JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
170 
ing tlie productiveness of the beds it increases it, and 
for a very good reason that is, however, not very easy 
to make intelligible to all. If the lines of communica¬ 
tion—the threads of the mycelium—from the interior 
to the surface of the beds which terminate in clusters 
of Mushrooms are not broken the strength of the beds 
—the Mushroom-producing force, is expended on the 
old stumps, and very frequently, indeed almost invari¬ 
ably, finds expression in masses of fluff of a cauliflower¬ 
like appearance, or a gigantic mass of mould or fungus. 
These masses if permitted speedily attain the size of 
dinner plates, and no more marketable Mushrooms are 
produced where they occur; but on the other hand, when 
the stumps are scooped out and the mycelium lines 
are severed, small tubercles form at the end of each and 
speedily develope into Mushrooms. The effect of this 
is that rings of fine produce form round each cavity, 
and thus the productiveness of the beds is prolonged 
and increased. Hundreds of gardeners know nothing 
of this, and there are few probably who dare practise 
it boldly at first ; but if they were to see the thousands 
of indentures or cavities made in a Mushroom ridge in 
removing the crop, and a week hence see the fine rings 
of Mushrooms springing round each cavity, they would 
at once perceive the soundness of the practice of dig¬ 
ging out the roots ; and if for the sake of experiment 
some stumps were left undisturbed, and they could also 
see the result—the great masses of mould and no 
Mushrooms—they would be still further convinced that 
the skilled market growers have excellent reasons for 
the practice described. 
Endeavour has been made to show as faithfully as 
possible in the accompanying engraving examples of 
digging and non-digging the stumps out of Mushroom 
beds at the time of gathering the crop, and the effects 
in one part of Mushrooms springing round the inden¬ 
tures are apparent, while in the other, where the 
stumps were not disturbed, there is a large white mass 
of mould and no Mushrooms. 
It may be urged against this system of gathering the 
crops that beds have continued bearing when a different 
method has been pursued. This may be the fact, as it 
is equally a fact that one man has travelled over the 
Falls of Niagara on a tight rope, and another crossed 
the channel in a balloon, but these are neither safe nor 
sure modes of transit for others to attempt. And in 
the subject in hand—obtaining the greatest quantity of 
Mushrooms from prepared beds—the object is to point 
out a path that shall he the safest and the best for all 
to traverse who may engage in the work. 
(To be continued.) 
STANDARD ROSES. 
Theke is a cry recently raised against standard Roses which 
I venture to think has been taken up and pushed beyond the 
bounds of reason and common sense, as many a cry has been in 
times gone by. If I were asked, “Whence this cry?” I should 
answer that it has apparently been started by those who are 
innocent of this particular form of the Rose while abounding 
in dwarfs. I cannot understand why standard Roses, which 
in the past have been admitted on the highest authority indis¬ 
pensable in the composition of garden scenery and otherwise 
desirable in both large and small gardens, should be altogether 
undesirable now. Is not the cry an exemplification of the old 
fable of the “Fox and the Grapes?” Nevertheless, I am free to 
admit that the former popularity of the name, and the matchless 
splendour of the objects both as individuals and in groups, have 
led people deficient in taste to place them in unsuitable positions. 
But this surely tells no more against their proper employment 
[ August 24, 1882. 
than the traveller’s tale of the savage’s use of an Englishman’s 
wardrobe does against the proper employment by the owner of 
any special article of civilised dress. 
One great use of standard Roses in large gardens is the elevated 
masses of colour they present to the eye both in near and distant 
views, while in small gardens the avenue of standards is often 
one of its prettiest features. Then what is more beautiful in the 
conservatory than standard Tea-scented Roses ? Without follow¬ 
ing out all the uses to which they may be advantageously applied, 
I venture to predict that they who discard them from their 
gardens now will miss them greatly in the future, and seek 
in vain for something that will satisfactorily fill their places. 
With greater reason might a cry have been raised against the 
sorts of Roses that have been, and still are, in some instances 
grown as standards. Here, indeed, is the modicum of truth in 
the cry which gives it a temporary hold on the public mind, and 
renders the matter worthy of investigation. 
It is beyond controversy that the natural term of life of certain 
sorts of Roses when grown as standards is three years, two years, or 
even one year only, as that of man is threescore years and ten, 
and that a prolongation of this term carries with it all the accom¬ 
paniments of old age. What will the uninitiated say when they 
are told that certain sorts of Roses seen at the Rose shows are 
budded yearly by the exhibitors, and never cared for after they 
have given their first year’s blooms? But it may here be asked 
“ Why does the Rose-grower bring such ephemeral goods into 
the market?” His reply probably would be, “Why does the 
public persist in purchasing them ? ” and add that it is not his 
business to dictate to his customers what they shall buy, but to be 
prepared to supply what they demand. The remedy on the part 
of the purchaser would be to choose his sorts from trees seen 
growing in nurseries or gardens, and in doing so inquire (if the 
fact is not apparent on the surface by the age of the tree or other¬ 
wise') whether the sort has a good constitution and habit as well 
as a handsome flower. There is one special advantage in growing 
Roses as standards which was suggested to me by an old friend, 
a distinguished horticulturist, when discussing the subject the 
other day, and I will put it in his words—“ I agree with all you 
say, and will add one reason more ; in growing Roses as standards 
the flowers are brought near to our eyes and noses, and those who, 
like you and I, are growing old have not to bend the back or go 
on all fours to see and smell them.”— William Paul, Paul's 
Nurseries, Waltham Cross. 
A COTTAGER’S PEAS. 
It is very gratifying to observe how great is the interest that 
many hardworking sons of toil—the agricultural labourers, in 
some rural districts—take in the cultivation of their gardens, and 
how fine are the crops they produce. Local exhibitions of garden 
produce have stimulated, not to superior culture only, but to the 
acquisition of new varieties, which it might be imagined could 
only be obtained by the affluent; but when a man, however 
humble his position may be, has a strong and firm desire to excel 
and distance his neighbours in the rarity or excellence of his crops 
he will soon find a way to procure the best varieties obtainable 
“ regardless of price.” At the first glance it is not improbable 
that there may be some excellent individuals who are animated 
with the best possible motives, and earnestly desirous of seeing 
their humbler friends prosperous, who may deem it highly impru¬ 
dent for a man earning not more than 2.?. 6d. per day to give 
more than that sum for a small packet of Peas or a pound of Pota¬ 
toes. But it by no means follows that the man who does that is 
imprudent; on the contrary, it is evidence of thoughtfulness and 
enterprise, which not infrequently brings a reward. 
Recently in my travels 1 was surprised to find in the garden of 
a labourer one of the finest examples of Pea culture I have seen. 
The occupant of this garden had been a prizewinner in some 
cottagers’ classes at a local show. He there saw some of the 
newer varieties of Peas, and resolved to have them and grow them 
as well or better than those that had arrested his attention. He 
purchased the new varieties in small quantities, grew them well, 
and saved the seed. The surplus of this he sells locally, and more 
than recoups himself for his original outlay, and has extremely 
fine and very profitable rows of Peas into the bargain. 
Like a wise man he does not sow his Peas in parallel rows a 
few feet apart—that is to say, instead of having five rows 10 yards 
loDg each, side by side, he has one row 50 yards in length. He 
prefers the row at the side of a walk as economising space, the 
ground on the other side being planted with early Potatoes, which 
do not exclude the light and air from the Peas, hence the haulm 
is sturdy, strong, and fruitful. 
The ground is prepared as if for a row of Celery to be grown 
