140 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r February is, im. 
through the pith to the apex, laying their eggs within the stem, 
which bore a pustular appearance in consequence. 
Root Malformations. —Dr. M. T. Masters showed a specimen of Elm 
root much distorted in places, in consequence of meeting with ob¬ 
structions in growing in lias limestone rock. It was lately figured 
and described in the Gardeners' Chronicle. It w r as received from Mr. 
Ingram of Belvoir Castle. 
Variation in Pear Leaf. —Mr. Blackmore exhibited a trilobed Pear 
leaf, such being in this case a reversion to the primitive character of 
the plant. Mr. Henslow remarked that in some cases the change 
from a simple leaf to a compound is the result of further development, 
as may be easily traced in Blackberries and Raspberries. 
Apparent Superfcetation in the Pea. —Mr. T. Laxton of Bedford for¬ 
warded a communication describing some experiments in fertilisation 
of the garden Pea. Taking Laxton’s Prolific Longpod, he impreg¬ 
nated a single flower with the pollen of six varieties. The pod thus 
treated bore eight peas, which on germination were distinguished as 
A. B, <tc. The peas borne by these were very various, and resembled 
more or less those of the pollen-bearing varieties. From these facts he 
concluded (1) that the pollen of more than one variety of Pea used 
to cross-fertilise the same flower may influence more than one ovule 
in the same ovary ; (2) that there is some evidence of the pollen 
from more than one variety affecting the same ovule. 
Plants, cj'c., Exhibited. —Oxalis microphylla, a small-leaved species 
allied to O. corniculata, was shown by Mr. G. F. Wilson. It appears 
to be often introduced with Tasmanian and other plants. Muscari 
lingulatum.—The Rev. H. H. Crewe showed a plant, one of three 
now in this country from Silesia. 
Dried Flowers and Fungi. —Two cases containing exquisitely pre¬ 
pared Fungi and flowers with their natural colours were received 
from Mr. English of Epping, who has lately published his methods 
by which the natural effects can be retained. A vote of thanks was 
accorded to him. 
Professor Church remarked on Mr. English’s method of using 
plaster of Paris, that a similar one had long been adopted in France 
with the addition of sand, or rather well-dried sand with one to a half 
part of plaster of Paris, a small quantity of camphor being added to 
prevent mildew. 
Sections of Flowers for Class Teaching. — A series of flowers dissected 
out and mounted on mica in antiseptic fluids was exhibited by Mr. 
Houston, Botanical Lecturer of the British Institute. The use of 
them was for teaching in winter. A vote of thanks was accorded to 
him. 
Report on Winter Losses, cfc., in Plants. —The Secretary, the Rev. G. 
Henslow, gave an account of the progress he had made in compiling 
statistics for a “ Report on the Meteorological Phenomena of, and 
Consequent Injury to, Plants in Severe Winters.” He had obtained 
particulars of several winters from A.D. 220 to 1881 ; but those during 
which destruction of and injuries to plants had been specially re¬ 
corded were the following seven—1851-2, 1852-3, 1859-60, 1860-1, 
1878-9, 1879-80, 1880-1. He had collected all the information he had 
at present been able to find with reference to those winters, and had 
drawn up first a short account of the principal meteorological phe¬ 
nomena of the year preceding each winter, as well as of the winter 
itself, as the behaviour of a plant under frost so much depends upon 
its previous conditions to each case. Such was followed by details 
of injuries to and losses of plants over as many places in the British 
Isles as possible. The importance of registering meteorological phe¬ 
nomena and the losses in several winters lay in the fact that the. con¬ 
ditions of the winters respectively differed in many ways from one 
another. The consequence was that the immediate cause of a plant 
succumbing to frost was not always the same. 
There would be an introduction, dealing with several interesting 
matters bearing on meteorology and plant injuries, and he proposed 
completing it with copious indices, so that no difficulty would be met 
in finding the exact behaviour of every plant in any country and in 
any winter. 
TgS. 
i 
K5I WORK/ohtheWEEK. 1 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
The soil in gardens under proper cultivation for a number of years 
becomes workable within a short time after bad weather, but it is by 
no means advisable to sow seeds or plant crops unless the soil is in a 
suitable state. Prepare the ground for Onion, Parsnip, and early 
Carrot seed. These vegetables are required in quantity nearly the 
whole year, therefore good breadths will be required to give a supply. 
In sowing, drills are much to be preferred for these and all other 
kitchen garden crops for which they can be employed. In the case 
of Onions the ground should be W’ell trodden down before the drills 
are made, and it should be repeated again after the seed is covered. 
Carrots and Parsnips also do better when the soil is moderately firm. 
Onion drills should be 12 inches asunder, Parsnips 18 inches apart, 
and the Early Horn section of Carrots 9 to 12 inches apart. Leeks 
must also be sown for the general crop in drills 12 to 15 inches dis¬ 
tance apart. Shallots, Garlic, and Potato Onions can now be planted, 
also Jerusalem Artichokes, in good soil and open situations. The 
latter deserve more attention than is frequently accorded them, 
allowing a distance of 2 to 3 feet between the rows and 15 to 18 inches 
between the sets, planting the same depth as Potatoes. Autumn- 
sown Onions and Lettuces which have been wintered in seed beds or 
elsewhere should be transplanted into rich soil. Sow successions of 
Peas—Criterion, Telegraph, Telephone, and Huntingdonian being 
suitable of the tall varieties, and Dr. Maclean and Stratagem of the 
medium heights, these doing best after this in the open quarters. A 
sowing of Broad Beans—Leviathan, Monarch Longpod, and Windsor 
Improved being suitable kinds—should be made. Peas which were 
sown in pots, &c., some time ago and have been hardened off should 
be planted out, the Peas in rows about 3 feet 6 inches apart, turning 
them out of the pots with the balls entire, and so as to form a row, 
drawing a little soil to them. At a foot distance on both sides of the 
rows some Spruce branches placed firmly in the ground will save 
the Peas from cutting winds, and as the weather becomes warmer 
and the Peas advanced in growth they should be gradually removed. 
Any dwarf varieties of Peas forwarded in a similar manner may be 
planted at the foot of south walls, and treated similarly they will 
afford some acceptable early dishes. Broad Beans should be placed 
in rows about 2 feet apart and 6 to 8 inches asunder in the row, 
affording them the same protection as the Peas, both being given 
warm south borders. 
Forcing Department. —Earth up Potatoes in frames and pits as they 
require it, and when water is necessary apply it at the same tempera¬ 
ture as the bed, ventilating them freely on all favourable occasions. 
Any pits or frames now at liberty may be planted with sets previously 
prepared. A slight bed of fermenting materials will be sufficient with 
about 6 inches depth of light rich soil. Yeitch’s Ashleaf is a suitable 
variety. Make a successional sowing of French Beans in pots, but 
where pits are available they will afford much better crops, the seed 
being sown 6 inches apart in drills 18 inches asunder. Canadian 
Wonder is the best variety for this purpose. The pits should be 
provided with hot-water pipes to secure a temperature of 55° to 65°. 
Frames containing Radishes and Carrots must be freely ventilated 
during fine weather, withdrawing the lights on fine days. Pot 
Tomatoes as they become ready, shifting into larger pots any that 
need it, placing them near the glass in a house with a temperature of 
55° to 65°. Employ good loam with a fourth of well-decayed manure, 
and pot firmly. Maintain a good supply of Mustard and Cress by 
sowing as necessary, also of Mint and Tarragon by introducing to 
heat fresh roots in boxes or pots. Continue to maintain the supply 
of Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Seakale. 
MUSHROOM HOUSE. 
Beds prepared in autumn have borne their crops, hence it will be 
necessary to renew them with as little delay as possible. Where fresh 
materials have been prepared this may quickly be done, but other¬ 
wise the necessary materials must be collected. Horse droppings 
direct from the stables are unquestionably the best, along with the 
sweepings of a short description, which should be spread out thinly 
on the floor of an open shed, and turned over occasionally until a 
sufficient quantity is collected for making the beds. We shake out 
the long litter from the dunghill, and the smaller particles left after 
the strawy portion of the litter has been removed with a four-pronged, 
fork is at once made into a bed and beaten as firmly as possible. 
Wait a few days to see whether the heat will rise above 95°, as spawn¬ 
ing must be deferred until the heat declines to 90 p . Insert the 
spawn under the surface in pieces about 2 inches square and 9 inches 
apart. In a week or ten days the bed is earthed writh turfy loam 
2 inches thick, well beaten down, and the surface smoothed over with 
the back of a spade. In about six weeks the Mushrooms appear, 
when the surface of the bed is kept moist by damping with tepid 
water from a fine-rose watering can or a syringe as necessary, being 
careful not to make the bed too wet. Beds so formed bear excellent 
