March 12, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
217 
Ilex seems to thrive in the neighbourhood of Tunbridge 
Wells, for both in; the nurseries and in private gardens one 
cannot help being impressed by the vigour and form of the 
specimens. In Messrs. Cripps’ nursery the collection is a very 
choice one 1 , the “ weeping ” varieties being specially favoured. 
I know of no tree to- equal Ilex Aquifolium pendula variegata, 
commonly known as “ Perry’s Weeping Holly,” for growing 
as a lawn specimen. Other good varieties for specimen trees 
are Golden Queen, and I. A. lawsoniana,. In this nursery, as in 
several others I have visited, one may find rare specimens that 
are to be found in no other collections. There is little or no 
demand for them, and so they remain uncatalogued and un¬ 
loved except by those wlioi attend them. It would be better 
for horticulture in general if private gardeners would make 
a point of visiting the nurseries more often,, instead of relying 
so much on catalogues, for if this was done the beautiful 
plants now in obscurity would he brought out, and we should 
he freed from the dreary monotony which usually greets one in 
the private garden. No one can do justice; to a plant in a 
catalogue, and the specimens that are brought to the exhibi¬ 
tions are often toe small to show the plant’s true character. 
Past Kewite. 
How to Treat Dear Potatos Outside. 
Amongst our food plants 1 the Potato holds a very prominent 
place. It is an excellent, vegetable, and is an important article 
of diet, especially amongst the working classes. It avould be 1 
little short of a calamity if the Potato; crop proved a failure 
all ovef the country the same season. Last year in many 
localities some old varieties turned out very bad indeed. I 
think it is sound wisdom and a safe enough speculation, to buy 
a few of the newer famous sorts'. Besides encouraging the 
raisers of new varieties from the bullet, the extra outlay will 
soon repay itself. ThesS new Potatos are generally full of 
youthful vigour, and are naturally abler to escape disease in 
wet seasons, besides giving by far a greater yield to a given 
space. It is a recognised fact now amongst growers of the 
homely tuber that the Potato’s lifetime, on an average, is only 
from twelve to twenty years, some sorts keeping up their 
vigour a little longer than others. I will now give a, few plain 
facts gleaned from experience regarding Potato' culture. To 
multiply these niew sorts quickly, one must be at, the trouble 
to prepare the ground thoroughly for them before planting. I 
have for many years taken an interest in giving special treat¬ 
ment to some of the lea,ding sorts, and have often competed 
veiy successfully with them. The plan I adopt in growing 
these choice tubers is to plant them across a border in' front of 
the garden wall. I first take out, a, trench 21, ft. wide and 15 in. 
deep, putting a thick layer of turf in the bottom, and chopping 
it down first with a sharp spade. On, this I put a, mixture of 
cow and horse manure,, and also; a fair sprinkling of wood 
ashes and bone meal, filling up to above surface level with 
leaf-mould and riddled soil from the decayed vegetable heap, 
forming it into a kindi of ridge, so that in the event of a wet 
season the water runs freely off. The first week i,n April is, 
the best time to plant. I prefer to plant whole tubers, select¬ 
ing well-formed, good-sized ones,; and should there ’be too 
many eyes in them I screw out the weakest with the point, of 
a knife. Of course, with a high-priced variety, small tubers 
must be planted as well as big ones. I set a line up the centre 
of this prepared trench and plant, them with a, trowel_-small 
ones from 20 in. to 22 in., and for large tubers from 24 in. to 
_’ n - apart and 5 in 1 , deep, according to the vigour of the 
variety. I leave about 3 ft,, between, these trenches, so that, 
each sort can get its full share of sunshine. Needless, to say, 
when, Potatos get the above treatment there isi always, a very 
heavy crop of fine-sized shapely tubers ; and from a few pounds 
of any new or rare Potatos one is able in a, single ,season, to 
raise a fairly good quantity of “ new blood,” so that a, full crop 
can be had to plant the second season. John C. Dick. 
Champfleurie Gardens, Linlithgow, 
Lettuce. 
It is a, good plan to sow a small pinch of Lettuce seed in a. 
gentle heat, at this time, and when strong enough prick off in 
boxes and grow on for a time, then gradually harden off to 
plant out on, a sheltered piece of ground about the third week 
in April. It isi surprising how useful these will come in, as 
crops sown early in the open ground often come to grief, 
The supply of Lettuce from the open, ground, is often, made a 
rather laborious, although not a heavy operation., and when 
all is done it is not very satisfactory ; that, is, by sowing 
the, seed and making a further plantation from the thinnings, 
whereas if a piece of ground is set, out for the supple of Lettuce, 
Camassia Fraseri, (See p. 21.5 ) 
it is far better, as well as a, labour-saving operation, to, make 
a rule tot sow two or three rows every ten days, according to 
requirements, and when ready thin out, to 9 in., and throw 
the thinnings away. The advantage of this is seen more in a 
diy season, as when a bed of Lettuce is made from the thin¬ 
nings a lot of extra watering is caused, and even after that a 
large .percentage of the plants run prematurely to seed; 
whereas with the seedlings both watering and “ bolting ” is 
considerably curtailed, although on, dry soils, to have good 
crisp Lettuce, plenty of water must be supplied. 
Another very important matter in the growing of Lettuce 
is, the blanching, which, to be well done, especially Cos Let¬ 
tuce, must have their outer leaves tied together at the top. 
This must be done when, the leaves are all thoroughly dry ; if 
not,, it is possible they will go bad, especially if dull, damp 
weather follows the tying-up, process. 
I find Sutton’s Ideal and Dickson’s Emperor (Chester) two 
good reliable Lettuce of excellent, quality, remaining a Ions; 
time in use. J. E. B. 
