THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 207 



of its beauty. This grows in bogs, and therefore when under culti- 

 vation must have a damp position and plenty of water. 



I have also plants of E. Jluviatile, which grows in water ; E. 

 hyemolc, also a water plant ; E. 2Iac'kaii, which loves moisture, and 

 E. variegatum, which will grow well under almost any circumstances. 

 But these three have no beauty. They are like rushes, tall, rigid, 

 without branches, very pretty in a certain sense in their con- 

 struction, but are likely to interest only such as are devoted to the 

 study of these plants.. Therefore I do not recommend these, but 

 the others named I would have every lover of ferns to possess. I 

 have said nothing about the singular inflorescence of these plants, 

 for it does not contribute to their beauty, though to the microcopist 

 and botanist the inflorescence will aftord abundant amusement. My 

 object is simply to direct attention to a few beautiful plants that 

 are very little known, and I, hope this short note will have eff'ect 

 that way. If any difficulty in procuring specimens, I am happy to 

 say that Mr. Sim, of loot's Cray, Kent, can remove it, as he keeps 

 them all, and charges a mere trifle for them. S. H. 



MUSHEOOMS UjS'DEE THE GEEENHOUSE STAQE. 



A.ST summer I visited the garden of a gentleman amateur 

 south of London, which was one of the prettiest I saw 

 during the season; and after praising the various suc- 

 cesses, we began to talk about failures, and among 

 other things he said that he was exceedingly fond of 

 mushrooms, and having failed in procuring any when he tried him- 

 self, he obtained the assistance of a man in the neighbourhood who 

 professed to be thoroughly initiated in all the mysteries. The first 

 thing procured was a large two-light frame, then two or three loads 

 of hot dung, which, after sundry turnings, was finally made up into 

 abed; a fabulous amount of spawn was said to be inserted in it, 

 special soil was procured to cover it, straw and mats to keep it in 

 the dark ; and when the bill come in for labour and material, £5 

 was not enough to pay it ; and although this would not have been 

 too much for a " hobby," had it been a success, yet the case assumed 

 a very different aspect when it turned out that not a single mush- 

 room was ever gathered from the bed. This, of course, was an 

 extreme case, and enough to deter most people from any further 

 attempt; but as I could always grow plenty of mushrooms for 

 myself, I thought I might try for a friend ; and after undertaking 

 not to spend more than a tenth part of the money wasted in the 

 previous attempt, he willingly consented, thouuh not very sanguine 

 of success. When September came, I was reminded of my promise, 

 but took no notice; and when October came, to ease his mind, I 

 sent in a load of very short but not rotten horse-dung, and told the 

 man to put a spare light over it to keep it dry. This was turned 

 once, and not till the end of the month did I really proceed to make 



