September 10, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



369 



Acaathopanax Ricinifolium 



Although it was introduced from Japan in 1874 this 

 fine tree is hardly known outside botanic gardens but its 

 many good qualities recommend it strongly for general 

 cultivation in this country. From seed collected in 

 Japan some fourteen years ago we now have good speci- 

 mens in the Arboretum which give every promise of 

 making handsome trees in a few years, as it is a fast 

 grower and apparently quite impervious to any. insect 

 pests. According to Professor Sargent's Forest Flora of 

 Japan, this tree is common in the forests of Yeso, where 

 it grows to 80 feet in height with a tall straight trunk 

 four to five feet in diameter and immense branches 

 which stand out at right angles to the main stem, and the 

 wood is largely used for furniture and other purposes. 

 Although such large dimensions will probably not be 

 attained in this country yet it will make a handsome 

 tree for park planting and I believe there are great 

 possibilities of its making a good street tree. The leaves 

 are a dark glossy green on the upper surface and clothed 

 with a whitish pubescence bene:itli. Individually they 

 are from eight to ten inches across and resemble the 

 foliage of the castor oil plant. The flowers though small 

 are produced in large flat umliels during July and 

 .Vugust and are succeeded by quantities of black fruits. 



Arnold Arhoretum. 



Cultivation of Mushrooms (Agar- ^^^^^ 

 icus campestris) 



Of the many species of fungi regarded as wholesome 

 food Agaricus campestris is practically the only one cul- 

 tivated. This is comparatively easy to grow where suit- 

 able accommodation can be given. 



Where a quantity is required a special cellar sliould 

 be provided, furnished with a small heating pipe so 

 tliat the temperature can be kept up to 50 or 55 degrees 

 during the cold weather. The benches should be 14 

 inches deep, 3 feet wide and 2 feet, 6 inches above each 

 other, which will allow for working them with some 

 amount of comfort. If no cellar can be provided, beds 

 can be made up underneath the benches in cool houses 

 and covered with straw to retain the moisture. 



The first week in August is early enough to commence 

 preparations; earlier than this the manure dries too 

 quickly and will not respond to treatment. After this 

 date beds can be made up every week until the benches 

 are filled. 



The whole secret in mushroom growing is preparing 

 the manure. The required quantity should be got to- 

 gether from the stables as soon as possible and placed 

 in an open shed or otherwise protected from the rains. 

 This should be turned every morning and night and 

 most of the straw picked out. After about a week of 

 this the manure will heat up more evenly each day and 

 become dryer. Guard against getting it too dry or the 

 heat will not last. 



Wlien ready to be placed in benches add virgin loam 

 one part to six of manure; this helps to keep it from 

 over heating and exhausting itself in a few days. Make 

 firm by ramming and fill benches up to within IV^ 

 inches of top. The bed will commence to heat riglit 

 away and should be tested each morning with a ther- 

 mometer made for the purpose. It will probably rise 

 to 110 degrees or more before it commences to fall. 

 Wlien it has come down to 80 degrees the spawn should 

 be inserted. Break the bricks up into small lumps and 

 bury these two inches deep in the bed about 1 foot 

 apart. Leave the bed open until the temperature has 

 dropped to 70 degrees, which will probably take a week 

 or ten days, when a casing of loam should be placed 

 over it one inch thick. Make this firm and level by 

 pressing with a l)oard. Keep the walls and top of bed 

 spi'ayed twice a day and maintain a temperature of 50 

 to 55 degrees at night with advance of 5 degrees by day. 



It will probably take four or five weeks for the 

 mycelium to run and mushrooms to appear. Should the 

 bed get dry Avater thoroughly with water having a tem- 

 perature of TO degrees. Beds have been known to bear 

 for 12 and 14 weeks. 



Where manure can be obtained easily and accommo- 

 dation be found for the beds there is a good profit to be 

 made in mushroom growing. Through the winter 

 months there is always a demand at 75c. and $1 a lb. 



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Somerrilh, N. •/. 



