October  29,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
401 
the  tree  with  all  the  necessary  foods  obtained  from  the  soil ; 
there  must  be  sufficient  moisture  to  dissolve  those  foods  ;  sun¬ 
light  is  needed  to  allow  the  leaves  to  elaborate  food  from  the  air  ; 
a  free  circulation  of  air  in  the  soil  and  throughout  the  branches 
is  necessary  to  secure  healthy  growth,  well  ripened  wood,  and 
active  leaves;  and  in  the  case  of  Apples  the  fruits  must  be  fully 
exposed  to  light,  or  they  will  not  colour  perfectly — that  is,  they 
will  not  assume  their  hriijhiesf  tints,  although  they  will  change 
their  colour  after  being  gathered. 
Every  experienced  cultivator  knows  that  when  trees  carrying 
heavy  crops  are  fed  with  suitable  manures  the  fruits  colour 
better,  as  a  rule,  than  when  no  feeding  is  practised,  and  that 
it  is  quite  possible  to  gain  size  at  the  expense  of  colour  by  feeding 
too  liberally  with  nitrogenous  manures,  although  a  certain 
amount  of  nitrogen  is  necessary  to  secure  high  colour.  The 
above  facts — which  are,  I  believe,  generally  recognised — .should 
lead  one  to  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  the  best  coloured  fruits 
are  obtained  during  seasons  when  sunshine  and  rain  are  balanced 
in  suitable  proportions  for  crops  generally,  and  when  there  is 
plenty  of  sunshine  and  a  movin'/  atmosphere  at  colouring  time. 
This  is  really  borne  out  in  iiractice,  for  during  very  hot,  dry 
summers  many  fruits  do  not  colour  so  well  as  during  cooler  ones, 
simply  because  the  food  in  the  soil — through  lack  of  moisture — ■ 
does  not  dissolve  quickly  enough  to  supply  the  trees’  needs. 
During  a  season  winch  is  hot  and  dry  up  till  the  middle  or  end 
of  September,  with  copious  rains  after  that  time,  I  have  fre¬ 
quently  noticed  that,  notwithstanding  the  sunshine.  Apples  are 
somewhat  lacking  in  colour  till  the  rains  come,  and  then  take 
on  a  brilliant  hue  rapidly.  Comparatively  cold  nights  are  also 
undoubtedly  conducive  to  high  colour. 
Now  I  come  to  the  real  point  :  Do  wind  and  rain  exercise  a 
more  beneficial  effect  on  the  colouring  of  fruits  than  either  sun 
or  cold  nights?  If  so,  why?  My  opinion  is  that  they  do,  at  a 
certain  stage,  but  that  they  would  not  do  so  in  the  absence  of 
sunshine  over  a  long  period ;  and  what  I  consider  ideal  con¬ 
ditions  for  colouring  Apples  are  the  following:  A  soil  moist  from 
recent  rains:  bright  sunshine  for  several  hours  daily;  a  breezy 
and  constantly  moving  atmosphere,  as  distinguished  from  a  very 
strong  wind  ;  and,  lastly,  cold  nights.  My  reasons  for  the  opinion 
exijressed  above  are  the.se :  Sunlight  is  needed  to  create  the 
energy  by  the  leaves  to  retain  and  elaborate  carbon  [carbo¬ 
hydrates]  ;  in  windy  weather  there  is  a  more  rapid  circulation 
of  air  around  the  leaves  than  during  calm  days,  and  tnerefore 
the  leaves  can  absorb  the  gases  of  the  air  more  cjuickly  than  when 
opposite  conditions  prevail.  Cold  nights  check  growth,  and  the 
elaborated  food  is  therefore  largely  available  for  coaip’ctiug 
the  ripening  process;  rains  moisten  the  soil,  keep  the  leaves 
fresh  and  clean,  and  possibly  leaves  can  absorb  the  ammonia 
brought  down  by  rain  to  a  greater  extent  than  scientists  genera. ly 
imagine.  No  amount  of  .sunshine  will'  make  up  for  lack  o'- 
moisture  in  the  soil,  and  it  .seems  that  only  quite  a  moderate 
amount  of  sunshine  is  necessary  at  ripening  time  to  bring  about 
the  chemical  changes  which  provide  colouring  matter,  so  long  as 
there  is  a  free  circulation  of  air  and  the  fruit  is  fully  exirosed 
to  light — Warwick. 
Potato  Harvesting. 
The  “Home  Farm”  correspondent,  in  your  issue  of  Sep¬ 
tember  17,  is  concerned  about  Potato  harvesting.  He  states  that 
he  is  in  favour  of  the  digger,  as  it  moves  the  whole  ridge ;  and 
speaks  of  rotary  fork  diggers,  but  presumably  they  are  of  early 
make.  Not  long  ago  I  saw  reference  made  to  a  new  invention 
which  dug,  graded,  and  basketed  the  tubers.  I  believe  it  was  a 
German  invention  ;  but  I  ought  to  be  more  definite,  and  to  do  so 
I  will  use  the  words  of  a  gi’eat  American  grower.  He  says:  If 
you  intend  to  grow  Potatoes  for  profit  you  must  have  a  good 
digger.  If  I  could  sell  my  experience,  with  Potato-digger  agents 
and  manufacturers,  for  what  it  has  co.st  me,  I  should  be  well-tc^ 
do.  There  are  good  diggers,  but  you  must  make  preparation 
before  digging.  If  the  gi’ound  is  foul  the  weeds  and  trash  must 
be  cleared  off  by  a  “  mower  ”  and  rake.  If  the  ground  is  dry 
and  hard,  a  slanting  toothed  harrow  should  be  run  between  the 
rows  to  break  the  crust,  thus  giving  the  digger  a  better  chance 
cf  separating  the  tubers  from  the  soil.  I  am  convinced  tliat  the 
Hoover  digger  is  the  best  all  round  digger;  firstly  because  it  is 
the  only  digger  that  separates  the  tubers  from  the  trash  ;  secondly 
because  it  leaves  the  tubers  in  a  narrower  row,  and  right  out  cf 
the  way  of  the  horses  and  wheels  when  digging  the  next  row: 
thirdly  because  the  Hoover  separates  the  tnbei’s  from  the  soil 
by  a  forward  and  backward  slide,  thus  allowing  the  tubers  to 
slide  off  without  bruising,  instead  of  tossing  them  np  as  others 
do:  fourthly  this  digger  is  strongly  made  and  will  bear  the  strain 
of  heayy  and  hard  soil  :  finally  it  has  no  cogs,  is  lower  geared, 
and  dirtproof  in  its  bearings.  I  use  four  horses  abreast  and  for  a 
day’s  hauling  two  teams  should  be  used.  Poys  do  all  my  pick¬ 
ing.  and  with  tough  skinned  Potatoes  I  load  the  Avaggons  direct, 
saving  the  bother  and  labour  of  sacks  and  boxes.” 
This  is  an  outline  of  this  big  Iowa  grower’s  digging  methods: 
and  from  his  remarks  I  iudge  tl’.e  Hoover  dio'ger  to  be  as  marvel¬ 
lous  in  its  work  as  is  the  reaper  and  selfTbinder  amongst  Corn. 
-T.  A.  W. 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association. 
Prizes  for  Cut  Chrysanthemum  Blooms,  P-ti:/. 
With  your  kind  permission,  I  would  like  to  hear  the  opinion 
of  your  readers  in  goieral,  and  Chrysanthemum  growers  in 
particular,  as  to  the  action  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
above-named  Society  in  offering  a  prize  of  the  money  value  of 
£3G  10s.  for  thirty-six  Chiysanthemum  blooms  confineit  to 
yroweis  irifhin  the  munici/jal  houwlai  ies  of  E'linhuri/h  and 
Leith  ;  and  the  offering  of  a  money  prize  of  only  £33  open  to  the 
whole  of  Scotland,  for  a  like  number  of  blooms.  Certainly  there 
is  a  Challenge  Cup  given  with  the  latter,  but  as  it  never  becomes 
the  Avinner’s  property,  it  is  of  no  value  to  him.  If  pi'eferences 
cf  this  kind  continue  to  be  the  policy  of  the  Executive  of  this 
Society,  they  may  be  offering  next  year  a  larger  prize,  confined 
to  a  500  yard  radius  of  Wai'erley  Market !  May  I  ask  those  in¬ 
terested,  Hoav  this  can  benefit  the  Society  (throughout  Scotland), 
or  fulfil  in  any  Avay  the  objects  for  Avhich  it  Avas  instituted? 
In  my  opinion  it  seems  absurd  to  giAm  so  really  yaluable  a  prize 
to  such  a  confined  area  (AA’liere  there  are  so  fcAv  noted  goAvers), 
and  call  it  the  Queen  Alexandra  iirize.  Prizes  Avith  such  titles 
are  generally  “  open,”  so  as  to  encourage  the  exhibition  of  the 
finest  productions,  and  the  imblic  Avill  naturally  expect  to  see 
such  in  this  class.  Will  they  do  so  ?  — Interested. 
A  National  Potato  Society. 
A  proposal  haying  been  made  to  establish  a  National  Potato 
Society,  it  Avould  be  of  interest  to  haye  the  opinions  on  the 
matter  of  those  avIio  specialise  in  Potatoes.  We  publish  tAvo 
extracts  from  letters  received  from  leading  firms  in  ansAver  to 
an  iuAutation  from  us,  and  Ave  have  receh’ed  other  letters  bearing 
the  spirit  (.'■o  far)  of  “  benoA'olent  neutrality.” 
“  We  gladly  respond  to  your  suggestion  that  Ave  should  express 
our  AueAvs  on  the  question  of  the  proposed  Potato  Society.  In 
vicAv  of  the  excitement  caused  by  sensational  paragraphs  in  pro- 
A'incial  papers,  it  Avould  certainly  seem  desirable  that  some  central 
authority  should  exist  Avhich  Avould  be  competent  to  express  an 
opinion  for,  or  against,  the  value  of  neAv  Potatoes,  for  Avhich 
such  high  prices  are  asked.  In  the  outline  Ave  have  seen  of  the 
proposed  Society  there  is  so  little  detail  that  it  is  ((uite  impossible 
to  say  Avhether  such  a  Society  Avould  or  Avould  not  be  in  a  position 
to  test  the  Potatoes  thoroughly.  It  is,  of  course,  evident  that 
a  considerable  acreage  of  land  Avould  be  necessary,  and  the 
cultivation  itself  Avould  be  very  co.stljN  It  occurs  to  us  that  noAv 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  possessed  of  so  valuable  a  neAv 
garden,  it  might  possibly  be  better  to  approach  the  Council  of 
that  Society  Avith  a  AueAv  of  ascertaining  Avhether  they  Avould  be 
Avilling  to  carry  out  such  an  undertaking.  In  vieAv  of  the  splendid 
Avork  Avhich  the  Society  has  done  in  the  pa^it,  such  a  proposal, 
if  accepted,  Avould,  Ave  feel  sure,  command  the  confidence  of  all.” 
“We  are  in  favour,”  Avrites  another  firm,  "of  the  formation 
of  the  Potato  Society  proposed.  The  Potato  is  an  article  of  such 
A'ital  importance  to  the  Avell-being  of  the  community  that  a 
National  Society  should  liaAm  no  difficulty  in  getting  plenty  of 
suxjport,  if  it  is  prepared  to  undertake  Avork  Avhich  Avill  be  dis¬ 
tinctly  valuable  to  groAvers.  What  such  Avork  ought  to  be  Avill 
readily  occur  to  all  practical  minds.” 
The  advisability  of  forming  a  society  of  the  above  description 
is  being  keenly  discussed  in  the  horticultural  Press,  and  some 
excellent  suggestions  in  regard  to  the  matter  have  been  recently 
advanced  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Wright,  Avho  observes  that  Ave  are  on 
the  “eve  of  a  great  Potato  boom.”  I  think  Potato  groAvers 
generally  Avill  go  a  step  further  and  admit  that  Ave  are  "  in  the 
thick”  of  such  a  boom,  judging  by  the  .sensational  prices 
realised  by  some  recent  varieties.  Comsidering  the  rapidity 
at  Avhich  new  varieties  can  be  increased  Avhen  they  have  once 
been  xilaced  in  commerce,  it  is  certainly  remarkable  that 
Northern  Star  .‘should  still  be  so  high  in  price.  Good  though  it 
undoubtedly  is,  it  has  evidently  been  skilfully  manipulated  by 
the  Trade,  and  I  que.stion  if  Ave  have  not  already  reached  the 
height  of  the  boom  in  regard  to  highly  jAriced  varieties ;  but 
there  is  every  xjrobability  that  Potato-groAving  Avill  become  a 
much  more  important  industry  than  it  is  ei’en  noAv.  For  that 
reason  I  Avcicome  the  idea  of  forming  a  National  Society  in  favour 
of  the  “  noble  tuber,”  and  I  trust  that  gardeners,  and  all  in¬ 
terested  in  Potato-groAA-ing,  Avill  unite  and  take  steps  for  the 
formation  of  such  a  society.  It  is  a  matter  of  national  imiiort- 
ance  that  impetus  be  given  to  the  raising  of  real  disease-resisters, 
Avhich  croio  splendidly,  and  are  of  good  flavour:  and  Avhen  such 
have  been  obtained  their  merits  cannot  bo  too  Avidely  knoAvn. 
The  public  generally  should,  hoAvever,  have  some  real  guarantee 
before  they  purchase,  that  new  varieties  are  Avorthy  of  the 
gloAving  descriptions  given  cf  them.  In  this  respect  a  National 
Society  might  do  much  good  by  placing  a  hall  mark  on  approA-cd 
kinds  Avhicli  have  been  thoroughly  tested  by  an  impartial  bodv 
of  experts.  Varieties  of  the  Potato.  hoAvever,  difter  so  much 
Avhen  groAvn  in  different  districts  and  on  different, soils,  that  the 
only  true  method  of  testing  them  is  the  one  Dir.  Wright  sugrgests, 
viz'.,  conducting  trial  plots  in  various  parts  of  the  United 
Kingdom. — H.  D. 
