December 19, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
251 
TERCENTENARY OF THE POTATO. 
Conference and Show at Dublin. 
For some time past the Irish Gardeners’Association 
had been organising a show and conference on the 
subject of Potatos, and these arrangements were 
consummated on Wednesday and Thursday, the gth 
and ioth inst., in the Round Room, Rotunda, 
Dublin. Visitors were not very numerous during the 
first day, owing no doubt to the inclemency of the 
weather, but such as did attend were deeply 
interested in the collections of Potatos, which were 
very extensive in number of varieties, the object 
being to make a thoroughly representative exhibition 
of the Potatos in cultivation. In point of numbers, 
quantity, and quality, the Irish Gardeners’ Associa¬ 
tion may well be proud of the results, for in the 
words of its president, Mr. A. O. Watkins, such a 
representative exhibition has never before been held 
in Ireland, and probably not in the world. Although 
Potatos were the leading features of the exhibition, 
various kinds of machinery used in connection with 
the industry were well represented, together with 
chemicals and other substances employed in spray¬ 
ing, as preventives against the Potato disease, and 
other purposes. Fertilisers and various horticultural 
requisites also served to swell the show. 
The Potatos, however, were the leading feature, 
and the motive for the exhibition and conference. 
Improved cultivation and the prevention of the 
dreaded disease were objects in view. 
The Exhibits. 
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, the Queen’s Seedsmen, 
Reading, were by far the largest exhibitors. They 
occupied some 400 square ft. of space, with samples 
of the noble tuber, including 209 varieties, the most 
valuable of which were staged in 18 large heaps, each 
consisting of about three bushels of Potatos, that 
would have been difficult to beat for table quality, 
fine appearance, and all round useful qualities. 
Messrs. Sutton had a considerable amount of space 
devoted to their own introductions, that is, the • 
varieties put into commerce by them, and which 
numbered 35. The seedlings now under trial by 
them, were nearly as numerous, being 32. Besides 
the above they had something like 136 varieties, more 
or less extensively cultivated in various parts of the 
United Kingdom, and in other countries. As show¬ 
ing how representative was their collection, they had 
six botanical species or distinct forms, which may 
prove useful in improving existing kinds, but at all 
events are of considerable scientific interest, though 
of no commercial value in their present condition 
Some of these were Solanum tuberosum (the wild 
Potato), S. etuberosum, and S. Maglia, of which we 
have previously heard in connection wtth the experi¬ 
ments conducted at Reading. Besides the large 
heaps there were 9 dishes and 200 plates of tubers. 
The admirable appearance and character of 
Messrs Sutton's introductions were well displayed. 
Though not of gigantic size the varieties are such as 
aim at being of the best table quality, while the beauti¬ 
ful shape of the tubers renders them suitable for 
exhibition and competitive purposes. What is more 
to the purpose, the varieties exhibited consisted of 
sorts useful for forcing and earliest supply for table, 
whether cultivated in the open or under glass. 
Sutton's Ringleader is the earliest white-fleshed 
kidney in cultivation, and of excellent table quality. 
Sutton’s Harbinger and Sutton’s A 1 hold a similarly 
distinguished position for earliness amongst round 
Potatos. Eclipse is another valuable, forcing, round 
variety. Besides the above qualities and recom¬ 
mendations, another point is kept in view, namely 
disease-resisting properties or power. Indeed this is 
a leading feature of Messrs. Sutton’s introductions. 
Windsor Castle, a second early, comes into this 
category, and was much admired and commented 
upon by visitors to the Rotunda during the two days 
of the exhibition, Supreme, Early Border, Early 
Market, Woodstock Kidney, Prizetaker, Fiftvfold, 
Field Ashleaf, and Harlequin (the latter a purple 
and mottled variety), were other valuable sorts that 
succeed the very earliest. Mid-season varieties 
were admirably represented by Reading Ruby, King 
of Potatos, Perfection, Matchless, Reading Russet, 
and other well-known sorts. Perfection is notable 
for its heavy cropping character and superior table 
quality. Sutton’s Satisfaction had the largest tubers, 
perhaps, of any shown by this firm. It is a main- 
crop Potato of roundly-oval or pebble shape, with 
eyes so shallowly set in the rough skin, that it is 
admitted to be one of the finest exhibition Potatos 
in cultivation, being handsome in form and in every 
way attractive. Visitors greatly admired it. Other 
well-known varieties were Abundance, Magnum 
Bonum (well-known and widely cultivated in Ire¬ 
land), Masterpiece, Best of All, Reading Hero, 
Triumph, and The Sutton Flourball, which is rapidly 
coming to the front as a heavy-cropping, round, pale 
red, disease-resisting Potato of excellent table quality, 
and well adapted for field cultivation. The other 
varieties shown represented British, American, and 
Continental favourites. The display weighed nearly 
two tons of shapely exhibition tubers. 
The Irish Gardeners’ Association exhibited a re¬ 
presentative collection of Potatoes, which attracted 
a considerable amount of attention, on account of the 
large size of the tubers in certain instances. Beauty 
of Hebron was particularly notable in this respect, 
for the tubers were giants of their kind. 
Sir James W. Mackey, Ltd., Upper Sackville 
Street, Dublin, exhibited a trade collection of 150 
varieties of Potatos, new and old. Beauty of Hebron 
was again prominent here, together with Mackey’s 
Selected Early Dwarf Top, Early Rose, Early 
Puritan, International Kidney, Main Crop, Magnum 
Bonum, Duke of Albany, and many other good 
standard sorts. French, English, Scotch, Irish, 
Scandinavian, and American varieties added con¬ 
siderably to the interest of their exhibit. 
Messrs. Dobbie and Co, Rothesay, Scotland, 
staged a well selected collection of about 70 varieties 
in their usually efficient style. Only such as are of 
commercial value for table and exhibition purposes 
receive attention from this firm. Champion, Beauty 
of Hebron, Magnum Bonum, Beauty of Bute, 
Snowdrop, and International were some of the 
valuable sorts on their stand. 
Messrs.ThomasMcKenzie & Son, Great Brunswick 
Street,Dublin, exhibited a select collection of Potatos, 
such as experience has proved most useful for culti¬ 
vation in Ireland, or elsewhere. They also staged 
garden Peas, Beans, and other seeds, together with 
Potato sprayers and horticultural sundries. 
Messrs. Little and Ballantyne, Carlisle, also re¬ 
presented the commercial side of the question by ex¬ 
hibiting about 100 varieties of Potatos representing the 
leading sorts in cultivation, both jvhite and coloured, 
round and kidney. Knowfield Early Round is a 
variety of their own raising of considerable value for 
early work, and received marked attention from the 
visitors. Their stands were visited by Viscount 
Powerscourt and John Howard Parnell, Esq., M.P., 
during the first day, and by their Excellencies the 
Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Cadogan, the 
second day. 
Messrs. Fidler and Sons, Reading, staged a collec¬ 
tion of Potatos that are well known in horticultural 
circles generally, including Reading Giant and 
others, seldom absent from trade exhibits. Messrs. 
J, Hunter and Co., Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin, 
also staged Potatos in considerable quantity. 
Messrs. Boileau and Boyd, Bride Street, Dublin, 
exhibited various preparations and specifics for the 
prevention of Potato disease. Messrs. W. Tait and 
Co , Capel Street, Dublin, showed a fine collection 
of Potatos, together with various horticultural 
sundries. Mr. A. Falkiner Nuttall, Cullinamore, 
Sligo, set up a collection of Potatos. Mr. J. Garvey, 
Murrisk Abbey, Sligo, had a similar exhibit. 
Mr. A. Findlay, Markinch, Fifeshire, exhibited a 
collection of Potatos, raised and put into commerce 
by him, including Up-to-Date, Jeannie Deans, The 
Bruce, Lady Frances, Farmer’s Glory, Snowdrift, 
Her Majesty, Conquest, and others which have been 
brought into considerable prominence during the last 
few years. The Cork Chemical and Drug Company 
(formerly Messrs. William Harrington and Son), 
Cork, exhibited sprayers and various preparations 
for the prevention of Potato disease, including Potato 
blight powder, copper sulphate, slaked and unslaked 
lime. Some of their preventives also act as fertilisers, 
and Potatos, including The Bruce, Beauty of Hebron, 
Maincrop, The Saxon, Sutton’s Abundance, &c., 
grown in various parts of Ireland, and subjected to 
spraying, were shown by the firm to testify to the 
effect of the treatment on the great size of the tubers. 
The United Alkali Company, Liverpool, showed 
alkali, chemicals, and other materials. The Stott 
Company, Manchester, exhibited a collection of their 
patent sprayers, nozzles, and other machinery. 
Viscount Powerscourt lent a strong helping hand, 
not only at the conference, but at the exhibition, 
where he staged two good collections of Potatos. J. 
S. Gordon, Esq., Cheshire, showed a collection of 50 
varieties of Potatos. Col. Jervis White, Heathfield, 
Wexford, also staged a collection. Miss L. King, 
Graigne, Mountmelhek ; Col. Murphy, Bansha 
Castle, Tipperary ; and M. Maguire, Dunleer, all 
put up collections of Potatos that greatly increased 
the extent of the exhibition, and added much to its 
interesting character. 
Thus it will be seen that not only the Dublin seed- 
houses were well represented, but that other parts 
of Ireland contributed to the display, while England 
and Scotland made their presence strongly felt. 
The Conference (Wednesday). 
The exhibition opened at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, and 
soon after the conference commenced in the Round 
Room, when various addresses were given from the 
platform. Mr. A. O. Watkins, the president of the 
Irish Gardeners’ Association, offered some prelimi¬ 
nary remarks, bearing upon the constitution, aim, and 
objects of that body, for particulars of which see p. 
243. He then proposed that Lord Powerscourt take 
the chair. 
Lord Powerscourt said they had met that day to 
celebrate the 300th anniversary of the introduction, 
by Sir Walter Raleigh, Queen Elizabeth’s great 
courtier, of two of the greatest benefits ever con¬ 
ferred upon Europe, the Potato and tobacco, the 
latter of which might be used but not abused, when 
it could be considered as an advantage. Tobacco 
had been grown in Ireland, but the quality was 
rather inferior. He understood that vine growing 
had been contemplated in the South of Ireland, and 
it was worth trying. They had met, however, to 
deal with the Potato, which had become specially the 
food of the Irish people ; and he knew no vegetable 
in general use to compare with it except the Onion, 
which, he humorously remarked, made an excellent 
and well-known dish in mixture with the Potato, 
namely, Irish stew. If they wished to see what Sir 
Walter was like they could visit the historical por¬ 
tion of the National Gallery in Merrion Square, 
where his portrait was hung. 
The exhibition before them was an excellent and 
instructive one. The Potato had had many vicissi¬ 
tudes ; and the national calamity of 1847 to 1848, due 
to the failure of the Potato crop was brought about 
mainly by a recurrence of bad seasons and ignorant 
cultivation. The evil effect of a similar visitation 
could not make itself felt to the same extent now, 
owing to improved means of communication through 
the country. With careful cultivation and harvest¬ 
ing the crop as soon as ripe, much of it might be 
saved that was now lost through leaving the tubers in 
the ground till required for use. No mao, woman, 
or child is content nowadays unless Potatos formed 
part of their midday or evening meal. The table of 
the poor and rich alike was furnished with Potatos 
in some form or other, and he knew no other vege¬ 
table that could be cooked in so many different ways. 
As a child, he could remember being forbidden to 
eat Potatos so that they might be given to the poor. 
A sort of bread was made of them mixed with flour 
or Indian corn meal. By scientific cultivation the 
number of varieties had been greatly increased, and 
the low price asked for them placed them within the 
reach of everyone. He had no high estimation for 
Magnum Bonum, and speaking of that variety 
reminded him of the schoolboy, who, when asked 
what summum bonum was, replied that it must be a 
superior variety of Magnum Bonnm. 
In their unions, the schoolmasters were generally 
agriculturists as well, and they taught the young idea 
how to farm and cultivate the Potato among other 
things. The State schools were of great value in this 
respect, making the rising generation more indepen¬ 
dent and less helpless than it used to be. The 
knowledge gained there would be helpful to them 
whether they went back to the farms where they 
were born or went abroad. He advocated spraying 
of Potatos as the greatest possible preventive of 
disease known. Amongst his own Potatos he found 
that Champion still held the field against all others, 
though Beauty of Bute, Antrim, and others did well. 
He was tryiog Stourbridge Glory which had been 
highly recommended by the Earl of Dartmouth. A 
French variety named Batatas verosa had been given 
him by Lady Cadogan, and proved a go od eatable 
Potato. 
He then gave an account furnished him by the 
schoolmaster of Rathdown Union, who grows ten 
varieties for the inmates, including such early 
