June 17, 1911 



tlOKTlCULTURt 



873 



Aquilegias 



American Hybrid Columbines 



Among the spring flowering hardy border plants none 

 are more admired for their grace and beauty than the 

 Columbines. The variety of colors presented in this 

 genus is equalled by but few garden subjects. For tlie 

 rockery and semi-wild garden the aquilegias are all well 

 adapted and efl'ective but they enjoy a situation whicli is 

 not too dry. 



The illustration lierewith is from a photograph of one 

 of Henderson's "American Hybrid" Columbines and rep- 

 resents the highest perfection of size, form and other 

 qualities admired in the single forms. The foliage is 

 equally robiist. The single varieties are, and should be, 

 more popular than the double flowered sorts but there 

 are some superb blooms among the latter also. 



Hybrid Tea Rose F. R, Patzer 



This beautiful rose of which a portrait appears as 

 cover illustration to this issue. is one of Dickson's Pedi- 

 gree Irish introductions of 1909. It has made a good 

 iinpression among rosarians as a garden variety, being 

 free-flowering, blooms well-formed and highly tea- 

 scented. We have not heard of its being given any trial 

 under glass for cut flower purposes but it would seem 

 a likely subject as the color is quite distinct, the petals 

 being pink on the outside, and buff changing to orange 

 pink on the inner surface. We are indebted to H. A. 

 Dreer for the photograph from which the engi'aving was 

 made. 



Mushrooms 



If in growing mushrooms gaining conditions and 

 procuring lively spawn are the most important factors, 

 as claimed by most growers, there certainly are excep- 

 tions at times as I have experienced in the bed illus- 

 trated. 



The manure for this bed was obtained the first week 

 in March, and was turned outdoors, as no suitable shel- 

 tered place was available. During the first week it was 

 drenched with a heavy rain, frozen, and covered with 

 snow, in fact, if I had been preparing for commercial 

 purposes I would have given up in despair; however, to 

 make the best of the situation I made the bed up, put in 

 my glass and waited for results. 



After four days, seeing the glass had remained at 

 58 degrees, I determined to spawn at once, believing it 

 would not rise to a suitable temperature. After spawn- 

 ing the bed started to rise until after one week it had 

 risen to 110; opening the bed and examining the spawn 

 I found it to be very light in color and hot as if it was 

 useless; liowever, I opened up the bed all around and 

 allowed the steam to escape. Remaining at 110 degrees 

 four days it commenced to drop, when at 80 degrees. 



Mushroom Bed 



C)ii Summer Estate of O. r. Ci-.iiit, Jr., 



Coneoi'tl. Mass. 



which is high to cover with soil, I soiled and covered 

 with straw. 



English and Pure Culture spawn was used. The P. C 

 evidently stood the test best as shown on the front end 

 of the bed. After six weeks mushrooms appeared and 

 on May 8th picking was commenced. Thirteen good 

 pickings had been made up to the time it was photo- 

 graphed June 1st, and it looks as if it will be in bear- 

 ing for some time to come. 



In spawning beds at 90 degrees or slightly over it is 

 generally put on the bed just deep enough so that it is 

 as a rule flush with the outside of the bed, so it can 

 readily be seen what my lied was subject to in the line 

 of heat. 



