12 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Cuttings of any of the foregoing, struck at once in three-inch 

 pots, and early in the spring shifted on as may appear necessary, 

 will be in grand condition for decorative purposes next summer. 

 They bloom superbly, and remain, in splendid condition for a very 

 considerable period, when grown in six or eight-inch pots. Those 

 readers of the Floeal World who have no adequate idea of the 

 extreme magnificence of a well-flowered collection of zonal pelar- 

 goniums, should, if possible, avail themselves of an early opportunity 

 for inspecting the fine collection in Mr. Cannell's nursery at Wool- 

 wich. Several hundred specimens are grown in pots, and as the 

 colours are most tastefully arranged, the efiect is so good that it 

 would be difiicult to convey an adequate idea of it. The collection 

 is, perhaps, the most comprehensive in the neighbourhood of London, 

 and as such a large number of the varieties are grown to a specimen 

 size, abundant opportunities are aflforded for purposes of comparison 

 and selection. 



HOW TO PRODUCE AN ABUNDANCE OF MUSHEOOMS. 



BX GEORGE GEAT, 



Head Gardener, Ewell Castle. 



HE production of Mushrooms is attended with so few 

 difficulties that there are no valid reasons why the ama- 

 teur with accommodation of a very limited character may 

 not engage in it. In making this assertion I am well 

 aware an impression prevails that it is a work of 

 great difficulty to grow mushrooms, and that considerable ex- 

 perience is needful before a thoroughly good crop can be insured. 

 There can be no doubt failures do occur frequently, but they are in- 

 variably the result of a neglect of some of the rules necessary to be 

 observed in prosecuting the work to a successful issue. There are, 

 of course, rules to be observed, but they are simple enough to admit 

 of their being readily understood by an amateur having some know- 

 ledge of garden practice. With a supply of short stable manure, 

 and a spare shed or cellar, the amateur may with very little trouble 

 insure a supply, extending over a considerable period, of mushrooms 

 of fine quality. 



The amateur who is anxious to supply his table with mushrooms, 

 must reject all the fanciful methods of growing them as quite un- 

 worthy of his notice ; for to insure supplies worth gathering a good 

 bed must be made to grow them in. Tubs, boxes, or flower-pots, as 

 have been recommended by people who know very little about the 

 subject, entail an immense amount of labour, and the results are not 

 often satisfactory. The bed to be of practical service should be four 

 feet in width, and not less than ten feet in length. From a bed less 

 than this the supplies will be more or less intermittent. It may be 

 made up in any spare shed or out-house, or it may be made in the 

 cellar. The latter is perhaps the most suitable for beds made up in the 

 autumn, because the temperature willbe quite high enough throughout 

 the winter, and as it will not vary much even in severe weather, the 



