August 24, 1918 



HORTICULTURE 



There is probably uo other garden crop to which 

 attaches so mueli uncertainty f.s the culture of the mush- 

 room. • Some years ago the writer had an opportunity 

 of seeing mushrooms grown oji an extensive scale. First 

 attempts met with only partial success or were otherwise 

 entire failures despite the fact that every conceivable 

 detail of culture had apparently been given due observ- 

 ance. Fresh horse dropjiings were collected each morn- 

 ing until a quantity sufficient for the making of a bed 

 was jjrocured and this over a period of not more than 

 four or five days. The manure was protected from rains, 

 turned every morning for a week or two and beds of 

 variable depth and shape eventually made but all to no 

 avail. After numerous failures and as a last resort, in 

 almost hopeless desperation this would-be mushroom 

 grower decided to take a '"big chance." Horse droppings 

 and short litter were shaken frcm the ordinary manure 

 pile and placed under an open shed in a layer about two 

 feet deep. The heap was turned every morning for 

 about a week while heating violently, then less fre- 

 quently until the heating sulisided and the beds were 

 made up. A flat bed 18 feet long, 4 feet wide and about 

 15 in. deep was first made and tlie few wheelbarrow loads 

 of manure left over were piled in a conical heap in the 

 middle of the floor and this, too, was spawned. In due 

 time both beds yielded excellent crops over a period of 

 three months, and all subsequent efforts conducted on 

 similar lines produced tlie same first-rate results and a 

 continuous supply was maintained the year round. Our 

 opinion is that while fresh horse droppings are desirable 

 to a certain extent beds made exclusively of fresh manure 

 have a tendency to burn and dr\ out and are altogether 

 less easy to manipulate successfully than beds which con- 

 tain a mixture of either short litter or otherwise a pro- 

 portion of old manure. The admixture of old manure 

 controls and sustains the heating process and beds thus 

 made are lastingly productive. 



The present is a suitable time to prepare beds for 

 early winter supplies. Shake out enough manure for 

 at least one bed rather than dabble with a few wheel- 

 l)arrow loads at a time, ^lien danger of excessive heat- 

 ing is past make up the beds. Flat beds about 1 ft. 



deep are customary but l.)eds of almost any shape may 

 be built with equal success provided they are well made. 

 Place the manure in layers and tread or pound with a 

 brick each layer. When the temperature of bed (which 

 will rise during the first week after making) declines 

 to 85 degrees, spawning may be done. Some growers 

 prefer a temperature of 90 degrees for spawning but in 

 ease of a reaction in temperature after spawning the 

 vitality of the mycelium sutlers. If the spawTi is very 

 hard and dry when wanted for use it should be soaked 

 in warm water for a short time. Break the cakes into 

 pieces not larger than a hen's egg nor smaller than a 

 walnut and insert them 2 or 3 inches deep and at inter- 

 vals of from G to 9 inches over the surface of the bed, 

 being careful, of course, to firmly replace the manure 

 removed in making the holes. In about ten days from 

 the time of spawning cover the bed with sifted soil to the 

 depth of 2 inches. Ordinary potting soil is ideal for 

 this purpose and sliould be sufficiently moist to pack 

 firmly under pressure; pack it with the back of a spade 

 or shovel, leaving the surface smooth and even. Over 

 this a covering of straw, stable litter or other light ma- 

 terial should be placed at all t'mes of the year. Always 

 try to maintain an atmospheris temperature of 55 to 60 

 degrees and evenly moist. A dry atmosphere is inimi- 

 cal to success and for this reason underground cellars 

 in which an even temperature and moist air are readily 

 maintained are far the best for mushroom culture, al- 

 though we are aware that splendid results are obtainable 

 without this facility. \Mien gathering mushrooms give 

 them a slight twist; never cut them from the bed but 

 trim them with a knife after gathering; Never allow 

 the beds to get dry and when water must be applied use 

 a fine sprinkler and tepid water. On the other hand 

 guard against over watering. 



PitUfield, 

 Mass. 



MY LAST VISION OF BEAUTY 



It is a terrible thing to be suddenly 

 stricken blind. My sight gradually 

 faded and then went out altogether. 

 But the last thing on which my vision 

 rested was the most beautiful Peony 

 I ever saw. It was Richard Carvel. 

 In color it was glowing, radiant red, 

 which has made a lasting impression 

 on me. I do not know that my eyes 

 ever rested on a more beautiful 

 flower. It was very remarkaijle in 

 many respects. Last spring all 

 through the west and northwest there 

 was a failure of blooms. I had eight 

 of these and they blossomed glori- 

 ously. They were planted late in the 

 fall but not one of them failed. Ons 

 plant I cut in two and each little root 

 had a fine flower. They were exceed- 



ingly fragrant. They were also the 

 earliest I ever knew, coming into 

 bloom the 18th of Hay. The rest of 

 them bloomed about the 21st. These 

 were introduced by Mr. Brand. 

 Whether he has any for sale now I do 

 not know. I am sure however that 

 the stock is very limited. 



C. S. Harrison. 



PERSONAL 



A. Dessert, the world-famed peony 

 grower, Chenonceaux, France, has lost 

 two sons in the war. 



News has been received that Joseph 

 J. Lane, formerly with the Garden 

 Magazine, has arrived safely overseas. 



We regret to learn from Arthur C. 

 Ruzicka, HoKTicuLTrRE's well-known 

 writer on Roses Under Glass, of the 

 death of his little son on August 12, 

 after an illness of about ten days. 



THE RUBBISH PIT 



Editor of HoETXcuLT^'EE: 



I am very glad to read in your issue 

 for July 20 the timely editorial en- 

 titled "Value of the rubbish pit." The 

 good advice it contains should be 

 carefully followed by all, amateur and 

 professional gardener alike, who have 

 an opportunity of collecting and stor- 

 ing fallen leaves. While oak leaves 

 have the highest nitrogenous value 

 the leaves of all our native deciduous 

 trees make excellent leaf mould after 

 being stored and rotted for one sea- 

 son and every means should be taken 

 from now on to harvest and store a 

 good supply. 



Arthctj E. Th.\tcheb. 



Mount Desert, Maine. 



