April  23,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
359 
Potatoes  and  the  Food  Supply. 
Professor  Malden  has  lately  come  forward  to  tell  the  Royal 
Commission  on  Food  Supply  in  Time  of  War  that  the  only  one 
way  to  restore  prosperity  to  agricnltui-e  and  to  check  rural 
depopulation,  as  well  as  enable  the  United  Kingdom  to  be  alto¬ 
gether  independent  of  colonial  or  foreign  food  supplies,  is  to 
treble  our  area  under  Potato  crops.  If  we  grew  4,000,000  acres, 
instead  of  little  more  than  1,000,000  acres  of  Potatoes,  “  we 
could  rely  on  6  tons  per  acre,  and  secure  24..000,000,”  which 
“  would  give  half  a  ton  to  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the 
country.” 
Weather  Notes  from  Hamilton,  N.B. 
The  last  few  da3"S  of  seasonable  weather  have  wondrously 
forwarded  vegetation.  A  cold,  wet,  and  cheerless  sf)ring  has 
terminated  suddenly’  in  a  warm  and  genial  atmosphere,  with  the 
result  that  manj'  trees  are  fast  expanding  their  buds.  In  this 
respect  I  do  not  remember  to  have  before  seen  the  process  of 
transition  so  sharplj-  defined.  Onlj’  a  few  daj’s  ago  buds  v  ere 
vei\v  much  in  their  dormant  condition  (with  the  exception  of 
the  Salix)  ;  but  to-daj'  Planes,  Poplars,  and  Larches  are  all  but 
expanded  into  leaf  form.  Here  is  a  very  good  illustration  of 
the  theoiw  and  practice  of  retarding  plants  for  forcing. — D.  C. 
Cpoydon  Hcpticultupal  Mutual  Imppovement  Society. 
A  brilliant  daj'  of  sunshine  was  most  favoui’able  to  the  spring 
exhibition  of  this  society  on  April  20.  The  exhibition  was  held 
at  the  Art  Galleries,  Croj'don,  and,  indeed,  to  look  from  one 
end  of  the  rooms  to  the  other  was  a  picture  to  impress  upon  the 
minds  of  the  visitors  that  Spring  in  all  her  fulne.ss  and  beauty 
had  arrived.  On  closer  examination  of  the  exhibits,  we  found 
thenbulbous  flowers  were  verj"  prominent  in  their  bright  colours, 
and  the  alpines  and  flowering  shrubs  in  their  magnificence, 
together  Avith  the  products  of  the  greenhouses,  contributing 
visit.  When  AAe  think  that  all  this  display-  is  made  for  no 
monetai\y  benefits  whatever,  but  simply  to  encourage  the  love 
of  horticulture,  this  societ.y  is  to  be  congratulated  in  its  unicpie 
of  horticulture,  this  society  is  to  be  congratulated  in  ils  imirp'o 
and  edifjdng  undertaking.  The  exhibits  Avere  more  numerically 
and  of  greater  varied  forms  than  previous  j'ears. 
The  Influence  ol  FloAveps, 
At  a  recent  election  in  Chicago  a  Republican  majority  of 
1,200  in  one  of  the  city  Avards  Avas  tiu’ued  into  a  Democratic 
majority  of  2,293.  The  result,  it  uoav  appears,  Avas  the 
triumiAh  of  msthetics  over  a  gross  materialism.  The  defeated 
candidate  belonged  to  the  old  electoral  school,  and  trusted  to 
beer.  The  successful  one  tried  something  neAV.  He  spent  over 
£1,000  in  floAA'ers.  For  Easter  he  decorated  tAventy-six  churches. 
He  sent  Roses  and  Carnations  to  evei\y  home.  Every  girl  in 
the  Avard  had  a  bunch  of  Violets  and  everj’  man  a  lapel-bloom. 
His  headquarters  AA’ere  a  riot  of  colour,  calculated  to  stare  an 
Italian  sunset  out  of  countenance.  The  platforms  at  his 
meetings  made  a  peacock  look  like  a  dun  penguin,  and  his 
parades  Avere  bridal  processions.  Chicago,  .stung  lyy  Sir  Philip 
Burne-Jones’s  remark,  that  it  Avas  so  uglj"  and  non-aijpreciativo 
of  the  beautiful  that  the  Avonder  Avas  it  continued  to  exist  at 
all,  rallied  to  the  floral  politician  in  a  burst  of  artistic 
patriotism.  Boutonnieres  triumphed,  and  beer  Avas  vanquished. 
A  Handsome  Japanese  Maple. 
A  more  attractive  feature  for  any  laAA  ii  than  a  Avell-developed 
specimen  of  the  cut-leaved  Japanese  blood-leaved  Maple  could 
not  be  secured.  Its  beauty  appeals  to  everyone,  and  its  shapely, 
compact  habit  of  groAvth  adapts  it  for  general  u.se  on  either 
large  or  small  grounds.  Its  style  is  hotli  pretty  and  uncommon, 
the  branches  shoAving  a  tendenc.v  to  gracefullj'  SAveep  toward  the 
ground;  and  the  foliage  making  a  brilliant  display  of  a  bright, 
blood-red  tint,  AA’hich  gradually  shades  out  to  a  green  as  the 
heat  of  summer  groAA’S  more  intense.  The  richness  of  colour 
returns  as  the  cooler  days  of  autumn  approach.  The  leaves  are 
finel.v  cut  and  fern-like  in  aiipearance.  In  form  this  variety  is 
as  broad  as  it  is  tall.  Its  maximum  height  is  from  oft  to  7ft, 
and  Avhen  of  this  size  is  very  old,  and  of  immense  value.  It  is 
hardy  in  many  parts  of  England.  Nursery  groAvn  specimens 
of  this  plant  Avill  give  sure  results.  This  and  other  Japan 
Maples  make  excellent  laAvn  specimens'  as  individuals — Avhen 
their  sIoav  groAvth  and  small  maximum  size  are  great  advan¬ 
tages— or  they  may  be  massed  in  moderately  sized  groups. 
Weather  in  South  Perthshire. 
There  has  been  a  slight  touch  of  frost  on  a  feAV  mornings  of 
the  past  Aveek,  but  on  the  Avhole  seasonable  Aveather  for  both 
farm  and  garden  has  prevailed  during  the  past  fortnight,  sun¬ 
shine  and  shoAA’er  alternating.  The  18th  Avas  a  very  fine  day. 
Since  the  23rd  there  has  been  a  succe.ssion  of  cold  da.vs,  Avith 
Avest  Avind,  and  this  continued  up  to  Monday.  —  B.  D.,  S.  Peith- 
shire. 
Feltham  and  District  Gardeners. 
We  ai’e  gratified  to  be  able  to  report  the  continued  succes.s 
of  this  Avell  deserving  district  horticultural  society.  The  second 
annual  report  has  been  issued,  and  includes  the  names  of  a  large 
number  of  members.  Bound  up  Avith  this  report  is  the  schedule 
of  prizes  offered  in  competition  at  the  third  summer  shoAV,  aa  Inch 
AA’ill  be  held  in  Feltham  on  Jidj’  20th.  The  secretarj’  is  INlr. 
J.  M  ercer,  Briden  Villa,  Ashfield  Avenue,  Feltham. 
Market-gardening  Notes. 
In  all  probability  the  consignments  of  Broccoli  last  Aveek  for 
the  up-counti\y  markets  from  IMarazion,  CoriiAvall,  AA'ere  the 
lieaviest  for  the  .sea.son  so  far,  one  Marazion  firm  alone  having 
despatched  about  1,000  crates.  Prices  have,  in  consequence  of 
the  increased  suppl\q  dropped  considerably  .since  Easter  Aveek. 
Whilst  good  selected  Broccoli  still  command  fair  prices,  ordinary 
heads  are  returning  from  2s.  to  3s.  per  crate  after  expenses 
are  cleared,  and  Ioav  grade  stuff  from  Is.  per  crate  doAviiAvards. 
In  some  instances,  hoAvever,  many  consignments  of  this  class  did 
not  clear  expenses  last  Aveek.  There  are  indications  that  the 
temporai\v  glut  in  some  of  the  large  markets  had  cleared  by 
the  end  of  the  Aveek,  and  hopes  are  entertained  that  prices  Avill 
be  somewhat  higher  for  this  Aveek.  The  early  Potato  crop  is 
looking  Avell,  and  so  far  is  untouched  by  frosts. 
State  Encoupagement  of  Timber  Growing. 
In  the  House  of  Lords  Lord  Barnard  called  attention  to  the 
report  of  the  Departmental  Committee  on  British  Forestiy, 
and  asked  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  and 
Fisheries  Avhether  His  Majesty’s  Government  propo.scd  to  take 
any,  and  if  so,  Avdiat,  steps  to  give  effect  to  the  recommendations 
of  that  committee  on  the  subject  of  education,  instruction,  and 
training  in  fore.stiy.  He  thought  they  Avould  all  agree  that 
far  too  little  attention  Avas  paid  in  this  country  to  the  groAvth 
of  tindjer.  The  Earl  of  OnsloAV  said  the  que.stion  Avas  one  of 
great  importance  to  the  country  at  large.  They  Avero  informed 
on  expert  authority  that  the  supplies  of  timber  Avhich  Ave 
received  from  foreign  countries  Avere  diminishing,  and  that  in 
all  probability  in  the  far  future,  if  not  the  near  future,  the  value 
of  timber  Avas  more  likely  to  rise  than  to  fall.  There  Avere  in 
England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland  large  areas  Avhich  yielded  very 
little  return,  but  AAhich  might  j’ield  a  greater  return  it  planted 
AA'ith  trees.  The  Commissioners  of  5Voods  and  Forests  had 
alreadj'  established  a  school  in  the  Forest  of  Dean,  Avhich  Avould 
be  piimaiily  for  the  purpose  of  educating  men  of  the  class  of 
Avoodmen.  There  Avas  a  similar  institution  at  Koav  for  gar¬ 
deners.  His  Department  had  no  responsibility  in  regard  to 
Scotland,  but  the  Scotch  Office  had  not  been  more  supine  in  this 
matter  than  the  Board  of  Agriculture  in  England.  He  Avas 
informed  that  through  the  agency  and  assistance  of  the  Office 
of  Woods  and  Forests  communications  had  been  entered  into 
IjetAA-een  certain  Scotch  landowners  Avith  a  vicAv  to  securing  a 
suitable  area  of  fore.st  land  for  the  purpose  of  planting  in  the 
manner  AA'hich  AA'as  suggested  bj’  the  Departmental  Committee. 
The  Board  of  'Agriculture  had  approached  the  Treasury,  and 
had  been  promised  assistance  in  the  foundation  of  at  least  tAAO 
forestry  schools  in  England.  He  Avas  not  yet  able  to  say  Avhere 
they  Avould  be  established,  but_  he  AA  Ould  like  to  have  them  in 
tAvo  localities,  and  to  devote  one  to  the  training  of  woodmen 
and  the  other  to  the  training  of  young  men  aa  Iio  Avere  likely  to 
become  landoAvners  or  land  agents.  The  Durham  College  of 
Science  or  the  University  of  Bangor  Avould  provide  the  requisite 
materials  for  the  instruction  of  j'oung  Avoodmen,  but  he  would 
prefer  the  .second  school  to  be  attached  to  one  of  the  great 
Universities.  The  question  remained  open,  hoAvever,  until  they 
kneAV  the  decision  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  I'egarding 
the  continuance  of  Cooper’s  Hill  College.  His  department  Ava.s 
anxious  to  encourage  the  science  of  forestry,  and  he  l)elieved 
that  a  small  beginning  might  lead  in  the  course  of  years  to  great 
I  results. 
