November  3,  1598. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
333 
The  birds  forget  summer  has  gone,  and  sing  as  blithely  as  ever,  so 
glad  to  put  off  winter  cares  for  a  time.  The  children  and  the  squirrels 
are  sharing  the  nuts  ;  which  gets  the  larger  half?  The  urchins  have 
had  a  fine  time  among  the  Brambles,  for  so  large  a  crop  has  not  been 
seen  for  years,  and  there  are  many  at  school  with  hands  suspiciously 
browned  with  that  stain  only  found  on  the  outer  husk  of  the  Walnut. 
A  good  fresh  Walnut  is  worth  a  bit  of  stain,  and  the  treat  does  not 
come  every  year.  The  days  are  so  bright  and  so  cheerful  that  at 
present  we  can  hardly  sympathise  with  Tennyson  when  he  says : — 
“My  very  heart  faints,  and  my  whole  soul  grieves 
At  moist,  rich  smell  of  the  rotting  leaves, 
And  the  breath 
Of  the  fading  edges  of  Box  beneath, 
And  the  year’s  last  Rose.’’ 
— The  Missus. 
P.S. — For  a  glowing  overmantel  decoration,  be  at  the  trouble  of 
hunting  some  long  sprays  of  Bramble  ;  the  leaves  are  so  symmetrical, 
the  colours  so  warm,  that  it  is  worth  a  few  scratches. 
VEGETABLES  FOR  HOME  AND  EXHIBITION. 
Potatoes. 
Having  dealt  (page  200)  with  early  Potatoes,  we  may  now  turn  to 
those  that  constitute  the  main  crop,  which  are  the  most  important,  as 
on  them  we  depend  for  nine  months  in  the  year.  The  main  crop  is 
worthy  then  of  the  greatest  care,  and  though  fine  results  are  obtained 
from  soils  of  very  diverse  character,  there  are  certain  conditions 
necessary  to  success.  One  of  these  is  a  well-drained  medium,  and  if  of  a 
sandy  nature  so  much  the  better.  The  second  is  deep  cultivation,  the 
land  being  dug  deeply  in  the  autumn,  and  if  not  in  good  heart  the 
benefits  of  a  dressing  of  good  farmyard  manure  applied  then  will  be 
felt  later  on.  To  grow  Potatoes  fit  for  show  is  only  a  matter  of  good 
cultivation  and  the  carrying  out  of  well-tried  principles,  therefore  the 
extending  of  these  details  from  the  few  to  the  whole  is  bringing  the 
culture  of  Potatoes  for  home  and  exhibition  to  about  the  same  thing. 
Generally  the  care  that  is  devoted  to  the  preparation  a f  sets  for  early 
varieties  is  not  extended  to  the  main  crop  sorts,  but  in  order  to  assist 
Nature  as  much  as  possible  whole  even  sets  of  about  3£  ozs.  should,  be 
chosen  and  placed  in  shallow  boxes  a  few  weeks  prior  to  planting, 
and  before  the  operation  is  performed  remove  all  superfluous  sprouts, 
leaving  one  or  two  of  the  best,  as  two  strong  stems  above  the  ground 
are  much  better  than  a  mass  of  weak  growths. 
It  is  a  mistake  to  place  main  crop  Potatoes  too  closely  together. 
Each  plant  should  have  sufficient  room  to  expand  fully  without 
■encroaching  on  its  neighbour,  and  one  of  the  greatest  incentives  to 
disease  appears  to  lie  in  too  close  planting.  The  tangled  mass  of  top- 
growth  is  weak,  and  the  sun  and  air  have  no  chance  of  circulating 
amongst  it ;  consequently  the  ground  and  the  hidden  portions  of  the 
haulm  are  never  dry,  and  it  is  here  that  the  germs  of  the  blight  gain 
a  foothold.  The  distance  from  row  to  row  must  be  determined  by  the 
character  of  the  variety  planted,  but  2  feet  6  inches  for  sorts  growing  a 
medium  height,  and  3  feet  for  robust  main  crop  varieties,  will  generally 
be  found  suitable.  The  distance  between  the  sets  must  be  determined 
in  the  same  way,  ranging  from  12  to  18  inches. 
Various  methods  of  planting  are  adopted  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  and  good  crops  are  obtained  by  all  of  them  when  other 
conditions  are  favourable.  When  the  soil  is  friable  and  in  good 
working  condition  the  drawing  of  drills,  fixing  the  sets,  and  replacing 
the  soil  is  one  of  the  quickest  methods,  and  on  the  whole  satisfactory, 
but  almost  every  grower  pins  faith  in  his  own  particular  system. 
From  the  middle  to  the  end  of  March  is  the  best  time  for  planting, 
provided  the  soil  is  in  good  condition  and  the  weather  favourable, 
and  as  soon  as  growth  can  be  discerned  above  the  ground  the 
surface  soil  must  be  periodically  stirred.  It  is  a  mistake  to  delay 
earthing  after  the  haulm  is  high  enough,  and  it  is  important  that  this 
work  be  done  thoroughly.  In  times  of  disease  half-moulded  Potatoes 
suffer  the  worst,  through  the  spores  of  the  disease  falling  from  the 
foliage  on  to  the  exposed  tubers. 
Numerous  experiments  have  been  made  to  determine  the  suitability 
of  farmyard  and  chemical  manures  as  fertilisers  for  Potatoes,  and  the 
results  on  the  whole  are  contradictory.  A  judicious  blending  of  the 
two  appears  to  be  the  most  satisfactory,  and  with  regard  to  the  latter 
it  is  impossible  to  state  a  mixture  suitable  alike  for  all  classes  of  soil. 
Both  soot  and  lime  are  well  known  as  excellent  fertilisers,  and  soil  that 
is  deficient  in  the  latter  should  be  dressed  in  the  autumn  and  winter. 
Mixtures  of  four  parts  of  superphosphate  of  lime  and  three  of  kainit 
have  given  good  results  when  applied  early  in  the  season,  and  the  rapid 
action  of  the  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  nitrate  of  soda  is  noticeable 
when  applied  as  top-dressings  after  growth  has  commenced. 
Considering  the  number  of  maincrop  varieties  in  cultivation  it  is 
difficult  to  give  a  short  selection  of  the  best  without  leaving  some  good 
ones  out.  Among  the  second  early  and  maincrop  sorts  are  Supreme,  a 
handsome  white  kidney  suitable  for  exhibition,  but  of  not  very  strong 
constitution.  Reading  Russet  is  a  coloured  tuber,  and  often  seen  on 
the  show  board.  The  maincrop  Potato  of  the  day  is  probably  Up-to- 
Date.  The  tubers  are  rather  too  large  for  some  tastes,  but  taken  all 
round  it  is  a  fine  Potato,  and  grows  remarkably  free  from  disease. 
For  quality  I  know  of  no  superior  to  Universal.  This  splendid  round 
Potato  has  only  to  be  grown  to  be  appreciated.  It  is  a  ptolific  cropper, 
and  the  tubers  are  free  from  deep  eyes,  while  for  cooking  there  could 
be  nothing  better.  The  skin  of  Universal  is  slightly  rough,  but  the 
appearance  is  good  enough  to  recommend  it  as  an  exhibition  Potato. 
The  Wonder  is  an  excellent  late  round  Potato  possessed  of  heavy 
cropping  powers,  good  eating  qualities,  and  is  well  worth  a  trial.  The 
variety  is  a  cross  between  Magnum  Bonum  and  Imperator.  Both 
Satisfaction  and  Windsor  Castle  have  created  reputations  lor  them¬ 
selves  since  they  were  introduced.  Her  Majesty  is  a  good  variety,  for 
which  Mr.  Findlay  is  responsible.  In  addition  to  the  above  there  are 
of  course  numerous  other  varieties  more  or  less  well  known,  but 
enough  are  mentioned  to  provide  a  selection  for  all  ordin  v ;  purposes. 
Continual  change  of  soil  and  sets  in  Potato  culture  is  an  old 
precept,  but  none  the  less  useful  on  that  account,  and  should  be 
closely  followed.  Disease  is  still  the  bane  of  growers  in  some  seasons, 
and,  in  spite  of  precautions,  will  assert  itself.  In  addition  to  the 
spraying  preventives — which  are  not  always  practicable  to  small 
growers — much  may  be  done  to  prevent  the  murrain  by  good  culti¬ 
vation.  Moderation  in  the  use  of  strong  manure,  not  planti  g  from 
infested  stocks,  and,  above  all,  careful  selection  of  varieties  of  robust 
disease-resisting  habit.  In  conclusion,  the  best  Potato  is  one  that  is 
medium  in  size,  even  and  regular  in  shape,  free  from  deep  eyes,  and 
rough  scabby  surface,  and  good  in  quality  when  cooked.  A  variety 
that  possesses  these  characteristics  is  appreciated  in  the  dining-room, 
and  possesses  the  needful  requisites  for  securing  the  coveted  prize  card 
on  the  exhibition  table.— Grower  and  Judge. 
A  DEFENCE  OF  THE  DROUGHT. 
There  has  been  a  long-continued  wail  on  the  part  of  gardeners 
with  respect  to  the  drought,  and,  so  far,  I  have  not  seen  a  word  on 
the  other  side.  It  is  easiest  and  pleasantest,  of  course,  to  swim  with 
the  stream,  but  whether  man’s  best  qualities  are  developed  when  he 
perpetually  goes  with  the  tide  is  open  to  question.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  I  am  porobably  running  my  head  against 
hard  thumps,  I  mean  to  say  a  word  on  behalf  of  the  drought.  Better 
an  occasional  thump  than  a  sheep-like  submission  to  the  dictates  of 
the  crowd. 
First  and  foremost  of  the  good  things  which  drought  briugs  in  its 
train  is,  so  far  as  vegetables  are  concerned,  flavour.  I  am  not  aware 
that  this  has  been  suggested  before,  and  I  am  quite  prepared  to  hear  it 
treated  with  derision.  It  will,  however,  require  a  vast  amount  of  this 
criticism  to  convince  me  that  I  am  wrong.  For  many  years  past  I 
have  made  a  close  study  of  the  flavour  of  vegetables,  during  long 
periods  restricting  myself  to  them  almost  entirely  for  daily  food,  but 
never  have  1  found  the  flavour  more  richly  developed  than  in  this  last 
season  of  drought.  In  long  spells  of  wet  weather  most  vegetables 
make  sappy  and  plethoric  growth,  inclinod  to  rankness.  There  is  an 
almost  entire  absence  of  the  mellow,  sweet  and  nutty  taste,  which  has 
been  paramount  during  the  past  summer. 
1  could,  of  course,  explain  the  matter  to  my  own  personal  satis¬ 
faction  and  that  of  nay  seedsmen  by  claiming  that  the  happy  result  is 
a  combination  of  good  culture  and  choice  selection  of  varieties.  But  a 
modest  candour  compiels  the  statement  that  neither  is  wholly,  or  even 
largely,  the  cause;  it  lies  in  the  riper,  more  compact  growth,  brought 
about  by  the  drought.  In  nothing,  I  might  say,  is  this  promt  of 
flavour  more  plainly  noticeable  than  in  Cabbage.  In  another  burst  of 
candour  I  am  constrained  to  admit  that  a  good  deal  of  my  summer 
and  autumn  Cabbage  has  been  infested  with  caterpillar,  yet,  though 
they  looked  shattered  an  l  forlorn  in  consequence,  the  hearts  have  been 
of  delicious  quality. 
Vegetable  Marrows  grown  without  manure  and  without  any 
artificial  watering,  and  next  to  none  in  a  natural  way  from  the 
clouds,  have  not  only  made  healthy  growth  but,  what  is  more 
important  by  far,  have  fruited  with  lavish  abundance.  So  vigorous 
and  healthy  are  they  that  to-day,  after  four  months’  growth,  I  am 
able  to  count  as  many  as  seven  fruits  on  a  yard  run  of  line,  every  one 
safely  set  and  some  rapidly  swelling.  Carrots  have  given,  and  are 
giving,  a  melting,  buttery  richness  of  flavour  ^vhich  they  rarely 
develop.  It  is  not  only  observable  in  roots  drawn  young,  but  in 
larger  ones  that,  having  been  thinned,  have  acquired  full  length  and 
girth.  Not  a  particle  of  manure  have  these  had,  not  a  drop  of  water 
given  them.  Sown  on  a  piece  of  ground  from  which  Mangolds  were 
taken  last  year,  they  have  proved — what,  perhaps,  hardly  required 
proof —that  roots  after  roots,  and  minus  manure,  is  not  necessarily 
bad  culture;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  if  a  proper  tilth  is  secured, 
the  best  economy  has  been  practised. 
i Potatoes  have  not  borne  record  crops ;  as  a  matter  of  fact,  they  are 
