
year will be held on the 24th inst. It is scarcely 
necessary to remind Kewites both past and present 
that all are invited and expected to attend, who can 
possibly do so. 
The Great Fire in Holborn.—Messrs. Carter & Co., 
The Queen's Seedsmen, beg to announce that the 
fire-proof outer walls of their premises were scorched 
only, and this particular warehouse contained but a 
few score bales of breakfast Oats, so that orders will 
be executed and despatched with the usual prompti¬ 
tude. 
Lord Rosebery at Naples —The Villa Delahontte, 
in the neighbourhood of Naples, has been purchased 
by Lord Rosebery, who has gone to take possession. 
The Almond trees are in bloom giving a pink flush 
to the scenery Scarlet and purple Anemones, blue 
and white Violets, stud the grass thickly with their 
brilliant or sober hues, as the case may be, under 
the dark greyish-green foliage of the Olive trees. 
Mr. Rhodes and the Locusts —Mr. Cecil Rhodes 
has a farm of some 3,coo acres, in the midst of 
which stands his stone built house. It is situated 
near the Inzanga Mountains about seventy miles 
north from Umbali, and on the border of Portuguese 
territory in East Africa. The 1 nd is watered by 
streams from the mountains named, and, needless to 
say, is very rich. It is surrounded neither by 
hedge nor fence. Almost anything could be grown 
upon it were it not for the locusts which for two- 
thirds of the year swarm upon it in myriads, darken¬ 
ing the air as in the days of Moses in Egypt centuries 
ago. The vile locusts eat up every green thing, 
while Mr. Rhodes may be seen under the verandah 
of his house about 5 p. m. enjoying a cigarette or cup 
of coffee, but at other times walking to and fro 
reviling the locusts fiercely. 
Narrow Escape of Messrs. Carters' Premises. —At a 
quarter to 3 a.m., on the 10th inst., a fire broke out 
in White Horse Court, between High Holborn and 
Eagle Street, Bloomsbury. Two large buildings 
used by a firm of wholesale druggists were com¬ 
pletely gutted. During the progress of the fire there 
was a series of explosions, and the different stocks 
of drugs as they became attacked gave off various 
brilliant hues, and when the roof, burnt through, 
came down with a crash there was. a tremendous 
outburst of flame and sparks. The intense heat 
scorched the face of the premises off Messrs. J. 
Carter & Co., but after an excitiDg battle with the 
flames for an hour the firemen got the mastery of 
the enemy. 
The Construction of Plants.—The combined meet¬ 
ing of Kew and Chiswick men as announced in our 
last issue, took place in the Lecture Room of the 
Royal Gardens, Kew, on Tuesday last. The Kew 
men mustered to a man, lady gardeners included, 
and with the Chiswick gardeners and a few others, 
the number was run tip to seventy-two, who 
assembled to hear the lecture by Dr. D. H. Scott, 
F.R.S., honorary keeper of the Jodrell Laboratory, 
on " The Construction of Plants.” Dr. Scott 
described a living plant as a machine, more or less 
complicated, but every part well adapted for the 
work or function it had to perform. In other words 
it was a machine that constructed itself out of the 
materials obtained from the air by the foliage, and 
from the ground by the roots. The subject was a 
vast one, and he could only deal with it by taking a 
broad general view and illustrating his remarks by 
lantern slides thrown on a screen. These consisted 
of micro-photographs of various plants from micro¬ 
scopic, unicellular plants, upwards to the most 
highly evolved dicotyledons, monocotyledons, and 
gymnosperras. All these higher plants were, of 
course, represented by sections, so that their minute 
anatomy was clearly drawn upon the screen, and 
had the recommendation of being not merely 
diagrams, but pictures true to nature, and, therefore, 
constituting a most valuable aid to anyone who 
might be giving instruction in morphology as well as 
physiology. There were sections of the Lime, 
Apple, Aristolochia, and other climbers representing 
dicotyledons both in transverse and tangential 
sections. Various peculiar t)pes of the same class 
were shown, as well as the monocotyledonous type of 
stem. Roots and stems of the Scotch Fir, and 
various aquatics were most interesting and instruc¬ 
tive. 
