314 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 15. 1905. 
and it is grown in the Channel Islands and in France in 
enormous quantities for the supply of the British markets. 
Given varieties that newer ones have failed to- displace, and 
there seems to be no lack of endurance in them—tuberous 
Artichokes in point. 
But assuming that the theory of the deterioration of varieties 
is a correct' one, what may be the predisposing causes to that 
decay? First, is it not possible that our practice of wintering 
tubers for future planting in dry places and mpo-sed to' air may 
have a. weakening effect? Does Nature require that to be 
properly progenitive the tuber should remain in the soil all the 
winter, but preserved from frost? I do- not set this up as 
an absolute necessity; I merely put it forward as a possible 
cause for the assumed deterioration. 
Then we do' as a rule—and it. is noteworthy that the old 
Ashleaf Kidney is usually made an exception to the rule—plant 
rather small than large tubers annually for crop production. 
If we regard other vegetables', do> we not select the very finest- 
roots or plants to produce' the seed for the ensuing crops? In 
practically every thing we grow in gardens or fields it is the 
practice- to select for parentage the finest- and best. That is 
not- so with the Potato, and if in its case we depart, as we so 
commonly do, from what is- in production of the best an 
acknowledged rule, what- other result can be looked for but that 
gradual weakening or deterioration of stock must.ensue? Con¬ 
versing recently with an old Scotch Potato grower on the cause 
of the fine productiveness of Scotch tubers, he said that, apart 
from Scotch soil and climate, two important- factors in that 
strength or fertility, it was largely the practice to plant large 
tubers, even though often cut prior to the planting. On that- 
point it may be possible to get further information. Undoubt¬ 
edly a common cause for real weakness in Potato stocks is found 
in the storing of tubers for planting in pits, tiers, or heaps, 
in which they sweat or heat, thus speedily causing .premature 
sprouting. That is especially an evil practice in the southern 
districts, because Potato-s ripen early, and as a consequence 
push growth early. That the result is of the most weakening 
effect has been demonstrated over and over again. Whilst our 
crops southwards are ripe often from six to- eight- weeks earlier 
than are those in the North, we cannot, because of the preva¬ 
lence of spring frosts, safely plant much earlier than in the 
North. 
Three hundred years of European cultivation have left the 
Potato- plant as tender as ever it was, and but one sharp spring 
frost- on the plants may kill them to- the ground. All good 
growers hold that boxing seed tubers and wintering in cool 
sheds away from fro-st, and where comparative re-st is secured, 
is invariably followed by finer crops than result from tubers 
that have been pitted and prematurely sprouted, the blanched 
sprouts being removed. Is it wise to- have Potato- breadths 
moulded up, as is the common rule?. That it is done chiefly 
to keep tubers from exposure to light- and air is- the case, but 
it- still remains a. question how far it may be detrimental to 
plant robustness. Tim practice of propagating Potato-s by 
means of sprouts or cuttings taken from tubers forced into pre¬ 
mature growth in warmth under glass, not-at all a new prac¬ 
tice, but one much revived last- year, has led to the declaration 
that it means ruin to- the const ituton of the Potato. Absolute 
proof that such wo-uld be the result has not been furnished, and 
although it may be out of place further to- refeixto the practice 
here, yet before such doctrine is accepted more experience 
must be obtained than now exists. To- that end it would be 
well could a- series of experiments be conducted at Wisley on 
such lines—plants obtained from sprout-cuttings raised and 
planted out beside others of the same variety raised from 
ordinarily planted tubers, the progeny in each case being 
grown-o-n also side by side for three or four years. Also ex¬ 
periments might- be conducted to- show the- effects -c-f whole 
large tubers and cut large tubers against- those of the cus¬ 
tomary round tubers that are generally planted, as to which 
progeny would, in some three or four years, the soonest de- 
teriorate. The effects of earthing-up and non-earthing could 
be tried, also the- effects of change of seed from various soils 
and climates as corppared with-similar varieties home-mown 
These and many other allied experiments might well be con¬ 
ducted at Wisley by a special Potato Committee. 
Effect of Soils. : —Whatever may be the effects of different 
soils on Potato-plant growth, it is certain that- they do produce 
very markedly diverse effects on Potato- quality in an edible 
sense. How far deficiency of starch ,in a. tuber may affect its 
productive capacity when planted as compared with the same 
capacity of a. tuber of similar size that is thoroughly starchy 
is a- matter which experiment and observation alone- can show. 
It is instructive to find that of the same varieties grown on 
diverse soils or in diverse localities, whilst so-me are really 
good in an edible sense, cooking dry, mealy, and starchy, from 
other soils the tubers are watery, close, tasteless, and altogether 
worthless as food. If such be the effect of sc-ils on tubeis, 
may it not be probable that weakening effects wo-uld follow in 
the plant growth ? Here it is evident the analytical chemist is 
needed to show of what elements the tubers and the soil mav 
be deficient, and what manures are needed to provide them.” 
(To be continued .) 
Saxifraga marginata. 
The great number of species of Saxifraga- in cultivation 
naturally fall into several well-marked groups. Not the least 
interesting or ornamental is .the group made up of the crus- 
taceous species having firm leaves densely arranged in rosettes. 
That under notice is a crastaceous species with rosettes 
amongst the smallest of this type. The spa-tliulate leaves 
have a, very marked cartilaginous margin with a short 
point, and are densely arranged in rosettes only about one- 
third inch in diameter or less. The rosettes appear smaller 
than one- would expect, judging from the size and breadth of 
the leaves, but these stand nearly erect, and are closely pressed 
to one another. The rosettes which flower spread out- only 
slightly, and give rise- to stems only 2 in. or 3 in. high bearing 
a- truss c-f pure white flowers about- the size of a shilling hi¬ 
ll early. The rosettes of leaves are again arranged in dense 
tufts, and a-s the plant- flowers freely, a- small patch has a fine 
effect. The plant commenced flowering -on the- rockery at Ivew 
before the end of March, and is still in full bloom, but when 
the spring happens to he later it might not. bloom until April. 
In any case, it is a, very handsome and showy species for the 
rockery, and although it- comes from Central Italy it appears 
quite hardy, probably because like other speeds of this type it 
grows on high altitudes. Notwithstanding tire many species 
which have been introduced, the fringe of the species onlv 
finds its way into very few gardens. There are, however, 
many neat and handsome things waiting for the levers of hardy 
plants when they set about- rock gardening in earnest. A well- 
drained situation fully exposed to light and air are the main 
essentials to success with this class of Rockfoils. 
Coelogyne Parishi. 
At a casual glance this pretty but unassuming Coelogvne 
would seem to he- a small edition of C. pandurata, judging from 
the peculiar colours- of the flower. The habit of the plant is 
quite different, however, from the last named. The pseudo- 
bulbs of the pla.pt under notice are- finger-like, erect, and 3 in. 
to 5 in. long. The flowers are smaller than in the other plant- 
which it suggests and have pale but clear yellow sepals and 
petals. The lip is similar in form to- that of the other, but it 
is greenish, with black marks all over the lamina and the inner 
face of the side lo-bes, the lip thus recalling the colours of C. 
pandurata. On the surface.of the blade are numerous short 
teeth besides the- two vertical blades- or ridges which run down 
to- the base of the lip. Altogether, C. Parishi is a neat and 
pre-tty species which may be seen in the- East- Indian division 
of the Orchid House- at Ke-w, where- it has been flowering for 
some days. 
