February 14,1896. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
147 »; 
SPAWNING MUSHROOM BEDS. 
In reply to “ Mushroom ” (page 102) I should say that if the 
manure had been properly prepared it was unnecessary to take the bed 
out and mix it with other manure, as a temperature of 120° a few days 
after making the bed is quite common, and at this time of the year 
would not have become too dry by overheating. There is a great danger 
in spawning beds at too high a temperature, and from my own 
experience more beds are ruined from this cause than any other. If 
the heat is declining 80° to 85° is a safe temperature at which to insert 
spawn in the beds, but it would be better to do so at 70° or even less. 
In testing the heat of a bed the thermometer should be placed in the 
manure at the same depth as the spawn is put. 
Having now for several years past grown Mushrooms on open air 
ridges on commercial lines perhaps a few words on the subject may be 
of interest. I have been indebted for many useful hints to the book 
“ Mushrooms for the Million,” also to Mr. J. F. Barter, the well-known 
manufacturer of Mushroom spawn, and although we had some partial 
failures we have had our share of success. We now very nearly dispense 
with the Mushroom house, as much better crops can be grown in the open 
air. The house is useful, however, to make up a small bed or two to come 
in at midwinter, to gather daily for home consumption, as during severe 
weather like the present, with the thermometer down to within a few 
degrees of zero, it would not be advisable to uncover the beds out of 
doors each day. Although we have had over six weeks of continuous 
frost, the thermometer this morning, February 6th, registering 27° of 
frost, the outdoor Mushrooms are not injured. They do not grow much 
during such weather, but directly there is a change in the temperature 
the beds will bear freely again. The ridges are well covered with litter, 
and over this is several inches of snow keeping the beds frost-proof. 
The present is a good time to collect the manure as it comes from 
the stables, and put it in a heap in the open. The long litter should be 
shaken out, and put in a dry place, as this will be required to cover the 
beds after they are made up. When several cartloads have been 
collected the whole heap should be turned over, and if dry well watered. 
It must then be turned three times a week, and it will take about three 
weeks to prepare. The ridges should be 2 feet 6 inches wide at the 
bottom,.the same in height, and about 6 inches wide at the top, 
though beds made at midwinter will hold the heat better if made 3 feet 
wide at the bottom. When all is finished off the whole must be made 
firm. Start by putting a foot of manure at the bottom, make it firm by 
treading, and as it increases in height stand on the ridge and well beat 
the sides with the back of an ordinary digging fork. When the desired 
height is reached finish off neatly, then cover the whole with about 
6 inches of long litter that had previously been shaken out of the 
manure, except about 6 inches on the top of the ridge, where it may be 
about 3 inches deep, to allow the moisture to escape, and in a few days 
the heat will probably go up to about 120°. When it has fallen to 
85°, which will be in about ten days, spawn may be inserted. 
This is done by dividing an ordinary brick of spawn into 
eight parts, inserting each lump about 9 inches apart over the whole 
surface of the bed, and about 2 inches in depth. The bed must 
then be covered with about IJ inch of good, fairly moist garden 
soil, and be well smoothed over with the back of a spade. It will 
depend on the heat of the bed, and the outside temperature what 
thickness of litter is required. In warm weather 6 inches will be 
sufficient, but in cold weather 1 foot or more will be needed. Keep 
the surface of the bed as near 60° as possible for a month or six 
weeks after spawning, and afterwards a lower temperature will 
suffice. Mushrooms will appear in about six or eight weeks from the 
time of spawning, but should the weather be very cold they may be 
longer. Spring and early autumn are the best times for making the 
beds.— Geo. Summees, Sandbeck Park. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
February 12th. 
THE COMMITTEES. 
As might have been expected, owing to the severity of the weather, 
the meeting at the Drill Hall was a very small one, and comprised 
Orchids principally, though a few fruits and fljwers, including 
Rhododendrons, were shown. 
Fruit Committee. —Present ; Philip Crowley, E-q. (in the chair) ; 
with Rev. W. Wilks, Messrs. Geo. Bunyard, P. C. Vei ;ch,G. Goldsmith, 
J. H. Veitch, J. Cheal, W. Pope, Alex. Dean, T. Glen. J. A. Laing, 
W. Bates, W. Farr, C. Herrin, J. Hudson, F. Q. Lane, A. H. Pearson, 
and G. H. Sage. 
Mr. Gi Harvey, gardener to Major Thornhill, Bakewell, Derby, sent 
a handsome collection of Oranges, for which a silver Banksian medal 
was recommended. Mr. A. G. Nicholls, Nuneham Park Abergavenny, 
staged Onion Nicholls’ Favourite. 
Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, received a silver-gilt 
Knightian medal for a collection of Oranges, including Silver Egg, 
Bitten Court, Dom Louis'^, and Maltese amongst others, all in splendid 
condition. A small colleotion of Apples was sent by Messrs. J. Peed 
and Sons, Norwood. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq. (in the chair); 
with Messrs. J. Fraser, Owen Thomas, John Laing, H. Herbst, Richard 
Dean, E. Molyneux, George Stevens, H. Briscoe-Ironsides,. H. B. May, 
J. Jennings, J. H. Fitt, J. W. Barr, W. Bain, W. J. Grant, Chas. T. 
Druery, J. D. Pawll, Robt. Owen, Chas. E. Shea, H. J. Jones, C. Blick, 
H. Turner, Geo. Paul, Ed. Mawley, and Chas. Jeffreys. 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, staged a collection of Javanico- 
jasminiflorum hybrid Rhododendrons, comprising several of the best 
varieties, such as Ne Plus Ultra, Rose Perfection, Primrose, Purity, 
Star of India, Imogene, Luteo-roseum, Monarch, Conqueror, and 
Empress. Considering the present inclement weather, and the many 
difficulties arising from such, the collection was well worthy of merit, 
as also was the smaller exhibit of multicolor hybrid Rhododendrons, 
conspicuous amongst which were. Ruby, Mrs. Heal, and Neptune. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, staged a bunch of Azalea mollis 
blooms cut from English-grown plants. A vote of thanks was given to 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking, for a well bloomed 
plant of Thyrsacanthus rutilans. Mr. J. E. Burton, gardener to Sir 
G. Paul, Bart., Cambridge House, Twickenham, staged a collection of 
plants of single Primula, Bouquet, obtained from seeds sown in June, 
1891. The blooms were fine, of good substance, and the plants 
well grown. 
A group of new single Primulas, Lady Evans, was exhibited by 
Mr. G. Buinton, gardener to Sir David Evans, Ewell Grove, by whom 
they were raised ; the flowers are pure white, and of good substance; 
Flower spikes of Haemanthus Kalbreyeri were staged by Messrs. Sander 
of St. Albans. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: H. J. Veitch, Esq. (in the chair); 
with Messrs. James O’Brien, F. Hardy, W. H. White, B. Hill, Jas, 
Douglas, H. J. Chapman, H. Ballantine, E. Ashworth, W. Thompson, 
Walter Cobb, and H. M. Pollett. 
From Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons came Calanthe Masuco-tricarinata, said 
to be a new garden hybrid, and Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum 
superbum. From Mr. E. Hill, gardener to Lord Rothschild, Tring Park, 
came a fine spike of Laslia superbiens, and also one of Phalaenopsis 
intermedia Portei, for which a first-class certificate was awarded. 
Mr. Fred Hardy, Ashton-on-Mersey, staged a collection of Orchid 
blooms, including some good Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and Phalaenopses. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, also showed a group of cut Orchid 
i blooms, including Dendrobium luteolum, D. Statterianum, D. Eger- 
I tonias, Odontoglossum Humeanum, O. coradinei albanense, Laelia anceps 
' Schrbderiana, The Dell variety, and a few others. Mr. W. H. Voung, 
I gardener to Sir F. Wigan, Clare Lawn, East Sheen, exhibited some 
! Cypripediums, including Lathomeanum, Wiganianum, Rothschildianum, 
j and Stauropsis (Vanda) gigantea. Mr. H. J. Chapman, Cambridge 
I Lodge, Camberwell, showed a handsome collection of dried Orchid 
flowers, in which the natural colours had been retained to an excep¬ 
tional degree (silver Banksian medal). 
A splendid spike of Odontoglossum coronarium var. miniatum was 
staged by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking. Mr. G. 
Cragg, gardener to W. C. Walker, Esq., Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill, 
arranged a few blooms of various Orchids, comprising some good forms. 
W. Thompson, Esq., Stone, Staffs, also showed a collection of blooms. 
Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, showed a small but choice collection 
of Orchids, of which Phalaenopsis Youngi received a first-class certificate 
(silver Banksian medal). 
Certificates and Awards of Merit. 
AntTiurium Perfection (Sir Trevor Lawrence). — This is a fine 
Anthurium, with a large, brilliant scarlet spathe (award of merit). 
Calanthe Masuco-tricarinata (J. Veitch & Sons).—This is a garden 
hybrid with very delicately rose shaded flowers, this colour pervading 
the whole of the bloom (award of merit). 
Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum superbum (J. Veitch & Sons).—This 
is a handsome and rare hybrid, between eburneo and Lowianum, and 
carries four flowers on the spike. The prevailing colour is creamy 
white, the lip being heavily marked velvety crimson (first-class 
certificate). 
Phalcenopsis intermedia Portei (E. Hill).—This is a very floriferous 
form with white sepals and petals and lip with purplish rose tip and 
crimson base. The spike shown was exceptionally good (first-class 
certificate). 
Phalcenopsis Youngiana (Baron Schroder).—This is a splendid forov 
with broad dull white petals, slightly tinged rose at the base. The 
upper sepal is of the same colour, while Ijhe lower are very pale rose 
spotted maroon. The ground colour of the lip is pure white, heavily 
spotted deep rose (first-class certificate). 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
The annual general meeting was held during the afternoon, a 
moderate attendance of members being present. Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., President, took the chair. Mr. McLachlan proposed a vote of thanks 
for the services of the retiring members of the Council. The Chairman, 
in the course of his remarks prior to moving the adoption of the report, 
said he was glad to say the general condition of the Society had made 
decided improvement, the fortnightly meetings had been much better 
attended than in previous years, and with regard to the Temple Show 
it was looked on as being as great a pleasure to the authorities of the 
Temple as it was to the Society, and it proved beneficial to the show, 
the plants being allowed to remain the whole three days. 
The Crystal Palace show was also a marked success, as the returns 
showed a small profit. He was glad to say some gentlemen had 
i subscribed generously towards supplying the prize money, and he hoped 
