358 THE FLORIST. 



to supply them with the essentials to their well-being, and the result in 

 nine seasons out of ten is good crops. Now, in cold wet borders the 

 spongelets will in most cases, and during most winters, perish, and the 

 consequence is that when the blossoms become developed they fall off 

 without little or any fruit setting. And when this happens, the spring 

 frosts, &c., are blamed in the majority of cases, when the evil was done 

 months before at the roots. But the evil does not rest here ; the tree 

 that loses its spongelets is late in making wood, which on the average 

 of seasons never ripens, and which suffers much injury in severe winters. 

 Now, when this goes on year after year in wet soils, is it any wonder 

 that we hear such complaints about the failure of crops ? No, the 

 wonder is that, under such circumstances, there ever are any crops. A 

 dry warm border is one of the most effectual means towards securing 

 well ripened wood. In a garden where the subsoil is of a dry porous 

 nature, and in which fruit trees do well, I would not go to the expense 

 of applying hot water pipes. But in a garden where the soil was 

 heavy, stiff, and retentive, and the subsoil a strong clay — no matter 

 how well drained — I would use hot water pipes under the borders of 

 the fruit trees. 



Thorough drainage is indispensable in clay soils. When this is 

 properly done the application of bottom heat in the early part of summer 

 will materially forward the early growth of the trees, and by proper 

 attention the borders may be kept in a proper state as to dryness, &c. 

 There will, therefore, be no difficulty in securing well ripened wood. 



The practical man will know when and how to make the proper use 

 of bottom heat. After he has got his wood well ripened, the next great 

 point to secure is to have the rootlets all sound and full of action in the 

 spring. 



I force all my Rhubarb, Asparagus, and the greater part of my Sea- 

 kale by a common flue. I find it a great saving of labour, and I 

 always have it under cover ; no matter what the weather may be out of 

 doors, it can be got daily without any trouble. 



We cannot well dispense with stable dung in gardens, consequently 

 we often apply it for forcing ; but it is a difficult matter to get it to 

 ferment and retain its heat for any length of time during such winters 

 as the last. 



I have no doubt Pines might be grown on bottom heat in the open 

 air during the summer months. 



So much has been said in the articles in the Florist on the different 

 purposes for which bottom heat may be used, that it would be superfluous 

 to add any more. 



Stourton. M. Satjl. 



MUSHROOMS. 

 There is scarcely another vegetable about which so little is known, as 

 regards its cultivation, as the Mushroom ; and yet there are but very 

 few who do not consider it a real luxury, either by itself or as forming 

 a valuable constituent in made dishes. That the cultivation of this 

 capital esculent would be more general if better known, induces me to 



