May 31 , 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
453 
ardent desire than yours. At length I understood that an English 
gentleman residing at Stockholm had got it; I entreated him to lend it 
me for a fortnight, and obtained it. I spent day and night in reading it 
through; I read it over, but never enough, and returned it. Two things 
I particularly observed therein, which I had not met with in other 
authors. The first was the author’s most honest candour and humane 
disposition, who is not sharp upon any, severe to none, nor inveighs 
against others, as now is the custom among the vulgar herd of authors, 
but candidly inculcates his own observations without taxing others, 
because they could not see these things they wished to inspect, but not 
in their power. The other thing I noted was the writer’s perspicuity, 
who has set forth his plants so correctly, and so exactly to the life, 
that I could see as it were the very plants themselves before me.” 
In conneetion with these an exhibit by Dr. Murie, lately the librarian 
of the Society, was of interest, being a series of impressions of seals used 
by Linnaeus. 
The Linnean medals shown were also very interesting, including the 
silver medal struck for Count Tessin in 174:6, and the gold medal struck 
for the Count in 1768. Both have a bust of Linnaeus on the obverse, 
while the second has three erowns, representing the three kingdoms of 
Nature. To Count Tessin Linnajus dedicated in 1758 the fimt volume of 
the tenth edition of the “ Systema Naturae.” The silver medal by 
Linngberger, struck by command of Gustavus III. of Sweden after the 
death of Linn^us, has the usual bust on the obverse, and on the reverse 
Cybele bewailing her loss ; she has a key in her left hand, and a lion 
and various animals and plants lie at her feet. The motto is, “ Beam 
luctus angit amissi,” These medals were the gift of Mrs. J. J. Bennett, 
in 1876, her husband, long the Secretary of the Society, having received 
them as a gift from Robert Brown, formerly Librarian and President. 
The busts, portraits, and engravings in the Society’s rooms of course 
received much attention, and from them no one could fail to derive an 
accurate impression of the great Swede’s countenance. They included 
the bust cast from Thorwaldsen’s statue of Linnaeus at Copenhagen, and 
that from the original in the Stockholm Royal Academy of Sciences ; 
the alabaster medallion given by the same Society; the Wedgwood 
medallion lent by Sir Joseph Hooker, which Dr. Solander, who knew 
Linnfeus well, said was a better likeness than any of the paintings ; the 
oil painting on parchment by Hallman, presented by Sir John Lubbock ; 
and that copied by Pasch from Roslin, and a large number of engravings. 
Among these the most interesting is a mezzotint of Linnaeus, full- 
length, in picturesque Lapland dress. It was painted by Hoffman and 
engraved by H. Kingsbury in 1795. A collection of photogi-aphs from 
the series by E. M. Fries included views of Linnaeus’s old dwelling- 
house at Upsala, his country seat at Hammasby, where he spent his 
summers and wrote his most important works, his museum, the last 
letter he wrote with his own hand, and several interesting relics. A few 
of the rare books from Linnajus’s library were also exhibited, including 
Rudbeck’s “ Campi Elysii Liber Secundus,” 1701, folio, of which only a 
few copies exist, the greater part of the copies of both volumes having 
been burnt in the great fire at Upsala in 1702, which destroyed the 
cathedral, in which the stock, manuscript, and wood-blocks for ten 
more volumes were lodged. The elder Rudbeck never rallied from the 
shock, but died in the following December. The set of proofs from 
engravings from a manuscript copy of Dioscorides, in the Imperial 
Library at Vienna, is still more rare. Only two copies of the 142 plates 
were made, one teing sent to Linnseus, the other being now in the 
library of the Botanic Garden at Oxford. 
The collection of medals, medallions, and portraits of eminent 
scientific men lent by Sir Joseph Hooker was specially noteworthy. 
The Wedgwood medallions included those of Captain Cook and his com¬ 
panions, Sir Joseph Banks, Dr. Solander, and Dr. Reinhold Forster ; also 
of Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Christopher Wren, Dr. Priestley, and Sir W. J. 
Hooker ; also a Sevres medallion of Cuvier. With the memorials of 
George Bentham was shown an antique silver watch formerly belonging 
to Jeremy Bentham, his uncle. Sir Joseph Hooker also lent a large 
series of silver medals struck for the Royal Academy of Sciences at 
Stockholm, and several bronze medals.— (JTimrs.') 
WOKK-Fo^ItheWEEK.. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Mushroom Beds. —Where numbers of beds are made up in winter 
some of them are almost sure to miss bearing at the proper time, but 
this is not always a misfortune. In October last we formed three beds ; 
one produced a supply at Christmas, another commenced bearing in 
February, and the third appeared to be a failure. Knowing from past 
experience, however, that some which appeared to be failures only 
required time and favourable circumstances to develope, we did not 
destroy the bed ip question, but left it, and at the present time this bed 
is protlucing a daily supply of fine Mushrooms. These beds were all 
formed in a cool unheated structure, and we would advise those who 
contemplate destroying beds at the end of three months or so after 
being made up, because they do not bear, to keep them on for six months 
at least. We have done this many times, and benefited by it. If dry, 
give the beds a thorough so.aking with water heated to 90°, previously 
sprinkling a very little salt on them before watering, to destroy maggots, 
and cover with a thin coating of hay afterwards. Cease fire heat 
for Mushroom houses, and make up a bed or two in the open air to bear 
in July. This bed will precede the supply of Mushrooms in the fields. 
We prefer a cool position for the beds at this season, and the manure 
should be made very firm. 
Weeds. —These are now growing rapidly, and on the action of cul¬ 
tivators now depends the condition of the garden for the whole year. 
If they are allowed to seed, after trouble is inevitable, but if they are 
carefully hoed out by the roots now in every part the hoe can reach, 
and pulled up by the hand where they cannot be hoed, a clean garden 
through the season will be the easily accomplished result. 
Earthing up Crops. —We have heard some growers say they did 
not believe in earthing up ; we have practised it for thirty years and 
regard it as good practice. Potatoes are greatly benefited by it, as it 
keeps the stems firm and prevents the tubers near the surface from 
becoming green and unfit for the table by exposure to the light. All 
Potatoes should be earthed up when the stems are about 8 inches high, 
and many of them require this attention now. Cabbage, Cauliflower, 
Brussels Sprouts, Broad Beans, Kidney Beans, and in short everything 
in this way, should also be earthed up to steady the stems and prevent 
the roots being exposed to the sun. Where the surface of the ground 
is very hard a fork may be used, but where the ground is friable earth¬ 
ing up may be done with a drag hoe. 
Cutting Asparagus. —Of late Asparagus has been growing freely, 
and many good dishes have been secured. Growers, particularly ama¬ 
teurs, are often afraid to overcut it. There is little danger of this 
during the first stage of its growth. Let us take forced Asparagus as 
an example. The heads of this are cut as soon as they are high enough 
for us to use, and every one that follows is cut also, and this induces 
the whole of the crowns to push until there are from two to three 
dozen cut from each root, but it is very seldom that so many are cut 
from roots in the open ground. It may be that only two heads are 
seen growing from a root. These are looked upon as the only growths 
that will come, and one is cut and the other allowed to remain. All 
may be cut until the 1st of June at least, and after that more growths 
will appear that will mature during the season ; but plants under three 
years old should not be cu*^, and weakly ones ought to be avoided, as by 
missing cutting for a season the plants will gain strength and the beds 
bear more heavily afterwards. 
Lettuce and Endive. —Paris Market is still our earliest Lettuce. 
Spring-raised plants are now in fine order for cutting. The supply of 
Lettuce should now be constant by successional sowings. From now 
onwards for three months we sow a pinch of seed every fortnight, and 
plant out a few dozens from each, which give us a constant supply. It 
is too early to sow the main crop of Endive, but as a few plants are 
often required about the end of July or in Augusta pinch of seed of the 
green Moss-curled may be sown at once, 
Salsafy and Scorzonera. —These are two most useful winter 
vegetables, generally cultivated in large gardens, but not so much grown 
in small ones as they should be. They are both perfectly hardy, and 
may remain in the ground all the winter. We use them largely from 
November until April, and dig them up as required. The roots pene¬ 
trate like a Carrot, and will grow in any deep fertile soil. Grubs never 
trouble them, and as they may be grown in rows 10 inches or 1 foot 
apart and 4 inches from plant to plant, a large quantity may be secured 
from a small space. The present is the best time to sow the seed, as the 
roots will develope fully by October, and there is no danger of the plants 
“ bolting,” which is apt to occur from early sowings. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. —Early Houses .—Where houses have been cleared of ripe 
fruit the foliage of the Vines should be cleansed of dust and red spider, 
employing tepid water, and, if necessary, an insecticide. On no account 
allow the borders to become dry, but afiord water to the inside borders 
as necessary to maintain the soil is a moist condition, keeping the foliage 
clean and healthy to the last, that it may aid in the proper development 
of the fruit buds for next season. The leaves being fresh and clean 
keep the laterals in check by pinching, yet if there be anything defective 
with the principal foliage a little more freedom may be allowed to the 
laterals. 
Houses with Fruit Swelling .—Maintain a warm atmosphere, damping 
the floors and borders two or three times a day at closing time and 
again before nightfall. Although fires cannot be dispensed with at 
night, much may be done in economising fuel by closing early on fine 
afternoons, but it must be accompanied with plenty of atmospheric 
moisture. Do not allow the laterals to grow so as to crowd the principal 
leaves, but keep them well in hand, although where there is plenty of 
space they may be allowed to extend, yet not so as to necessitate their 
removal in great quantity later on. 
Houses with the Fruit Ripening .—Allow a constant and liberal 
supply of warm rather dry air, and do not neglect to afford a good 
watering, and if a mulching of short litter be applied it will tend to a 
more equable moisture at the roots. A moderate amount of moisture 
must be accorded for the benefit of the foliage, but it must not be 
stagnant or it will prejudice the ripening, and without a goo<l heat it is- 
not possible to insure the highest quality; indeed there is no comparisoa 
