THE GARDEN ALBUM AND REVIEW. 
i 
Which are the Best Potatos ?—The 
Gardeners’ Chronicle has endeavoured to 
secure a reply to this important question. 
Some time ago it issued census papers to over 
two hundred of its readers, and asked them to 
“enumerate the two early best, mid-season, and 
late varieties in their particular districts.” The 
results appeared in the issues dated Nov. 25th 
and Dec. 2nd, and are of more than ordinary 
interest to those interested in the Potato. 
The whole of the United Kingdom was 
covered for the purpose of this census, and 
replies were received from the North, East, 
and West of Scotland ; from the North-east, 
East, Midlands, South, North-west, and South¬ 
west of England; Ireland, Wales, the Channel 
Islands, and the Isle of Man. Of these returns 
by far the larger proportion came from the 
English Counties, so that it would be unwise 
to infer that what appear to be the most 
popular varieties in England are equally 
popular, or even equally suitable, for cultivation 
in Scotland or Ireland. 
There, were about 184 varieties enumerated 
altogether—48 early, 80 mid-season, and 56 
late. Very few varieties secured more than 
twenty votes, while a very large number were 
either unknown or ungrown in some parts of 
the kingdom. The following table will show 
at a glance the varieties which secured more 
than twenty votes in each group out of a total 
respectively of 205, 196, and 198, for the early, 
mid-season, and late groups :— 
Early Varieties (out of 205 votes).—Duke of 
York, 78 ; Sharpe’s Victor, 61; Ringleader, 33; 
May Queen, 31 ; Myatt’s Ashleaf, 31 ; Veitch’s 
Ashleaf, 30 ; Sir J. Llewellyn, 26; Early 
Puritan, 21. Mid-season Varieties (out of 196 
votes).—Windsor Castle, 65 ; British Queen, 
57; Snowdrop, 33; Sir J. Llewellyn, 28; 
Beauty of Hebron, 24. Late Varieties (out of 
198 votes).—Up-to-Date, 151 ; The Factor, 22; 
Magnum Bonum, 21. 
It is possible that the varieties that have 
secured the highest number of votes may be 
the best "for cropping and flavour, but it is 
open to doubt. The figures show, at least, one 
thing, namely, the varieties that are most 
generally grown. Taking the highest in each 
group we find that “Up-to-Date” with 151 
votes out of 198, represents 76 per cent. ; 
“ Duke of York ” with 78 out of 205 represents 
38 per cent.; and “ Windsor Castle ” with 65 
out of 196 represents 33 per cent. 
To arrive at anything like a satisfactory 
result as to the best varieties for flavour, 
cropping, and disease-resisting, it would be 
necessary that each enumerator should grow 
exactly the same varieties, at exactly the same 
distance apart, and under conditions that should 
be as identical as possible considering the 
locality. But what private garden, or public 
garden for that matter, can accommodate for 
trial purposes 184 varieties of Potatos at one 
time in various parts of the kingdom ? 
NOTES BY THE WAY. 
The news of the retirement of Sir William 
T. Thiselton Dyer, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., &c., 
from the Directorship of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, came as a distinct surprise upon the 
horticultural public. Sir William is 62 years 
of age and has been officially connected with 
Kew for 30 years—10 years as Assistant 
Director and 20 as Director. During this 
period there is no doubt whatever that he has 
left his mark upon the gardens, the greenhouses, 
and the Herbarium. Sir William had a keen 
eye for landscape effects, and one of his first 
official acts was to abolish the wire fence that 
used to cut off what was called the “ Botanic 
Garden ” proper from the Arboretum. Being a 
lover of tobacco himself it was only natural 
that the absurd regulations (in three languages) 
against smoking in the open-air of the 
“ Botanic ” portion of the Gardens were soon 
abolished on his appointment as Director. We 
hope that Sir William may enjoy for many 
years to come the repose from official work he 
has so well earned. 
The new Director of Kew Gardens, Lieut.- 
Col. Dr. Prain, is 14 years younger than his 
predecessor, and is well-known in the Indian 
Service, especially in connection with the 
Botanic Gardens at Calcutta. He is, we 
understand, a botanist and plantsman to the 
finger tips, and has had a distinguished medical 
career. The military title is one of courtesy, 
so one need not fear that the plants at Kew are 
likely to be set out in straight lines in the 
future. And we trust the staff that has been 
such “ a happy family ” under the late Director 
will be still more happy under the new Director. 
The specific name of the Impatiens shown 
in our coloured plate was given in honour of 
Professor Daniel Oliver, F.R.S., etc., who was 
keeper of the Herbarium at Kew for many 
years. His little book on “ Elementary 
Botany ” has probably made more plant 
lovers than any other owing to its simplicity 
and > charm. Although Professor Oliver is 
scarcely known among horticulturists, he is 
nevertheless an enthusiastic gardener now, and 
we feel sure that he prefers the living plants 
and flowers to their dessicated and lifeless 
fragments in the Herbarium. 
The death of Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A., 
late Curator of Trinity College Botanic 
Gardens, Dublin, creates a gap in the ranks 
of gardeners which it will be difficult to fill. 
Mr. Burbidge passed away quietly in his 
sleep on Christmas Eve last, in his 59th year. 
He was a gardener with a rare knowledge 
of all kinds of plants, and he was ever ready 
to impart his information to individuals 01 
Societies that sought his aid. He was one of 
the comparatively few gardeners who took an 
interest in drawing, and his intimate know¬ 
ledge of plants was no doubt largely due to his 
keen observations acquired in the habit of 
making sketches. 
