APRIL.] 



THE GARDENER. 



113 



put in), and with as much dry litter as will prevent 

 the dun? iVom dropping through the bars, beating the 

 dun^ in layers of two or three inches thick with a 

 mallet, until it is within an inch and a half of the top: 

 these boxes are placed in a house heated by open 

 tanks running through the centre. After the fermen- 

 tation has subsided to a proper temperature, he puts 

 in large pieces of the spawn as compact as possible, 

 eight inches apart every way. In a week or ten days 

 afterwards he lays green turf an inch and a half thick 

 to fill up the boxes, well beaten. 



Mushrooms in a natural state of growth are best 

 and most abundant on turf cropped and trodden, as by 

 sheep and cows ; and Mr. Hankin has found by expe- 

 riment, that mushrooms raised under a covering of turf 

 are far superior as to flavour to those which he has 

 forced under coal dust. 



E\:€rgreens. — Our own practice has been to trans- 

 plant them during this month, in preference to any 

 other season. The storms of winter being over, they 

 are not likely to have their roots shaken, and the 

 moisture of sprin:? will insure their striking, if they 

 are taken up without serious injury, and properly put 

 down in loose and appropriate soil. In taking up any 

 large shrubs, you should work with a pick, so as to 

 undermine the roots; take the fibres up carefully as 

 you trace thern through the earth, and tie them to the 

 larger roots ; drag* the roots with as little force as 

 possible ; re-plant them quickly, because exposure 

 to the sun and air is very prejudicial to the roots; 

 if, therefore, your plants are to be removed to any con- 

 siderable distance, or kept out of ground for more than 

 a few hours, pack them with balls of earth round the 

 roots (but leave the branches loose, else the leaves will 



* Iron bars are constructed for the purpose of raising large 

 shrubs and trees* 



