THE GARDEN ALBUM AND REVIEW. 
51 
tions for Collecting Insects,” and his Lectures 
on various subjects :—Grasses, Improvement 
of Pasture Land, Grafting, Culture of Plants, 
On Insects. These lectures were published 
posthumously by his son-in-law with about 80 
coloured plates in 3 vols., 1805. 
He lies buried in the Old Churchyard in 
Battersea, and the following lines were inscribed 
on his tomb-stone, “William Curtis, who 
departed this life, July 7, 1799, aged about 53 
years. 
While common herbs shall spring profusely wild, 
^ Of gardens cherish all that’s blithe and gay, 
So long thy works shall please dear nature’s child, 
So long thy mem’ry suffer no decay.” 
- J. H. K. 
SPROUTING SEED POTATOS. 
For many years the growers of early 
potatos have been in the habit of storing 
their potato seed in trays or boxes in thin 
layers, in order that the tubers should sprout 
before being planted, but it is only lately that 
the boxing and subsequent sprouting of late 
potatos have been found to be profitable. 
The experiments on this subject carried out 
by the Irish Department of Agriculture, wffiich 
were reported in this Journal (Vol. XI., p. 673, 
February, 1905), showed that the increase due 
to sprouting varied in 1903 from 10 cwt. to 31 
tons, and in [904 from 13 cwt. to over 6 tons. 
The increased yield in the latter year averaged 
2 tons 13 cwt. per acre, representing over 25 
per cent, on the average crop from unsprouted 
seed, and in only two cases was there a decrease. 
A similar experiment was carried out in 1905 
by the Aberdeen and North of Scotland College 
of Agriculture at nine centres with a view to 
ascertain if the sprouting of late potatos in the 
comparatively late climate of the north-east of 
Scotland would be profitable. From these 
trials it may be fairly assumed that this system 
is likely to prove advantageous with late 
varieties and in a late district in a year like 
I 9°5* The advantages of sprouting are 
summarised by Mr. R. B. Creig in his report 
on the experiment as follows :—(1) In a normal 
year the crop is heavier; (2) there are fewer 
small and more saleable tubers from sprouted 
sets; (3) in a late spring sprouted sets may be 
planted late without a reduction of crop ; (4) 
where autumn frosts occur little damage will 
be done, as the potatos from sprouted sets will 
be more mature; and (5) a crop from sprouted 
sets may be raised sooner than a crop from 
ordinary sets. 
The disadvantages are perhaps equally 
obvious. 
1. There is first the initial cost of the boxes. 
Potatos will sprout on a floor or in any kind 
of box, but the most convenient size of box is 
24 in. long, 12 in. wide, and 3 in. deep, with 
corner pieces 7 in. high, so that the boxes can 
be piled on each other to any height without 
interfering with ventilation. It is of importance 
that there should be a cross handle fixed into 
the side pieces for convenience of carrying 
Such boxes will hold about 20 lb. of potatos, 
and can be purchased in Aberdeen at 30s. per 100. 
As 100 boxes are sufficient for one acre and 
the boxes will last several years with ordinary 
care, the cost is spread over, say six years, and 
is therefore 5s. per acre. 
2. A storage space is a difficulty where a 
large area is planted, but where only a few 
acres are grown, or on crofts, the boxes may be 
stored on the couples of the byres or cattle 
sheds, and the sets will do quite well there. 
3. More labour is required at planting, but 
the difference as compared with the ordinary 
method is very little, and where the boxes 
described above are used it is scarcely 
appreciable. 
Treatment of the Sets .—The potatos for seed 
may be placed in the boxes when lifted in the 
autumn, or they may be removed from the pits 
any time in winter. They require no arrange¬ 
ment, but are simply scattered in the boxes in 
one or two layers, without earth. When the 
sprouts are about 2 in. long, growth may be 
stopped and the sprouts toughened by exposure 
to light. When hardened in this manner the 
sprouts do not break off easily and the sets may 
be dropped in the drills in any position. It is 
not advisable to cut sprouted sets, and the best 
size for boxing is about i|- in., or what would 
pass through a if in. riddle and be retained by 
a ij- in. riddle.— Journal , Board oj Agriculture. 
A MAGGOT IN “LA FRANCE” ROSE. 
In the “ Rosen Zeitung,” a writer calls 
attention to a pest that attacked his “La 
Franee ” Rose trees. He had some fine healthy 
plants Jrom which neither flowers nor wood 
was cut, for the less “ La France ” is pruned 
the better it flourishes, and he had 15 year old 
plants that were a sight to look at. About two 
years ago, however, his plants began to look 
sickly without any apparent reason, and 
produced poor miserable blossoms. He 
studied them in every way, gave them fresh soil, 
liquid manure, &c., but all in vain. The roots 
were healthy, so he thought the plants were 
dying of old age. 
Having cut off a thickish shoot he examined 
the pith and discovered the trouble in the form 
of a small maggot that had bored its way 
upwards. Several other shoots were examined 
and in all cases a maggot was found. Then 
the plants were cut down to the ground, and 
the wood burnt. The beds were re-dug and 
mulched with old cow manure, and so the 
plants were left till the spring of 1903. The 
new shoots were vigorous and the display of 
flowers beautiful, while the maggot was found 
in only a few shoots in August. In the autumn 
the plants were only protected at the base, the 
upper portion being left quite exposed during 
the winter, and in the spring the shoots w^ere 
cut hard back. Several other kinds of roses 
were examined for the maggot, but “ La 
France ” apparently was the only variety that 
appealed to its tastes. 
