98 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 3, 1882, 
represented is unquestionable, and tliat they will grow 
freely under a lower temperature is undeniable, for this 
the minimum grass radiation figures demonstrate. And 
wbat do these September temperatures suggest ? First, 
that there is a danger of keeping Mushroom houses too 
warm ; and secondly, what is more important for our 
purpose, that the heat indicated can easily be main¬ 
tained with a body of fermenting materials in the open 
air, and straw to cover the beds and arrest radiation. 
On a mild day in January of the present year the 
radiation temperature of a bed that was just commenc¬ 
ing bearing heavily in the open air was 60° under a layer 
of 9 inches of straw. This was a little too high, as the 
Mushrooms were rather drawn. On a colder day it 
would have been 5 Q lower, and if it had been 15° colder 
no harm would have been done, only the growth of 
the Mushrooms would have been slower, or much 
about that of those in pastures when the radiation 
temperature on grass is equally low as it often is in 
September. 
MUSHROOMS versus FROST. 
Cold does no real injury to Mushroom beds, it only 
arrests the growth of the mycelium—does not destroy it. 
During the severe weather of December, 1880, some 
outdoor ridges were frozen quite through, and were 
like a mass of stone, yet on the return of genial weather 
the same beds produced abundant crops. This is a 
very important fact, and shows that the Mushroom 
is not such a tender plant as is generally imagined, 
and that a failure is not likely to follow if the 
heat cannot be maintained at some fancy figure. 
But it must be stated that Mushrooms already formed 
are liable to injury by extreme frost. It is only the 
mycelium that can endure it with impunity; but this 
circumstance alone is gratifying, and the experience 
proves that Mushroom-growing on outdoor beds in 
winter is perfectly safe. Since these notes were written 
(in January) a correspondent of the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture communicated an article containing the follow¬ 
ing evidence bearing on this subject:—“ Two years ago 
last autumn I made two beds in a cold shed with a north 
i aspect. They were spawned and soiled in the usual 
way, and then left all that severe winter. I looked at 
them sometimes in passing, and found them frozen as 
hard as a brick wall. I never expected to have a 
Mushroom from either of them, for I had always been 
taught that if a bed became frozen it would never 
bear any Mushrooms. In the spring I told the men 
to wheel both beds into the garden for manure, I 
happened to be present when the men started, and the 
first spadeful that was taken up showed that spawn had 
worked all over the bed like a network. I immediately 
stopped all operations and had the beds covered with 
litter, and they turned out two of the best beds of 
Mushrooms I ever saw.” 
That a low temperature is not fatal to the growth of 
Mushrooms is apparent from the fact of their presence 
at the base of hotbeds late in the autumn ; indeed, fine 
examples have been gathered which were pushing their 
way through a covering of snow. This no doubt was 
exceptional, and was without question the effect of very 
strong mycelium produced direct from the spores, as 
previously alluded to. While such low temperatures 
must not be sought for, it may still be asserted with 
much confidence that a high temperature and dry 
atmosphere are inimical to Mushrooms, and the 
cause of many failures and unsatisfactory beds.—■ 
J. Wright. 
(To be continued.) 
COMTESSE DE SERENYE ROSE. 
I SHOULD be glad to have information on the following ques¬ 
tions :—Does Comtesse de Serenye open best on the seedling Briar 
or the Manetti ? I only have one plant, which is very vigorous, 
but it has not opened a flower during the last three years ; it 
is on the Manetti. Soil, well-manured good clay. It is now 
covered with fine buds, but none are opening. Other Roses do 
well in the same place. 
Which stock, the seedling Briar or Manetti, is considered the 
best for bad-opening Roses ? 
I should like to have the names of about a dozen of the very 
darkest and the same number of the very lightest coloured Roses 
that are allowed to be the best ? 
My small stock consists principally of such coloured varieties 
as Marie Baumann and Alfred Colomb. I have the catalogues 
of all the principal nurserymen, but it is difficult for a person 
like myself who has seen no large exhibition of them to select 
from them, as they are all described either as superb, magnificent, 
grand, splendid, or similar superlative terms.— Novice. 
WEST OF SCOTLAND PANSY SOCIETY. 
The third annual Exhibition of this Society was held in the City 
Hall, Glasgow, on the 26th ult., and w r as a decided success. There 
was a splendid display of Roses, Pinks, and Pansies, the latter form¬ 
ing the major portion of the Show. The competition for Show and 
Fancy Pansies in the nurserymen’s class was very strongly contested, 
the first prizes being secured by Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Paisley, 
wdth large well-defined blooms of splendid quality. The same firm, 
won the first prize in the nurserymen’s competition for twenty-four 
Pinks with large double flowers perfectly laced. In the nurserymen’s 
clas3 for Roses Mr. Hugh Dickson, Belfast, and Messrs. A. Dickson 
and Sons, Newtownards, divided the honours with well-formed blooms 
in splendid condition. The competition for twelve hardy herbaceous 
blooms brought a good number forward, Mr. Peter Sinclair of Camp- 
sie gaining the silver medal with beautiful specimens. We give the 
principal awards. 
PANSIES. 
Nurserymen’s Classes. —Twenty-four Show Pansies, distinct varie¬ 
ties. First (timepiece) Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Crossflat Nurseries, 
Paisley, with D. Malcolm, Artemis, Peter Lyle (seedling), Jas. Clelland 
(seedling), W. Shearer, dark seifs ; Mr. Galloway (seedling), Mrs. 
Dobbie, white seifs; Golden Queen, yellow self; R. Pollock, D. 
Robertson, Bailie Cochran, R. Donaldson, Try Me Oh (seedling), 
yellow grounds ; Fair Maid, Mrs. D. Wallace, Mrs. Muir, Mrs. J. G. 
Paul (seedling), Tickler, Jeannie Grieve, Sweetness (seedling), white 
grounds, and several seedlings. Second Mr. John Sutherland, nur¬ 
seryman, Lenzie. Third Mr. Wm. Dickson, Ladyburn Nursery, 
Paisley. Twenty-four Fancy Pansies, distinct varieties. First (silver 
medal) Messrs. Wm. Paul ifc Son with large gorgeous-coloured blooms 
of H. L. Blacklaw, Mrs. H. Hunter, James Gardner, Catherine Agnes, 
Thalia, Livadia, Wm. Windle, Sir P. K. Murray, R. Goodwin, Tom 
McComb, Mrs. Jamieson, John Taylor, Mrs. Russell, Earl Beacons- 
field, Schoolmaster, Hecla, Sultana, R. K. Mitchell, Wm. Stewart, 
and seedlings. Second Mr. W. Dickson ; third Mr. J. Sutherland. 
Gardeners' Classes.— Twenty-four Show Pansies, distinct varieties. 
First (silver medal) Mr. Hugh Stewart, Ayr, with well-grown flowers 
of J. P. Barbour, Robert Black, Rev. j. Morrison, Golden Circle, 
Mrs. Dobbie, Silverlight, Miss Baird, Miss Ritchie, Fair Maid, W. 
Robin, A. Cameron, Bailie Cochran, D. McHutchison, and seedlings. 
Second Mr. D. Findlay, Campsie. Third Mr. R. Stewart, Lenzie. 
Twenty-four Fancy Pansies, distinct varieties. First (silver medal) 
Mr. R. Stewart with large blooms of Mrs. E. H. Wood, Mrs. Findlay, 
Mrs. Jamieson, Hecla, Countess of Home, Mrs. Scott Plummer, W. 
McIntosh, Mrs. Russell, W. Windle, Ringleader, Jane Adair Martin, 
Catherine Agnes, G. Nettleship, Earl Beaconsfield, Mrs. J. Watt, 
Hugh Paton, Mrs. Taylor, and seedlings. Second Mr. D. Findlay ; 
Third Mr. A. Duncan, Paisley. 
Amateurs’ Classes .—Eighteen Show Pansies, distinct varieties. 
First (silver medal) Mr. D. Malcolm, Kirkintilloch, with lovely blooms 
of Alex. Watt, Rev. J. Morrison, Crosshill Gem, Mrs. Cadzow, Gomer, 
Mrs. Dobbie, Mrs. Muir, Mrs. Ritchie, Mrs. Arthur, Miss Ritchie, R. 
Burns, J. B. Robertson, and seedlings. Second Mr. John Stewart, 
Campsie. Third Mr. J. S. Ritchie, Denny. Eighteen Fancy Pansies, 
distinct varieties. First (silver medal) Mr. D. Malcolm with grand 
blooms of Mrs. Forrester, Catherine Agnes, Mrs. Jamieson, Alex. 
Stephen, Master Dan, R. Goodwin, Mrs. Russell, Earl Beaconsfield, 
Sir P. K. Murray, Ringleader, Mrs. J. Stewart, Perfection, Mrs. E. H. 
Wood, Lady Falmouth, D. Wallace, and seedlings. Second Mr. J. 
Stewart; third Mr. Jas. Black, East Calder. 
Open Classes. —Twenty-four Show Pansies, distinct varieties. First 
