JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 24, 1883. ] 
431 
go wrong under its guidance, this little book is calculated to effect 
a complete revolution in the ordinary methods of Mushroom culture 
both for home consumption and for market, for its statements are 
reasonable, and are so strongly supported by facts as to carry con¬ 
viction to the mind. Nothing is coloured or strained to enforce its 
teaching, nor is there anything sensational, except it be the marvel¬ 
lous results already achieved by the simple method of open-air culture, 
which its author so clearly sets before its. Every detail is minutely 
explained, and so many hints given as to the causes of failures, that 
young and old practitioners may read it with equal profit. Not lightly 
do I speak of it in such terms of unqualified commendation, but from 
a strong conviction of its great utility and the benefit to be derived 
from it by everybody, for who is not fond of Mushrooms ?— Edward 
Luckhurst, Oldlands, Uckfield. 
This treatise on profitable Mushroom culture in the open air is the 
cheapest sixpenny garden book ever issued from the press. This well- 
founded impression has been formed in considering the extent and 
excellency of the printing, the faithful execution of the illustrations, 
and above all the value of the thoroughly practical and lucid instruc¬ 
tions which fill it from beginning to end, superfluous matter having 
no place in its ninety-three pages. All important operations come 
under different headings, such as “ Mistakes in Practice,” “ Unsuit¬ 
able Manure,” “ Preparing the Manure,” “ Making the Beds,” “ Tem¬ 
perature for Spawning,” “ Casing the Beds,” and scores of other topics 
of equal interest. In pointing out who may grow Mushrooms there 
are included “ farmers, market gardeners, florists and small nursery¬ 
men, cottagers, gardeners, clergymen, &c.” and I would add, “every¬ 
body who will buy Mr. Wright’s book and be guided by it.” I know 
there are many who do not believe that Mushrooms can be grown 
successfully in the open air, but with the aid of this treatise the 
practice should, and no doubt will, become common. Details are 
given for indoor culture as well. In short it is an exhaustive volume, 
and in my opinion it may safely be consulted with advantage by all 
who wish to excel in Mushroom culture.—J. Muir, Margam Park. 
This is just the book that was wanted. An important feature of 
it is the attention given to the small and necessary details, which are 
too often ignored by the majority of writers. The remarks on un¬ 
suitable manure are genuine, as I have proved from experience. At 
one time here it was impossible to obtain Mushrooms, as the horses 
had medicine and Carrots freely. A fresh coachman has removed 
this state of things, and we can now obtain satisfactory crops from 
the manure produced. The author repudiates many practices that 
have become established. To test the soundness of the information 
imparted when passing through the Journal, I left three times more 
straw with the droppings than I have ever done or seen practised 
before, and the result has been better and more lasting beds. To 
further show the soundness of the teachings, now embodied in this 
treatise, my friend Mr. Smith started the cultivation of Mushrooms 
through the articles that appeared in the Journal, and without any 
previous knowledge. His success has been gigantic ; in fact, he says 
“ they pay much better than growing Cucumbers.” An old gardener, 
who has been growing Mushrooms for years, says of the system 
detailed—“ It is a new departure in Mushroom culture, and I intend 
adopting it.” I would recommend all gardeners, whether young or 
old, as well as the public generally, to obtain this book, read it, and 
become thoroughly acquainted with the mode of cultivation described. 
It is cheap, being only Gd. in paper covers, but I think the bound 
copy is still better worth Is., plus 2d. postage.— W. Bardney, Norris 
Green. 
This is a marvellous sixpennyworth, and ought to command a 
ready sale. The subject in all its bearings is very exhaustively 
treated ; the matter (of which there is much which is new to me) is 
arranged in good readable form. It is well printed on excellent 
paper, and is altogether a model of what a manual should be. The 
author first treats on the nutritive value of Mushrooms, and on this 
part of the subject I believe everybody at the present day is agreed. 
That we should have to import this and many other easily grown 
crops is a great misfortune, and now that the mysteries of Mush¬ 
room growing are unravelled in such a manner that nobody can fail 
to understand them, it is to be hoped that many artisans and 
labourers in the 1 neighbourhood of large towns will take up the 
subject and add to their exchequer as well as to their pleasure. 
That a well-managed Mushroom farm may be made to pay is 
amply proved, but the thing to be desired is to enlist the many 
rather than that a few should make their fortune. 
Of the five essentials to success named, the first in my experience 
is the most commonly wanting in country districts—namely, the 
manure is very often not of good quality, owing to the large amount 
of green food which is consumed by the horses. There is consider¬ 
able consolation in the fact mentioned by the author that manure 
from horses which have had much medicine is fatal to Mushrooms, 
for most of us have had unaccountable failures now and then when 
we have tried to do our best. The chapters on “ Correct Practices ” 
and the ‘‘Cmdition of the Materials” are particularly good, and 
should be learned by heart. Those on making spawn, &c., are 
interesting, and the instruction afforded cannot fail to be useful, as 
showing the nature of the spawn and the manner of its growth, 
but unless one is growing the noble esculent on a very extensive 
scale it is best to buy spawn. I have used the so-called “ French 
spawn ” of my own make, but I prefer the bricks as sold by 
nurserymen. 
. The plan of growing Mushrooms in Cucumber and Melon frames is 
simple, and should be more generally practised. There is much 
more^in this valuable treatise than I have noticed ; it is brimful of 
sound information, and ought to be in the hands of everyone 
interested. There is much added which has not appeared in this 
Journal, but even without this addition it is better to have the 
series of articles in a collected form. I congratulate both the author 
and the publisher on their production.— Wm. Taylor, Longleat. 
Anger is not a passion that should be indulged, but it is not easy 
to read through the volume before us without feeling both angry and 
humiliated. That eggs, fowls, fruit, and vegetables are imported in 
such vast quantities and at such enormous outlay on the part of the 
nation is very sad when the present state of agriculture is reflected 
on ; but that we should go on importing Mushrooms as we do, and 
yet be still in want while we ought to have abundance and also 
export, is due to one thing only, and that is ignorance. A very large 
proportion of British farmers, almost all persons who keep horses, 
and all who live where horses are kept, could benefit their country 
and themselves by growing Mushrooms. Then why do they not do 
it ? Knowledge alone is wanted, and that is supplied in this neat 
octavo volume of ninety-three pages. But there are those who have 
read everything in print on Mushroom culture without having yet 
gained the knowledge that insures against failure. The best and 
most conceited amoDg us have failed altogether sometimes, and have 
been altogether at sea in regard to the reason why. In this neat 
little volume reasons for failure are given that some of us have 
ignored or did not even know of. Even those who never failed will 
own that seldom indeed have such results been gained under older 
methods, and the most experienced will own that here for once is a 
book on a subject on which several have appeared, and yet original. 
While it is certain the oldest will derive benefit from a perusal of 
Mr. Wright’s book we should say that young gardeners cannot afford 
to do without it. The times in which we live are excessively com¬ 
petitive, and the weak go to the wall. Only those gardeners who are 
familiar with the best methods of doing things need hope for abiding 
success. Those who desire success should secure this work. Lately 
I advocated special volumes on special subjects. Here is a book that 
in the “struggle for existence” and “survival of the fittest” will 
hold its own for many a day. Indeed, so far as the culture of Mush¬ 
rooms in the open ground is concerned all others that have come 
under our notice may be considered superseded. 
We have only one fault to find with it. Not with its price, that is 
ridiculous in its lowness. Not with paper, printing, or illustrations ; 
these are very good, clear, and substantial. But (possibly with a 
view to placing it within the reach of everyone, even the lowest-paid 
apprentice) its value has been underrated. It really ought to have 
been bound up in something substantial and charged for accordingly, 
as most young men will be likely to consult it so often as to wear 
out the cover. It is to be hoped that more editions will be called for ; 
if so, let us hope to see one “ destined to live.”— Single-handed. 
The work can now be had bound as suggested, price 1 a'., post 
free, Is. 2d., not Is. \hd., as inadvertently stated last week. We 
might publish much more, and more laudatory matter, as the 
writers of it know, relative to the work under notice ; and we feel 
our apologies are due to them for our inability to do so. Mr. 
Wright desires us to say that while he is gratified by the favour¬ 
able receotion that has been accorded to this treatise, he will be 
sti'l further obliged by any of its faults being pointed out, and to 
receive the particulars of any other methods of Mushroom culture 
that have proved advantageous to cultivators. 
SELAGINELLA GRANDIS. 
Many handsome Selaginellas are now in cultivation, but we 
have no hesitation in assigning S. grandis a position amongst the 
best forms of the genus, and it will probably become one of the 
greatest favourites for general culture. It is a native of Borneo, 
whence Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, obtained it through 
Mr. Curtis, and plants were first exhibited last year at Kensington 
and Regent’s Park, when first-class certificates were awarded for 
it. As shown in the woodcut (fig. 9G) the fronds are broad, the 
leaflets being also broad and closely set in the stem ; they also 
have an arched appearance, which renders them quite plume-like, 
the fertile fronds being furnished with long tassel-like extremities. 
The colour is a rich bright green, and the plant being of good 
habit, vigorous, easdy grown, and readily increased, it possesses 
every attraction to recommend it to the attention of plant- 
growers. It requires the temperature of a stove or tropical 
fernery. 
Spring Cabbages. —Our largest piece of spring Cabbage measures 
70 feet by 50 feet, and here we have many sorts growing, amongst 
which we may name Early Oxheart, Pearson’s Conqueror, Redbraes, 
Enfield Market, Yanack, Webb’s Emperor, and others. The best of 
