April 29, 1905. 
THE GA RDENING WORL D. 
353 
Certain, varieties of Potatos seem more liable to degenerate 
Ilian others. A gardener of some experience tells me that he 
lias grown Snowdrop (or Snowflake, perhaps, he meant) for 
ten years, and that he has them still as good as at first. 
As a matter of common experience Potatos do seem to de¬ 
generate by continuous planting in the same class of soil, but 
there may he contributory causes, such as selecting “ seed ” 
from the dressings of the marketed Potatos. 1 heard just 
lately of a farmer near here who has stuck to the same stock 
for I do not know how many years—say, fifteen to twenty— 
with the result that his Potatos are now like “ marbles,” and 
Ibis on one of the finest farms in the county. 
The Victoria, which became common in this district in the 
seventies, when the sorts formerly grown suffered badly from 
disease, was very successful for a number of years, but de¬ 
generated in time both as a cropper and in disease-resisting 
power, and has long been out of cultivation. The Magnum 
Bonum, which was introduced somewhat later, so far as I re¬ 
member, kept up better as a cropper, and continued compara¬ 
tively free from disease; but it was never a favourite on the 
table at home unless for use in spring, not being “ dry ” enough. 
It sold comparatively well, probably on account of its shape 
and keeping qualities. The Bruce took the place of the 
Magnum, being somewhat similar in character; but I do not 
think it was ever so good a cropper, and it lias now given 
place to newer varieties. The Up-to-Date seems to have 
something of the character of these two last, and does not seem 
to have degenerated as yet. 
As to whether a variety that had lost some of its vigour 
would regain it by being transferred from the South of Eng¬ 
land to Scotland, I do not know of its having been tried. I 
should think there is at least a probability of improvement if 
soil and locality be properly chosen. The duration of a 
variety depends largely on its power to resist disease and its 
place on the market, along with its capabilities as a cropper. 
For disease-rgsisting power it lias been found necessary from 
time to time to obtain new varieties, and when new varieties 
have found favour on the market, they have naturally dis¬ 
placed the old on hat account alone.—Alex. Fraser Locky 
Hill, Forres. 
(To be continued.) 
Rhododendron Luscombei. 
This charming Rhododendron is one which deserves cultiva¬ 
tion on a large scale, for it lias a veiy distinct appearance, 
blossoms before the majority of varieties, is very free, and of 
a rery pleasing colour. It is the result of a. cross between 
R. Fortunei and R. Thomsoni, both of which are very pretty 
species, the former a blush-coloured, fragrant Chinese plant; 
the latter a blood-red, tubular, fleshy-blossomed Himalayan 
shrub. R. Luscombei is intermediate between the two, the 
blossoms being wide-mouthed and 3 in. to 4 in. across, after 
the manner of R. Fortunei, but having the thicker texture of 
the other parent, and being of a delightful deep rose shade of 
cooui. An objection has been raised to it by some growers 
on account of the loose character of the truss, but it is unfair 
to judge this by the catawbiense and ponticum hybrids, with 
ieir perfect-shaped conical or round trusses. In the case of 
K. Luscombei, the looseness of the truss adds to, rather than 
e lacts from, its merits, for if the large, handsome blooms 
were crowded into compact trusses, their beauty would be 
partly destroyed. In habit it forms a large bush 8 ft. or more 
mgh and quite as much through, the foliage being deep green 
and distinct There is a form with deeper-coloured flowers 
nown as splendens which also deserves attention. Bushes of 
in tLTlf 5®/“? at ? e P resent time ( A Pril 14th) in blossom 
tho Rhododendron dell at- Kew. yr j) 
its glory in the ^ i j MAR j G0Lr > is now m the height 
mi ah t be nl!t 5% l ncludm g the double forms. All of the 
o t be P lanted ™th fine effect on the margins of ponds 
The Rock Garden. 
Plants in Bloom. 
The Trailing Androsace (A. sarmentosa). 
The Himalayan species of this genus are generally stronger 
growing than their European relatives. The woolly character 
of the plant under notice makes it a little difficult to preserve 
in seveie winters, but a pane of glass placed over it in winter 
will usually preserve it. While resting, the plant consists of 
Ehica lusitanica Floweks white. (Seep. 356.) 
small, dense grey rosettes, but as soon as growth commences it 
throws out a number of spatliulate, stalked and much larger 
leaves. The flower-stalks arise from the base of these young 
leaves and cany umbels of bright rosy-pink flowers with a 
yellow eye. The flowering season has now commenced, and at 
the same time runners are being thrown out in large numbers 
from the centre of the rosettes of leaves, and those who require 
an increase of stock will have no difficulty in getting it from 
these runners. 
Primula marginata, 
Many of the European alpine Primroses are now in full 
beauty, including the subject of this note. The specific name 
of the plant refers to the line of sulphur-coloured farina oi 
