biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-24

lIIBITION OF POTATOES.

The exhibition of potatoes announced for the autumn
of 1875 merits the attention and sympathy of all who
are interested in the useful root (remarks the Gartiener'l
Magazine)... It is customary to provide classcsf pota-
toes in all copyrehensive schedules, for a special exhi-
bition has *-more strictly representative character than
one that is rendered subsidiary to a larger scheme,
and therefor g we antidipate from the new move-
inent some really useful work. The universality
of potato-culture is at least one good argument
in favoiir'-'81• an annual potato show, but a still
stronger prglitnqnt is, perhaps, to be found in the
fact that this serviceable esculent has been exalted
into the curious region of the "fancies," and in
certain of its forms . and conditions is valued consider-
ably beyond the scale that might be deduced from our
very dry market reports. Although a potato is but a
potato, the moment it is valued as something more,
an interest of a kind quite distinct from that which
attaches *it as a common article of trade is aroused,
and therP is something added to the ordinary
argument in favour of a representative exhibition. It
should be borne in mind that the immense superiority
of English gardening is in very great part due to the
enthusiasm that has been manifested in floral fancies
and special exhibitions, and societies devoted to the re-
presentation and advancement of certain favourite
flowers and vegetables. If a potato show is not wanted,
neither is a gooseberry show, nor a carnation show, nor a
miscellaneous root show, nor—we say it without a blush
—a rose show. There is not a garden plant of any
kind, whether grown for use or ornament, that equals
in importance the potato. There is none that obtains
in like degree the attention of all classes, from the
richest to the poorest; there is none that bears so
direct a relation to the comforts of home and the re-
sources of the nation. Moreover, as an article of com-
merce it is not less important; and, as fancy articles
realise fancy prices, those who take a strictly commer-
cial view of the subject will find that the fanciful part
of potato-culture is a necessary outgrowth of the special
and peculiar attention the root has obtained, and is
worthy of sonic respect even with those who measure
all things by the money value. From the time when
Early Rose was sold at fifty dollars a root, the potato
has played a very important part in determining the
movements of the seed trade.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-24

A NEW ENEMY TO VEGETATION.

In a paper addressed to the French Academy of
Sciences, M. E. Prillieux adverts to an insect of the
aphis or plant-louse tribe, which he fathers on America
like the phylloxera (remarks Galignant). It is lanige-
rous or woolly, and has a decided predilection for the
apple tree, in which it generates knots and tumours,
which are often very large, and thereby causes the
speedy decay of the tree. This aphis generally settles
on the downward side of a branch, being thus pro-
tected both from the sun and from ram. During
winter it seeks shelter in the fissures of the bark.
Having once selected its abode, it inserts its proboscis
through the bark into the tissue of the wood, on the
sap of which it feeds. If a twig thus attacked be
dipped into ether, the insect dies, and by carefully
cutting the wood longitudinally, and, by applying the
microscope, the three silky filaments will be seen that
the aphis has introduced even so far as the cambial
zone (the space between the core and the hark).
If a healthy twig be examined, we shall find it
composed, first, of the epidermis, the cells of
which are partitioned parallel to the surface; then
of a periderma consisting of several strata; and,
thirdly, of a parenchyma formed of thick cells con-
taining green matter, and merging into a softer one
filled with crystals as well as green matter. All
this constitutes the cutis under the outer bark, and
ends in the liber or inner bark, which is whitish
and fibrous to the naked eye. Next comes the wood
or cambium, formed of fibres, ligneous cells con-
taining fecula, and vessels. If to this healthy
twig we compare one infested by the aphis,
we shall find the ligneous tissue considerably changed.
Instead of being opaque, hard, and difficult to bend, it
has become transparent, greenish, soft, and almost
pulpy. As to the bark, it has not been particularly
injured so far, but will be as soon as the tumour ac-
quires a certain size. It will then be found to consist
of a pulp formed of thin cells radiating from the pith
to the bark, occasionally with empty fissures between.
When, towards the close of the year, cold weather sets
in, the matter of the swelling dies away, leaving a deep
hole that goes down to the core. The same process
begins again in the following spring, and thus the tree
its gradually killed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-24

sCRAINS -',l.- HEA4_7:H..I

(REOI•T,AI,I4.
HEALTH, STIIENGTH di IdNJOYMENT or LIFE.
'1 he et joy nient of life iii the attaliment of " A Bound
mind in a hound 130dy." This desirable result rosy be
obtained by nairg "GRAINS OF IIEALTIT,"• to4feles
tarls
costod pal, on the fltot Symptom, of att7 elermige-
tnrnt of the Stomach and Bowels.

Sold by Chi mistu and Medie.ite Tea lorA ctstry.• bars.
in Bsies at la 1 at d 2s. 9,.. each, ,„ sent to a• • ad-
dna- for penny swaps dtrict Isom the Itl.apri-
Maid" Wes Romeo, Law, W. 0..
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-24

A HINT RESPECTING POST CARDS.

That the issue of halfpenny post cards met a popu-
lar want is proved by their.•extensive and increasing
employment by many sections of the community. Yet
it seems open to question (remarks the Globe,) whether
their present design is not capable of ,improvement.
When a long address has tObe writtln 'the spacelieft
for that purpose often proves barely sufficient even for
very small and closes.writing. ,What with•the orna-
mental border, the royal arms, and the exceptionally
large stamp, the greater portion of the superficies is
covered beforehand, so that the writer has to practice
very minute caligraphy if his'correspondent-chances to
have a lengthy address. Even;when it only occupies
four lines there is considerable difficulty in squeezing
it into the limited space, while five or six lines require
a vast amount of care to ensure legibility. If the
ornamental border were abolished, and the stamp
reduced to half its present dimensions, plenty of room
would be afforded for even the longest address, with-
out cramping the handwriting. Probably the reason
for cutting down the space for the address to the
narrowest limit possible originated in the belief that
if more room were allowed the public would employ a
portion for purposes of correspondence, instead of
confining such writing to the reverse side of the cards,
according to regulation. No doubt this might be the
pase for a short time and to a small extent. But if
eveti card .so misused were confiscated in the Post
Office, the public would soon give up a practice that
entailed the sure miscarriage of their correspondence.
Altogether there seems no valid rrason why the sug-
gested alteration should not be carried out since it
would greatly convenience those who use tlae-eards,
without resulting in any loss of revenue &Increased
troubled to the Post Office.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-24

MONEY.

APRIVATE GENTLEMAN with surplus
eupitel, ii desirous of rushing immediate DV AN-
to gentlonan, manufacturers, farmers, traietraeri,
and others, n. ale or fems:e. r, quiring the same, is town
or country, in sums from £lO to £6OO on note of hand.
No law costs. Turmas from ,L 5 per cent., extending from
throe months to five years. idortgsges negotiated at
less interest. Distance no object, an persons can repay
by P. 0. 0. or ehoque. Bt applying parsonsily from 10
till 4, or if by letter, enclosing a stamped directed ears-
_oye, stating thi amount required to Idr. A. BILLIAInt;
liValworth- road, LODUOZI, .-purticsdara WIU b.
sent by temp of post.
N.B.—No connection with loan of Beeidirgin the
ofile sow HAL isiseseig wit* diiiiisk.