14 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



wait for a week or so before covering with soil. In a few days after- 

 wards, place a layer of worthless bay or other dry material over to 

 preserve an equable temperature. 



The bed must be maintained of a nice degree of moisture, but 

 under no consideration must it be made too moist. When the ma- 

 terials are dry the spawn will not run, and no mushrooms will be 

 produced; on the other hand, if kept too wet it will perish alto- 

 iiether. As a rule very little moisture will be required, but when 

 water is applied, it must be used in a tepid state, so that it does not 

 cool the bed. In gathering the mushrooms it is good practice to pull 

 them up, provided it can be done without disturbing those remaining, 

 as the stumps decay and afford a lodgment for grubs. When grow- 

 ing in clusters, as they frequently do, they must be cut off as low- 

 down as possible, the necessary cure being taken to avoid injuring^ 

 those remaiuiu"-. The temperature of the structure should be main- 

 tained, if possible, between 45° and 50°, and the doors and windows 

 be kept close. The length of time the beds remain in bearing 

 differs considerably, and sometimes they cease to bear through bc- 

 cominr' dry. Therefore when the mushrooms cease to make their 

 fippearauce, examine the bed, and if it is drj', give it a moderate 

 waterinjr. In breaking up an old bed, a portion of the material con- 

 taining a goodly proportion of spawn may be put by lor spawning 

 those made up subsequently. 



A NEW MODE OF GROWING LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



BY F. SAIfDEK AND CO., 

 Royal Herts Seed Establishment, St. Albans. 



lOETUNES are being built up on this bumble plant, it 

 employs thousands for several months in the year, in this 

 and other countries ; it is the most favoured of all the 

 bulbous plants that come into Covent Garden Market, in 

 the winter and spring months, aud loaded with little green- 

 tipped lamps of white, is undeniably a queen among flowers. 

 As in many other cases, the demand has not only created a supply, bnt 

 improved its quality, and extended its season. At one time, Lily of the 

 Valley in plenty in May and June sufficed, now it is wanted from 

 December to August. At first, too, any flowers and foliage were good 

 enoui>h, the perfume and the freshness of leaf and flower satisfied ; now 

 flowers and leaves alike have to be developed to the uttermost, to satisfy 

 the new and growing demand tor quality in both. 



The resources of the plant, and the skill of the cultivator, have both 

 been taxed to meet the new requirements. It will not do now to go to 

 the native haunts of this sweet Lily, and dig up a barrow-load of roots 

 for forcing as of old — neither is it enough that an old shady border in 

 some out-of-the-wsy place is devoted to its cultivation. To have it in 

 perfection, it must have a bit of the richest soil England can furnish, 

 and be liberally nurtured with water during dry weather. Continental 

 growers seem to have first discerned how amenable the plant was to 

 high cultivation. They set about growing the Valley Lily, as they did 

 the Hyacinth and other bulbs. By incessant sub-division, and annual 



