January 1, 1910 
Cultivation of the Potato 
By the Editor of the ‘Queensland Agri- 
cultural Journal.’ 
(Continued from last Issue.) 
— Cross Fertilisation. — 
Mr Findlay, the celebrated raiser of 
80 many new varieties of potatoos, in the 
course of a lecture before the Glasgow 
and West of Scotland Agricultural Dis- 
cussion Society, spoke as follows on cross- 
fertilising and raising new varieties from 
Seed : 
In tho first place, I am distinctly of 
opinion that nataral cross-fertilisation 
never took place in any part of the 
world in any period of the world’s 
history. The blossom of the potato has a 
faintly sweet smell, yet it secretes no 
honey or nectar, and the pollen seems to 
be a bit too sharp and tasty to suit the 
palate of even the most voracious insect. 
In fact, it is highly poisonous, and I 
daresay thit is where their objection 
comes in. I have seen now and again a 
bumble bee, no doubt attracted by the 
sweet smell of the blossom, alight on the 
edge of the petal, but never saw one 
explore the bloom, as is their habit where 
they expect to find either nectar or 
pollen. As the most casual observer will 
have noticed, the potato is an early 
Closer, shutting up its blossoms between 
2 and 8 o’clock in the afternoov, and, by 
reason of a certain twisting process, puts 
it out of the power of any nocturnal 
moth or other insect to gain access to 
either nectar or pollen, even thongh they 
both were there. Inthe second place I 
hold it is utterly impossible for the. 
Pollen of one blossom to be wind-borne, 
and so fertilise another, even on the same 
plant, one reason being that it is too 
heavy, and another, and more important 
one, being that it is a bi-sexual plant. 
Both the sexual organs are in the same 
bloom, the anthers or pollen cases being 
' the male parts, and the pistil represent- 
ing the female, And it further appears 
tc me that, for some reason which I have 
not been able to discover, the potato 
2 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
plant is by nature opposed to cross- 
fertilisation, for, immediately the pollen 
in the anthers is matured, the bloom 
twists itself up harder than ever round 
the pistil, and no longer opens out to 
greet the sun. The bloom then no 
longer stends erect on its stem, but 
begins to hang down, swaying in the 
breeze. The pollen falls down into the 
narrow space formed by the twisting of 
the petals, all around the bulbous point 
cf the pistil. The bloom thus remains 
for the matter of two days, aud then falls 
off. Strange to say, the pistil only 
absorbs a very limited portion of the 
pollen. Yet what is left, so far as 1 have 
been able to discover, is perfectly inert 
The potato, as I have already said, is, in 
my opinion, opposed to cross-fertilisa- 
tion. 
— How He Ruises from the Seed. — 
Continuing, Mr. Findlay said, dealing 
with his method of working :—First L 
get a shallow seed pen, such as gardeners 
uso, attend to the drainage, fill it up, or 
nearly, with well decomposed leaf mould, 
to which “has been added a little fine 
sand. I takea flat piece of wood, and 
beat it down fairly firm and level, and 
sow the seeds thinly and evenly over the 
flat and firm surface, . That done, I take 
and sift, after adding more sand, some 
more of this leaf mould. The sifting will 
remove all grit’and stones. Now sprinkle 
a small portion over the seeds, but see 
that you do it evenly and not over-thick 
—ag near to an eighth uf an inch as you 
can ; give also a slight beat down. If the 
mould is fairly moist, you need not give 
any water for at least two days. Set 
your tray, to be out of the way of mis- 
hap, into the sunny corner of a cold 
frame. Puta piece of old newspaper or 
other paper over the tray, covering up 
with apiece of glass. Your great care 
now is to-see that you do-not allow the 
earth or mould to get dry; at the same 
time you must guard against making it 
too wet.. In a week or ten days. your 
geod should begin to braird. You must 
then give them more light and air, With 
average care, in a very short time you 
will have nice plants. When about an 
inch high, put them out in small pots 
“19 
singly. In another three weeks or so, if 
the weather is suitable, and the season is 
far enough advanced, plant them out in 
the open where you mean them to be 
permanently. After this, your work is 
all in the ordinary course ; only, remem- 
ber this, you must take care when you 
harvest them to keep the produce of 
every plant by itselfi—I mean those you 
intend to grow again Fifty per cent. or 
more will be no use to go further with ; 
and this 50 per cent left year by year, you 
if wise, will further reduce, until at the 
end of four years you have only one or 
two left as the sole representatives of 
your labor and care. 
_ (To be Continued.) 
M. L. Tomlinson, 
(LATE J. G. ORAM), 
Manufacturing Jeweller, 
Watchmaker, 
Diamond Setter & Engraver. 
Repairs to Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery 
of every description accurately, artistically 
and promptly executed at moderate prices. 
927 Grenfell St., Adelaide 
EUROPEAN AGENCY. 
[Rese promptly executed at lowest 
cash prices for all kinds of British 
and Continental goods, including : 
‘Books and Stationery | 
Boots, Shoes and Leather 
Chemicals and Druggists’ Sundries 
China, Earthenware and Glassware 
Cycles, Motors and Accessories _ 
Drapery, Millinery and Piece Goods 
Fancy Goods and Perfumery 
Furniture and Upholstery 
Hardware, Machinery and Metals 
Imitation Jewellery and Precious Stones 
Jewellery, Plate and Watches 
Photograpic and Optical Goods 
Provisions and Oilmen’s Stores 
etc., etc. 
Commission 2} per cent. to 5 per cent. 
Trade Discounts allowed 
Special Quotations on Demand 
Sample Cases from £10 upwards 
Consignment of Produce Sold on Account 
William Wilson & Sons 
j (Established 1814), 
25 Abchurch Lane, London, E.C, 
Cable Address : ‘ ANNUAIRE, Lonpon.’ 
