for Januury, l'>20 



407 



Still another phase of the matter, and one which af- 

 fects almost all garden owners, is the question of the 

 selection of plants which will give both pleasure and 

 profit to the owner, in other words, plants which are use- 

 ful as well as ornamental. Our enjoyment of the garden 

 will not be diminished, but rather increased, by having 

 plants that serve a twofold purpose. The Cherry, the 

 Apple or the Pear will often be equally as desirable orna- 

 mentally as a Norway Maple and will give ten times as 

 much beauty and service as a greedy Carolina Poplar. 

 The Crab Apple, Peach and Quince are delightful in floral 

 display and often might fill many a position now held 

 by some fleeting beauty whose fruits previously mentioned 

 are with us to be enjoyed by all the senses. 



Much more planting of fruit trees would be done w-ere 

 it not for the annoyance of having voung people without 



proper respect for the rights of others appropriating for 

 themselves the fruit that rightfully belongs to the owner 

 of the trees. The restraining hand of the law fails to hold 

 under subjection that impulse to steal. Respect for the 

 property of others and a correct understanding of what 

 true liberty means must come as the result of the child's 

 early training. However, were fruit trees more com- 

 monly seen in gardens perhaps there would be less notice 

 taken of them and thus the desire to take the fruit would 

 not be so strong. 



Xow that "old PI. C. L." is such a persistent guest in 

 every home there seems every reason for the planting of 

 such things as will, in some measure, offset his sapping- in- 

 fluence and bring real enjoyment to the greatest number 

 of our people . — Edwix Matthews in Florists' Ex- 

 chaiizc. 



Mushroom Culture 



OF the several kinds of edible fungus the jMushroom 

 Agaricus cam['cstris is the best known and has been 

 used as food for 2,000 years. Like all fungi, this thrives 

 in dark places and is grown in France in caves luider 

 ground. Special houses are devoted to mushrooms, also 

 grown as a side crop under greenhouse benches. A dark 

 cellar that can be kept about 57° would be an ideal place 

 for growing mushrooms. The temperature could be con- 

 trolled by placing barrels of fermenting manure in the 

 cellar replacing these as needed (Fig. 8). The tempera- 

 ture should not be allowed to fall below- 45° and after 

 spawning, care should be taken not to get the beds too 

 wet by giving only a light sprinkle with tepid water if 

 the soil looks dry (Fig 7). To grow mushrooms, it is 

 most important to secure good spawn. In making the beds 

 procure fresh hcjrse manure anil mix with it V3 its bulk of 



fresh loam (Fig. Ij. Turn this daily to prevent over- 

 heating and when sufficient quantity is secured to make 

 the bed, put it in the cellar or mushroom-house. In mak- 

 ing the bed ram down the manure firmlv (Fig. 2) and 

 when finished place a hotbed thermometer into it. When 

 the temperature of the bed declines to 90° it is safe to 

 spawn, (Fig. 3). Break up the spawn and plant into 

 the bed about 1 foot apart and 4 inches deep, (Fig. 4). 

 In a week or 10 days, when the spawn has spread through 

 the bed, cover with 2 inches of fresh loam and press 

 down smooth and even, (Fig. 5). Afterwards cover with 

 straw, (Fig. 6). After spawning the temperature 

 .-hould be kept as near 57° as possible and cold 

 draughts should be avoided by constant watch- 

 fulness. The mushrooms should appear in 5 or 6 

 weeks after spawning. 



