June 18, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
503 
Potato Novelties—Then and Now. 
The present year is likely to prove one of the most interest¬ 
ing on record. 
Every experimental cultivator of this fine root will be on. the 
tiptoe of expectation to see the results in costly sorts com¬ 
parable to others in far less price, and possibly better standing. 
When the Messrs. Dean Bros, annually issued their tract-like 
descriptive little brochure—for it was something more than a 
catalogue—some thirty years ago in about fifty of the most 
popular, distinctive, and newest varieties of Potato®, and a 
few were quoted at 2s. 6d. per lb., conservative growers asked 
themselves if the Messrs. Dean “ took ’em to be crackit in 
the protuberance above the shoulders, and what ‘ Ealing ’ 
virtues” such quotations were possessed with. Now, ugh ! in¬ 
stead, the price is nearly double in shillings for single plants. 
Truly, “ Paddy’s darlints ” were never in such love, and 
what ogling at eyes there be of Eldorados, North era. Stars, 
Discoveries', etc., as gems of brilliant lustre. Yet, for disease 
resisters, it is questionable if we shall ever see or have better 
sorts than the American and Anglo-American. Truly, quality 
was lacking in some, but were as 
round as acorns then, when others 
were masses of putrefaction. Will 
the present sorts do more for us 
now? I am inclined to think the 
taste has mere to do with “ pocket ” 
than “ palate.” Ah, well, farmers 
have long had a saying that as 
“ Money makes the mare go,” so the 
presumption is noble tubers can be 
got to go the same way, too. The - 
stimulation to hybrid pedigree sorts 
from the seed Apple is certainly in 
the ascendant, for already the 
market is becoming flooded with 
sorts of more or less worth. And the 
newly formed N.P.S. will require a 
very strong hand to' crack duplica¬ 
tions. Still, we cannot, do without 
newer blood, and experimental 
stages must be in the line of route. 
What the products will be under 
normal conditions of culture we 
shall have, patiently to watch, wait, 
and taste. The following in the 
group are: No. 1, Discovery; 2, 
Lymm Grey; 3, Sir Walter Raleigh ; 
4, Northern Star ; 5, Eldorado; 6, 
Evergood. The last., although oldest 
on the market, five years since, at 
about £400 per ton, is fairly well 
established as a good all-round sort, and our faith is such in 
it that we have cut up and planted 10 tons of seed. 
B. Lockwood. 
Primula Sieboldii. 
This Primula, in its numerous varieties, is so seldom met 
with, and at the same time has such great merits, that I am 
moved to make a few remarks on its beauty, utility, and cul¬ 
tivation, now that it is charming us by adding its quota to the 
beauties of the spring flowers. 
The flowers of these Primulas include a great variety of 
shades of colour, from the deepest, crimson to the purest white. 
Well-grown plant® are well furnished with their beautifully 
toothed leaves of a delicate shade of green, adding greatly to 
the beauty of the plants. 
As to the utility of these plants, they can. be used for con¬ 
servatory decoration in early spring; they can be used for 
massing in the partem along with other spring bedders; they 
can be used in the mixed herbaceous bed or border; and they 
can be grown in permanent beds. 
The last-named system is the one we mostly pursue with 
them, with great success. We grow them in, 4-ft. beds on a 
border devoted to such subjects as Dog-tooth Violets Scillas 
Lily of the Valley, late Tulips, etc. 
We plant just after the foliage has died down, but it can be 
done with more or less success any time during the resting 
season, except during the months of December and January. 
As to soil, they prefer a light, rich one; in fact, this is necessary 
to their -successful cultivation ; old potting soil, leaf-soil, road 
grit from under trees, and sand are all valuable for making 
up the beds, sand only being necessary on heavy soils like our 
own. The rhizomes should be planted not too deep- at about 
8 in. apart, and get a watering after the operation is finished. 
After the first season the beds should get an annual top-dressing 
in spring before growth commences with some light rich 
material, such as that recommended for making up the beds. 
In using these plants for -spring bedding in the parterre, the 
best results will be obtained by using plants that- have been 
to own one season in the way I have indicated in. the reserve 
ground. After flowering they can be broken up and again 
transferred to the reserve ground or planted in, permanent 
beds! The above remarks also apply to plants for gentle forc¬ 
ing, only these -should be potted up in autumn and wintered 
in cold frames, a portion of the stock being brought on in a 
Peach house or other slightly heated structure, and the re¬ 
mainder kept in- cold frames till coming into flower. I cannot 
heartily recommend these beautiful flowers for the mixed bed or 
border, as the soil of the average herbaceous bed or border is 
hardly to their liking. 
When thus used, instead of planting single clumps, I advise 
to plant in clump® of three or more, when it will be practicable 
to give them special treatment in the way of some light rich 
soil, first at planting time, and afterwards in the way of annual 
top-dressings. 
The varieties of this Primula are too numerous to mention, 
but I select a few. 
Queen of Whites and a-lba grandiflora are both excellent 
whites; Vivid and Brilliant are two 1 fine crimsons, the latter 
being the deepest- shade I know. Magenta- Queen is a very fine 
magenta, and amongst the purples Purple King and Gem are 
amongst t-hs best. Some of the- varieties, such as Charmer, are 
beautifully pencilled, but for my own part T prefer the seifs. 
C. C. 
Photo by 
Notap.le Potato?: 1, Discovery; 
4 , Northern Star ; 
Frank Crossland, Lindley. 
2, Lymm GreyI; 3, Sir Walter Raleigh ; 
5, Eldorado ; 6, Evergood. 
