JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
208 
[ September 1, 1881. 
single eye to each piece ; the sets (averaging in size not larger 
than a walnut) were planted the last week in April. They all 
came up well, and grew vigorously. I lifted the crop the second 
week in August. The f It), of seed has produced 33 lbs. weight of 
handsome tubers, being uniform in size and shape, and all per¬ 
fectly sound. Despite the dryness of the season there were re¬ 
markably few small tubers, and no chats, twenty-four of the 
largest weighing 16 lbs.—R eader. 
MUSHROOMS IN PASTURES. 
From notes and replies that occasionally appear in the Journal, 
a somewhat widespread disposition would appear to exist to 
establish Mushrooms in the open air. This is not easily accom¬ 
plished at any time, and in some soils it is impossible. I have 
made many experiments, nearly all of which proved failures ; still 
I succeeded in one instance, and this not because of any special 
management, but because the weather happened to be favourable 
at the time the spawn was inserted, and the soil was suitable for 
the growth of the Mushrooms. Towards the end of June is about 
the. time when the temnerature of the soil is suitable for the 
spread of the spawn, but should drenching rains follow on the one 
hand, or extreme drought on the other, there will be no results. 
Again, in some soils, if a few Mushrooms follow the insertion of 
the spawn, they prove the first and the last crop. This is the 
case in very wet pastures where the soil is stag¬ 
nant during the winter. 
I am satisfied that, on dry soils at any rate, salting 
the land is favourable for Mushrooms. I am wel 
acquainted with a small farm in a large agricul¬ 
tural district on which Mushrooms grow freely 
both in the pasture and arable land. I have seen 
many bushels gathered from amongst Potatoes and 
Turnips, in some places Mushrooms springing up 
as thick as they could stand for yards together. 
It is on this farm only that Mushrooms grow. The 
soil of the surrounding fields is of precisely the 
same nature — medium hazel loam well drained; 
in fact, first-rate Potato and Barley land, growing 
also good crops of Wheat. The only difference in 
the management of the land is that on the farm 
where the Mushrooms grow the farmer has been in 
the habit of sowing 2 cwt. of salt per acre for a 
number of years, so that the land is thus im¬ 
pregnated with salt. I once inserted some lumps 
of spawn in a pasture on this farm, and the same 
day another portion in an adjoining field that had 
not been salted. The weather being favourable 
Mushrooms followed in both instances, but they 
were both much finer and more numerous in the 
field that had been regularly salted than in the 
other. The district is, however, a dry one, and 
similar results might not follow in a wet locality. 
Mr. Abbey, I think, has advised that salt be 
mixed with water for applying to Mushroom beds. 
It would be well if he would allude to this sub¬ 
ject more prominently, and state his reasons for 
the practice and the quantity of salt he recom¬ 
mends. 
In inserting lumps of spawn in pastures the condition of the 
soil is of far more importance than any mere date in the calendar. 
September is as good a time as June, provided the ground is 
neither too wet nor too dry for the spread of the mycelium and 
the growth of the fungus.—A Gardener and Bailiff. 
PELARGONIUM PRINCESSE STEPHANIE. 
A pretty and novel Zonal Pelargonium was sent out last May 
under the above name by MM. Pynaert van Geert of Ghent. It 
is especially remarkable for its dwarfness of habit, the plants 
when fully grown rarely exceeding 5 inches in height, and, being 
very compact and free in flowering, it is well adapted for culture 
in pots or for the margins of flower beds, for which purpose it is 
especially recommended by its introducers. It is totally distinct, 
both in foliage and flowers, from any other form of Zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium grows in England, and well merits attention. 
The flowers are very double, but the petals are not crowded and 
are of a bright rose colour, lighter in the centre, being borne in 
trusses of moderate size. These, however, are produced in such 
numbers that the plants appear to be literally balls of flowers, and 
lines or margins of such would undoubtedly have a beautiful 
effect in the flower garden. The annexed woodcut first appeared 
in the “ Revue de l’Horticulture Beige,” where, in describing the 
plant and referring to its floriferousness, it is stated that a small 
specimen with only three branches had nine trusses. We have 
seen plants in M. Pynaert van Geert’s nursery, and can recom¬ 
mend the variety for a trial in English gardens. 
EARLY PEACHES. 
Early Beatrice appears to have taken the leading position 
among Mr. Rivers’ seedlings, and is now more largely grown than 
any other early variety. Early Albert, Early Louise, and Early 
Rivers do not appear to have become popular, although the last 
named especially is an excellent Peach ; the other two do not 
appear to be wanted, as ripening too near Early Beatrice. The 
variety last named is planted in nearly all collections where 
Peaches are required at the earliest possible moment. It is a good 
grower, great bearer, and free setter, and although the fruits are 
small in all probability the crop that a tree will carry would equal 
in weight the produce from the same space of most other varieties ; 
yet notwithstanding its size tells against, and it is grown simply 
because no other variety that has yet been widely cultivated will 
ripen so early, but not because of its merits as a fruit. 
Early Rivers is larger and a little later, affording a good succes¬ 
sion, and the fruit is mostly of excellent quality, yet it is not seen 
in one Peach house in ten. This is a little surprising, as it is a 
decidedly early Peach, and as such is valuable. Its pale colour 
is no doubt an obstacle to its extended culture, it inheriting this 
Fig. 35.—Pelargonium Princease Stephanie. 
character from its parent the Early Silver, which in turn was 
raised from the white Nectarine. Those who do not object to a 
pale skin should give Early Rivers a trial. 
Hale’s Early ripens about the same time as the preceding, or 
perhaps a little later. It is of American origin. It is not larger 
than Early Rivers, if as large, neither is it better if as good in 
quality ; but it is better in colour, its crimson-tinted cheek marked 
with dark streaks giving it a warm and rich appearance that is 
acceptable on the dessert table. It is of very good and not un- 
frequently of excellent quality, and decidedly ranks as the best 
secoud early variety. In not a few gardens it is relied on for the 
earliest fruit, Early Beatrice being dispensed with. Early Ascot 
follows, and is a very useful variety. 
How far these varieties will maintain their position when the 
American variety Early Alexander becomes better known remains 
to be proved. I am informed by an American friend that this is 
clearly the finest and most valuable early Peach in cultivation, 
and on that account is being grown largely in the southern States. 
“ Early Amsden is,” he says, “ almost if not identical with it; and 
if the two varieties are offered in England choose the former, and 
do not buy the latter.” Early Alexander I have seen but not 
tasted. Can any readers of these notes give information respect¬ 
ing it, both in regard to its period of ripening as compared with 
Early Beatrice, its quality, and its colour when ripe 1 If it is as 
