HORTICULTURE 



January 14, 1911 



of argument for judges and brings the critics down on 

 them. Leeks can be drawn out when blanching is com- 

 menced; this can be dealt with later. Prizetaker and 

 Improved Musselburgh have often led the way. 



ASPARAGUS 



Where a quantity of asparagus is forced each year it 

 is necessary to replenish the stock. This must be done 

 each year and crowns well looked after for three or four 

 seasons before they will be ready for forcing. If possible 

 a longer life than this should be given them, as the larger 

 the crowns the better the results. From now on aspara- 

 gus can be .«own and can be grown along with onions and 

 leeks. Good-sized plants will then be ready for the 

 spring. Some, however, prefer to wait until spring and 

 sow in beds outside. Connover's Colossal Perfection, 

 Giant French or Early Giant Argeateuil can be used. 



From now on reference may be made in these columns 

 to early vegetables — those which can be sown inside, 

 grown on for a time, and when the weather is warm 

 enough in spring planted outside to come to maturity. 

 This is a problem no one can solve satisfactorily for all 

 our readers, as some states and even counties are much 

 earlier tlian others, eacli locality having its own season, 

 consequentl}', due allowance must be made. Some, per- 

 haps, will use earlier dates: others again must perforce 

 be weeks later. 



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Mr, Penson's next notes wiU be on Pe.sts of Vines under Glass; 

 Propagation of the Vine; Temperatures, Vents and Airing; 

 Pearhes ; Globe Artichokes. 



Mushrooms 



Where there can be had a plentiful supply of fresh 

 hoi'se manure and where you have sheds, cellars, or places 

 under the greenhouse benches where the temperature can 

 be maintained at from 45 to 50 degrees, or still better a 

 mushroom house, this is a paying crop. When making 

 up the beds, put the manure in layers of about 3 or 4 

 inches deep, and beat each layer down until you have it 

 10 or 12 inches deep. If the heat becomes too strong — 

 that is wlien it runs up and over ll.") degrees — make 

 holes with a stick all over the surface of the bed in order 

 to modei-ate the fermentation. The beds should be 

 spawned wlien tlie heat goes down to 90 degrees, and 

 still has a tendency to drop. Break the bricks into 

 pieces about the size of duck eggs and insert all over the 

 bed about 3 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart; cover 

 and beat down firm. Keep the surface moist -by syring- 

 ing every day. I don't mean to saturate the beds, only 

 give enough to moisten the top. When the heat goes 

 down to 70 degrees cover with two inches of moist loam 

 and beat down firmly. Keep the temperature as near 50 

 degrees as possible. In 6 or 8 weeks the crop should 

 begin to appear. Other beds can be made up in suc- 

 cession until February. 



An Honor Worthily Bestowed 



The second issue of the George Robert White gold 

 medal for distinguished services in horticulture has been 

 awarded to Jackson T. Dawson, for 40 years connected 

 with the Arnold Arboretum. Mr. Dawson is too well 

 known to the majority of our readers to require any in- 



troductions, and his achievements are known all over 

 the civilized world. As a plant propagator he is ac- 

 knowledged to have no superior and his knowledge of 

 trees and hardy plants and their culture places him in 

 the foremost rank of American horticulturists. The 

 premier honor which is implied in the award of tliis 

 medal is worthilv bestowed. 



The Martyrs of Horticulture 



Thousaud.s uf friends whom E. H. Wilson has never 

 seen or heard of are filling the air with wireless prayers 

 and messages of sympathy in his sore affiiction. If he 

 had a receiver there to catch them all he would know 

 liow intense the interest of his many friends. We all 

 remember the anxiety we had when our beloved Hansen 

 left home for his final Siberian trip. These are men 

 of destiny : tlic heroes of peace : and their courage and 

 persistence are not surpassed by the bravery of our mil- 

 itary heroes. The results are infinitely greater than the 

 hero Hobson larought back to us. Mr. Wilson's work 

 is something stupendous. It is germinal. In his col- 

 lection will he choice things susceptible like the dahlia 

 and cai-nation of great improvement. God bless and 

 restore him. 



Yorl\ Nebraska. 



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