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HOETICULTUEE 



August 16, 1913 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



i^t^y-V^ 



Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Penson. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Preparing: fof Mushroom Beds 



With suitable accommodations mushrooms can be 

 grown all the year round. To do so requires a good cool 

 cellar, an underground cellar preferable, and then the 

 beds are best made up before the hot weather sets in, 

 thus doing away with the preparing and making up 

 when the weather conditions are against one. August 

 is considered early enough to commence the fall and 

 winter crops here in New Jersey. Doubtless in cooler 

 latitudes a commencement can be made earlier. The 

 great trouble seems to lie in the curing of the manure 

 when it is so hot and dry. A second thought reveals 

 the fact that failures and poor crops the whole year 

 round can generally be traced to this process, if traced 

 they can be, for it is about one of the vaguest questions 

 anyone can be asked to determine — the cause of a mush- 

 room bed not cropping satisfactorily. The man who 

 turns out an average crop every time will generally be 

 found to be one who has the manure under his care right 

 from the time it is collected until the bed is spawned, 

 doing away with all assistance and doing all the turn- 

 ing, etc., himself. I have been fortunate enough to meet 

 on different places that I have worked on, men who 

 have made mushroom beds for years, each having some 

 little detail worked his own way, but for a bed to miss 

 or even be poor was seldom seen. This goes to show 

 they have studied the conditions locally, met with suc- 

 cess, and then followed the same routine yearly. Profes- 

 sional growers will work on a percentage basis and small 

 wages so that they have to be pretty near the mark every 

 time. There is money in raising mushrooms. 



Making mushroom beds is the same as everything else 

 — if you wish to be right, start right. The very first 

 thing to find out (if the manure is obtained locally) is, 

 have any strong physics been used on the horses from 

 which the manure is obtained? Should this be the 

 case wait a while, as there is danger of its affecting the 

 tender mycelium later on. Get the requisite quantity 

 of manure together as quickly as possible so that it is all 

 in about the same state. Where there is a long wait in 

 getting a heap together the first to come will be ready 

 to be made up before the last has arrived. During this 

 time of accumulation and until it is ready to be made 

 up the manure should be under cover or showers and 

 rains will prevent its drying and also cause a rapid raise 

 in the temperature. A shed or room that has one side 

 open or that can be made to be very airy will answer 

 the purpose. Now we come to the hard part to define, 

 that of saying when the manure should be ready to be 

 made up. It requires turning once every day ; twice will 

 be better if it can be done. l5o not skip a day and think 

 it will be all right for it will not do. The manure will 

 have got over-heated, white and dry. Although it can- 

 not be used wet the other extreme should also be guarded 

 against. Keep the heap a fair thickness so long as the 

 weather is dry; this will help to hold some of the 

 moisture. To be ready for making up the manure 

 should be neither wet nor dry and heat up to an even 

 heat each day. See that the cellar is ready to receive 



it the first day it is ready as each day it remains out 

 after this stage is reached, is against the best results. 

 Over Feeding 



This is a topic in season all the year round, and is 

 one you can put right up to the man who says you can't 

 have too much of a good thing. The majority of plant 

 life will stand a quantity of stimulant if given in the 

 proper form and at the proper time. For instance, do 

 not try to feed a plant when it is dry for all the roots 

 are able to take just then is some clear water. After 

 they have been given all they need, then apply any feed- 

 ing that you please. It is not only to the plant's advan- 

 tage but also to us. Being dry a greater part of the feed 

 will run straight through the pot or bench and the plant 

 get little benefit from it. When the soil is on the wet 

 side most of the manure will gradually soak down into 

 the roots. Another point is to work the subjects up to 

 taking it strong enough to get what you want out of 

 them. It is a big mistake to feed anything full-strength 

 right away. The roots have not been used to this kind 

 of living, consequently it upsets them. Gradually is the 

 way, and then you will find the roots looking for it. 

 Should anything get an overdose get some clear water 

 into the roots at once. 



Borers 



Little has been said in these columns on this devast- 

 ing pest because as yet there is no satisfactory means of 

 prevention. They are liable to attack peach and nec- 

 tarine trees growing under glass just the same as those 

 in the orchard. At times I believe they find the trees 

 inside more to their liking and the mortality of their 

 young is not so great. Wherever the dust is seen com- 

 ing from the tiny hole lose no time in either cutting it 

 out or get a piece of wire and push it down. If it comes 

 in contact with the body they are easily killed but do 

 not take any half chances with them. When you have 

 them out you know for a sure thing they are dead. Do 

 not make the cut any larger than is absolutely necessary 

 to get it out. Keep a sharp lookout for them the re- 

 maining weeks of this month and next month. 



Summer Pruning of Grape Vines 



Since the crop was removed from the early vinery it 

 will have been growing without restriction, which is a 

 great benefit to the roots. The greater amount of vig- 

 orous top growth thev have, denotes corresponding 

 activities with the roots. These vines have a somewhat 

 hard time of it and it does them good to let them roam 

 for a while each year after the crop is cut. This must 

 come to an end in favor of the buds that are to form 

 next year's fruiting wood. These base buds on the lat- 

 erals probably will be poorly developed and would re- 

 main so if this top growth was left to go ahead. To help 

 these buds to plump up before fall gradually remove the 

 superfluous growths, also cut back any laterals that have 

 not made any extra growths to half-way. It will be 

 advisable to do this gradually, removing some each day 

 or about three times a week. 



