70 
JOURNAL  OF  IIORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  28,  19C4. 
Potato  cheesecakes.  The  produce  from  good  ground  was  three 
or  four  heaped  bushels  per  rod.  No  one,  he  says,  will  grudge 
for  them  a  shilling  per  bushel.  Mr.  Forster  then  considers  the 
growth  of  Potatoes  as  a  political  question,  and  recommends 
the  King,  Charles  II.,  to  order  an  importation  of  the  root  from 
Ireland ;  and  that  every  man  in  every  parish  shall  grow  an 
acre  or  two ;  and  that,  out  of  every  £30  worth  grown  in  a 
parish,  £5  shall  he  paid  to  the  King!  He  concludes  by  stating 
how  the  Potato  may  be  raised  from  .seed  in.stead  of  ifrom  the 
root. 
Notwithstanding  the  widely-dis.seminated  opinions  of  the 
Royal  Society,  and  the.se  published  appeals  to  the  public,  the 
introduction  of  the  Potato,  as  an  object  of  cultivation,  was 
extremely  slow.  Worlidge,  in  1687,  although  he  remarked  that 
the  Potato  was  then  common  in  some  parts  of  the  continent 
merely  suggests  that  they  may  be  mseful  for  swine  or  other 
cattle. 
Houghton,  writing  in  1699,  says  they  were  then  very  common 
m  Lancashire,  being  introduced  from  Ireland,  and  that  thev 
began  to  spread  over  England.  The  roots  were  boiled  or 
roasted,  and  eaten  with  butter  and  sugar!  (“Collections 
ii.,  468.”) 
Sharrock,  Ray,  Lisle,  Bradley,  IMortimer,  &c.,  writing  at  the 
c-lo.se  of  the  seventeenth,  and  early  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
make  most  slighting  mention  of  the  Potato,  and  even  Miller’ 
jn  the  4to  edition  of  his  dictionary,  published  as  late  as  1771, 
only  mentions  the  .same  two  varieties,  the  red  and  the  Avhite 
tubered,  wliich  had  been  noticed  by  vu-iters  a  century  his 
predecessors. 
Salmon,  who  wrote  in  1711,  speaks  of  the  Virginian  and 
the  English,  or  Irish,  Potato  as  distinct  kinds,  though  his 
description  .shows  their  identity— the  only  difference  being  that 
the  colour  of  the  skin  of  the  tubers  of  the  finst  was  dirty  white, 
and  of  the  second  red.  “  They  are  only  nursed  up  in  gardens 
in  England  and  Ireland,  where  they  flourish  and  come  to  per¬ 
fection,  prodigiously  increasing  to  a  vast  plenty.  The  roots 
are  boiled,  baked,  or  roasted.”  (“Salmon’s  Herbal,  905.”) 
London  and  Wise,  in  the  seventh  edition  of  their  “  Compleat 
Gardener,”  published  in  1719,  do  not  even  mention  the  Potato 
(but  it  must  be  reihembered  that  this  is  only  an  abridged  trans¬ 
lation  of  M.  Quintinye’s  Avork,  published  some  years  previously). 
HoAvever,  even  as  late  as  about  1770,  the  Potato  Avas  not  knoAvii 
generally  in  our  south-Avestern  counties.  The  late  president 
of  the  Horticultural  Society,  Avriting  in  1831,  AAdien  he  Avas 
seventy-tAvo  years  of  age,  says : — 
“  I  can  just  recollect  the  time  Avlien  the  Potato  Avas  un¬ 
known  to  the  peasantry  of  Herefordshire,  Avhose  gardens  Avere 
then  almost  exclusiAmly  occupied  by  diffei-ent  varieties  of  the 
Cabbage.  Their  food  at  that  period  chiefly  consisted  of  bread 
and  cheese,  Avith  the  produce  of  their  garden,  and  tea  Avas  un- 
knoAvn  to  them.  About  sixty  years  ago,  before  the  Potato  Avas 
introduced  into  their  gardens,  agues  had  been  so  extremely 
prevalent  that  the  periods  in  Avhich  they,  or  tlieir  families,  had 
been  afflicted  Avith  that  disorder  Avere  the  eras  to  Avhich  I  usually 
heard  them  refer  in  speaking  of  past  events ;  and  I  recollect 
being  cautioned  by  them  frequently  not  to  stand  exposed  to 
the  sun  in  May,  lest  I  .should  get  an  ague. 
“  The  Potato  Avas  then  cultivated  in  small  quantities  in  the 
gardens  of  gentlemen  ;  but  it  Avas  not  thought  to  afford  Avhole- 
some  nutriment,  and  Avas  supposed  by  many  to  possess 
deleterious  qualities. 
“  The  prejudices  of  all  parties,  hoAA-ever,  di.sappeared  so 
rapidily,  that  within  ten  years  the  Potato  had  almost  wholly 
driven  the  Cabbage  from  the  garden  of  the  cottagers.” 
(“  Knight’s  Papers.  319.”) 
Mortimer’.s  “Whole  Art  of  Husbandry”  was  published  in 
1707,  and  a  sixth  edition  in  1761,  and  in  these  the  Potato  is 
dismi.s.sed,  after  a  brief  notice  of  ten  lines,  about  half  of  which 
are  occupied  with  these  observations: — “The  root  is  very  near 
the  nature  of  the  Jerusalem  Artichoke,  but  not  so  good  or 
Avholesome.  These  are  planted  either  of  roots  or  seeds,  and  may 
probably  be  propagated  in  great  quantities,  and  prove  good 
food  for  sAvine.”— G.  W,  J, 
(To  be  continued.) 
Reflned  Sarcasm. 
Thi.s  is  an  advertisement  Avhich  appeared  a  day  or  tAvo  ago  in 
the  columns  of  a  German  neAvspaper : — ‘‘To  those  kind  friends 
who  during  1903  have  shoAvn  such  interest  in  the  contents  of  my 
humble  garden.  Take  notice  that  in  future  the  key  can  ahvays 
be  had  on  application,  even  during  the  night,  and  that  to  enter 
by  the  gate  is  much  les.s  dangerous  than  clambering  over  the  wall. 
I  ^hall  further  be  deeply  grateful  if  in  future  j’ou  Avould  be  so 
generous  as  to  leave  a  little  of  the  produce  for  my  need.s.  The 
trees  in  the  orchard,  from  present  appearances,  seem  to  promise 
a  fine  crop,  but  Avhen  gathering  the  fruit  I  should  be  obliged  if 
in  future  you  could  do  so  without  finding  it  necessary  to  pull  the 
tree  doAvn.  It  Avould  also  ensure  you  a  larger  .selection  in  time  to 
ceme.  For  the  same  reason  I  beg  you  to  carry  a  lantern,  so  that 
you  do  not  destroy  the  greater  part  of  the  vegetables  in  walking 
ever  the  bods.  Thanking  you  Avarmly  in  advance.— H.  .Spongier.” 
Phrysosiphon  Loddlgesi. 
The  illustration  represents  a  floAvering  specimen  of  about 
the  natural  size,  the  erect  scapes  being  6in  to  9in  long.  Orchids 
of- this  character  are  at  present  in  demand,  and  the  one  here 
chosen  has  some  attractions.  It  is  a  Mexican  plant,  bearing  its 
inflorescences  AA'ith  orange-broAvn  sepals  and  green  tubes  in  the 
middle  of  summer,  and  the  scapes  are  produced  by  the  .same  leaf 
in  successive  years.  The  plant  thrives  very  Avell  in  sphagnum 
and  peat  in  an  intermediate  temperature. 
Cultural  Notes ;  Zygopetalums. 
Zygcpetalum  maxillare  is  often  kept  in  too  great  heat,  with 
the  result  that  the  groAvths  become  Aveak  and  infested  with  in.sects. 
The  most  suitable  place  for  it  is  a  shady,  moist  corner  of  the 
intermediate  house,  in  company  Avith  Odontoglossum  grande,  and 
others  of  that  ilk.  It  Avill  be  starting  ncAv  groAvth  shortly,  and 
Avill  need  attention  to  the  roots.  It  is  of  a  creeping  habit,  and 
the  rhizome  extends  rather  rapidly,  consequently  it  should  not 
be  groAvn  in  the  ordinary  pots  or  baskets,  but  on  a  block  of  tree 
fern.  It  may  be  noted  by  the  AAay  that  it  is  frequently  imported 
lApon  tree  fern  stems  Avhen  it  groAvs  naturally. 
Obviously,  such  a  plant  needs  little  in  the  way  of  compost, 
the  natural  roughness  of  the  stems  being  sufficient  for  it.  A 
little.  sphagniAm  moss  may  be  placed  about  the  young  grcAvths, 
but  that  is  all.  and  these  should  be  so  disposed  Avhen  pos.sible 
that  they  groAv  toAvards  the  centre  of  the  block.  When  the 
plants  have  outgroAvn  their  blocks  a  neAV  piece  of  stem  may 
usually  be  placed,  so  that  the  rhizomes  take  to  it  without  the 
plants  being  actually  separated  from  the  old  one.  My  method 
has  ahvays  been  to  cut  aAvay  all  that  is  really  useles.s  of  the  old 
block,  especially  any  decayed  parts,  and  then  to  Avire  this  firmly 
to  the  neAV  sound  piece. 
The  larger  groAving  species,  such  as  Z.  Mackayi  and 
Z.  crinitum  Avill  also  probably  need  attention,  the  young  groAvths 
being  in  a  forward  condition  noAV  that  the  floAA’er  spike.s  are  over. 
These  Avill  require  a  much  more  liberal  compost  and  more  room, 
large,  Avell-drained  pots  being  necessary  for  healthy,  established 
plants.  The  fleshy  roots  delight  in  fibry  loam  and  chopped 
sphagnum,  only  a  little  peat  being  needed,  but  plenty  of  rough 
crocks  and  charcoal  to  keep  the  mixture  open.  I  have  had  large, 
old  plants  of  these  species  a  yard  across  keep  perfectly  healthy 
for  years  by  annual  top-dressings  of  this  material  Avithout  once 
being  shaken  out.  but,  of  course.  Avhen  the  old  compost  becoines 
sourlt  must  be  removed,  and  this  can  only  be  doneiby  repotting. 
As  the  Pleiones  continue  to  root  more  freely,  more  root 
moisture  Avill  be  required,  and  later  batches  may  be  potted  as 
recently  described.  Thunias,  too,  must  not  be  much  longer 
delayed,  as  loss  of  roots  folloAvs  disturbance  after  groAvth  has  once 
.set  in.  Galeanclra  DeAmniana  after  floAvering  must  have  amplo 
heat  and  moisture,  and  all  neAvly  repotted  plants  gir^en  closer 
and  sliglitly  moister  conditions.  Damping  frequently  between 
the  pots  Av'ith  the  syringe  is  preferable  to  pouring  much  Avater 
over  the  comnost. — H.  R.  R. 
Book  Notices. 
Culture  of  Vegetables  and  Flowers.’ 
The  rapidity  Avith  Avliich  the  editions  of  this  Avcll-knoAvn  book 
have  pas.sed  out  of  print  and  been  .superseded  by  others  succes¬ 
sively,  is  the  best  proof  of  the  esteem  in  Avhich  it  is  held,  and 
is  a  guarantee  at  the  same  time  that  the  matter  it  contains  is  not 
.stale,  nor  are  the  varieties  rcccmmended  out  of  date.  If  half  a 
dozen  books  Avere  desired  for  a  gardeners’  library,  this  ought  to 
be  one. 
It  is  almost  needless  to  revicAV  the  book;  the  contents  are 
arranged  alphabetically,  vegetables  preceding  floAvers  and  bulbs, 
and  the  most  practical  aclA’ice  as  to  the  liberal  cultiA'ation  of  the 
\-arious  subjects  is  given  ;  and  as  the  type  is  bold  and  clear,  and 
the.  paper  of  the  best  quality  for  reading  from,  it  is  enjoyable  as 
Avell  as  useful.  The  chapters  on  the  annuals,  making  of  lawns 
from  seed,  on  the  chemistry  of  garden  crops,  and  on  the  insect 
and  fungus  pe.sts  Avhicli  attack  plants,  are  admirably  adapted 
for  gardeners,  young  and  old,  in  their  studies  in  these  directions. 
The  rotation  of  crops  and  the  year’s  Avork  in  the  floral  and 
kitchen  gardens  form  other  sections  :  Avhile  lastly,  a  good  index 
is  provided.  It  is  a  book  Ave  thoroughly  recommend. 
♦  “Tlie  CultAire  of  Vegetables  .'ind  Flowers  from  ?ee  Is  and  Roots, by  Sutton 
and  fc'on.“,  Reading'.  Eleventli'edition,  price  5s. 
