512 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Ji ne 21, 1888. 
applauded. Mr. Carbert, schoolm istcr, Sandal, proposed a vote of thanks 
to Mr. Preston for his paper, and in doing so he referred to the essay in 
complimentary terms, and also expressed himself as a lover of plants 
and flowers. Councillor Howden, one of the Vice-Presidents, in 
seconding the motion remarked that it would be well if ladies could 
attend and hear such papers as Mr. Preston had read, because they would 
by that means acquire information which would enable them to keep 
plants in dwellings in bloom and in good condition for a much longer 
period than is often the case at present. Mr. George Gill of Eastmoor, 
and the President, supported the motion, which was heartily carried and 
suitably acknowledged "by Mr. Preston, who was congratulated on his 
restoration to health and return to the gatherings of the Society. Coun¬ 
cillor Mills presided, and Mr. Brown occupied the vice-chair. 
- The schedule of the National Chrysanthemum Society's 
Provincial Show at Sheffield, to be held in conjunction with the 
Sheffield and West Hiding Society, augmented by the Sheffield and 
Hallamshire Gardeners’ Society, in the Corn Exchange, November 16th 
and 17th is to hand. We have already referred to the principal open classes 
which are included in the National Society’s schedule, but the local and 
amateur classes have been extended to provide for the exhibitors from 
the Sheffield and Hallamshire Society. The Hon. Secs, are Messrs. W. K. 
Woodcock, J. W. Jarvis, and J. W. Needham for the former, with 
Mr. W. Marshall for the latter Society. 
- An interesting account of a visit to Devon Rose Nursery, 
that of Messrs. Curtis, Sanford & Co., at Torquay, is given in the 
Tt)r<iuay Times of the 15th inst. It is stated there are between thirty 
■and forty acres under cultivation, 60,000 stocks being planted for 
budding every year, and the glass houses extend to about 2000 feet 
ran. It is incidentally mentioned that a specimen of Berberis Darwini 
growing in the nursery is 20 feet high and 60 feet in circumference, and 
is considered the largest in England, having been planted thirty years 
ago by Mr. Curtis. 
-- The schedule of the Alexandra Palace Rose Show is 
issued, and enumerates eighteen classes, four for nurserymen, four for 
amateurs and gentlemen’s gardeners, eight open classes, one for Roses in 
pots, and a class for miscellaneous exhibits. The prizes range from £5 
as the premier awards in the nurserymen’s and amateurs’ classes for forty- 
eight and thirty-six Roses respectively, to 7s. 6d. as the third prize in 
several open classes. Special prizes are offered by Messrs. Wood and 
Sons, Wood Green, and Mr. AV. Colchester, Ipswich. As previously 
stated, the Show will be held on June 27th and 28th, Mr. R. Beale being 
fie Secretary. 
- AA^e are requested to direct attention to Jeyes’ Sanitary 
Compounds. The article known as Jeyes’ Sheep Dip, if used as a 
dressing for AA''heat and seeds, is said to protect them against birds, while 
a dilute solution of Jeyes’ Perfect Purifier, when sprinkled or syringed 
upon the leaves, stems, flowers and fruit of plants, refreshes them and 
destroys insect pests.” 
- The monthly meeting of the Belgian Horticulturists 
was held in Ghent on the 11th inst., when the following members were 
present:—MM. A. Peeters, Moens, A''. Cuvelier, Metdepenningen, Alf. 
A^an Imschoot, Al. Dalliere, G. Von Eeckhaute, Laurent Masuroel, C. 
Spae, A. AV'allem and Jules Closon, M. Jules Hye-Leysen presiding, and 
M. J. Boelens acting as Secretary. Certificates of merit were awarded 
for DracKnas Desmetiana and Comtesse de Kerchove from M. Desmet 
Duvivier ; for Nidularium argenteum striatum and Lomaria platyptera 
from M. Aug. A^'an Geert ; for Cattleyas Reineckiana and Mossire alba 
with a species of Lselia from M. James Bray ; for Cypripedium Mas- 
tersianum from M. A. Peeters ; for Cattleya Schroederi and Cypripedium 
Boxalli atratum superbum from M. Jules Hye-Leysen ; for Cypripedium 
Godefroyse bellatulum and Anthurium Andieanum Mad. Ed. Pynaert 
from MM. Jacob Makoy et Cie ; for Thuia Lobbi aurea from M. Alex. 
Dalliere ; for Odontoglossum crispum and Cattleya Mossise De Puydti 
from MM. Vervaet et Cie. Cultural certificates and honourable mention 
were also accorded to several Orchids. 
RHODODENDRONS AT HIGH BEECH. 
The High Beech Nursery is perhaps best knovvn to the horticultural 
world as the home of Me,s.srs. Paul & Son’s Tea Roses. But though an 
enormous space is devoted to these delicate flowers, the nursery is justlv 
famed for its Hollies, Conifers, and Rhododendrons, to say nothing of 
the bog garden recently formed by Mr. G. Paul, and which h.as been a 
source of great interest to lovers of this class of plants. But it is in 
connection with a visit on the 7th of June, piaid for the purpose of see¬ 
ing the Rhododendrons in their full beauty, that I wish to write a few 
notes. Seedlings are raised in thousands behind the Yew and Beech 
hedges, chiefly for grafting stocks, but the propagation is not done there, 
both stocks and scions being taken to Cheshunt, afterwards returning 
again till they are disposed of. The plants are seen in all stages, some 
only a foot high, while many of the standards are 8 or 0 feet high 
and 6 or 6 feet through, all bearing enormous masses of brilliant 
flowers. I always think the merits of a variety are best seen when 
grown in a mass, the habit is marked, as well as their floriferousness. 
The soil at High Beech appears to suit them ; it is a light peaty loam 
deeply dug, in which the plants seem to revel. Some of the early 
varieties were over, such as Henderson! and the new Mrs. C. Butler, 
but enough was to be seen to judge it an acquisition. I have only 
taken the names of the most striking. Many of the varieties are old 
and well tried, but some of the newer ones are good both in habit and 
flower. 
Everestianum, purplish lilac, carrying enormous trusses; Lord John 
Russell, rosy mauve, beautifully spotted ; Evelyn, large white, with 
fine foliage ; H. AV. Sargeant, crimson, one of the best ; The Queen, 
pure white, very distinct, with good habit; Lady Emily Peel, bright 
pink, neatly spotted ; Baroness Rothschild, red, fine truss ; Mrs. John 
Glutton, good white ; Beauty of Cheshunt, good pink, upper petals 
densely spotted ; Broughtoni, bright rose ; The Princess, beautiful white, 
with brown spots ; Princess Mary of Cambridg(!, rosy purple ; Madame 
A''an de AVeyer, fine crimson ; Mrs. Fitzgerald, very bright crimson ; 
Rosabel, deep blush ; Michael AVaterer, brilliant crimson ; Marguerite, 
blush, with large trusses ; F'rederick AV"aterer, bright crimson ; J. Mar¬ 
shall Brooks, scarlet, very distinct; Mrs. Shuttleworth, bright scarlet, 
spotted ; Sigismund Rucker, magenta, heavily spotted ; Mrs. Hene.age, 
purple ; Mrs. F. Hankey, salmon, pretty; and Old Port, fine large 
purple.— James B. Riding. 
MUSHROOMS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
This singular production at times baffles the skill of the most careful 
cultivator, whilst at other times it yields a large return to the roughest 
or most unexpectod position that was ever tried for their artificial 
growth. It therefore becomes difficult to lay down definite rules 
whereby a certain supply can be obtained at all times. At certain 
seasons, say the autumn months, beds carefully made up are almost 
sure to bear, because at that season they are produced naturally out of 
doors; later on, however, the chances diminish ; not but that equally 
good crops are obtained occasionally in February as in October, but the 
same treatment will not secure them at that time with a like certainty. 
All we can do in the way of reproducing the plant is by the mode 
common to many other plants—a fibrous root running through the 
ground sends up its produce singly, or in clusters, all around the origin 
of the spot from which the ramification took place. This fibrous sub¬ 
stance, technically called .spawn, is produced naturally in great abun¬ 
dance in some seasons and in certain places ; at other times it is found 
in dung-heaps which have lain long enough to allow it to properly fix 
itself, and many good crops of Mushrooms are the result, not the less 
worthy of attention by coming unexpectedly. These matters, however, 
all tend to the conclusion that the propagation and culture of Mush¬ 
rooms differ essentially from most other plants we are in the habit of 
bestowing much care on, and that, after all, disappointments now and 
then occur with the most experienced in such matters ; but a little 
examination into the principles which govern their growth out of doors 
may assist us much in regulating our treatment of those we endeavour 
to grow artificially. 
To make a bed with a view to ensui'e a crop, procure some good 
horse-droppings that have not been heated, some sheep-dung, if at 
hand, that has not lain long on the ground for the rain to wash away 
its richness. Let these be well mixed, and if there be any great 
quantity of it, let it be turned every day for a little time ; then every 
two days, as the heat may seem to be, and when it gets so far moderated 
as to give tokens of sweetness and steadiness, the bed may be made, 
which, if inside some budding where a little fire beat can be given, 
need not be more than 18 inches thick, and as long and wide as 
required ; but if the place be open, and not any means of warming it, a 
greater thickness of bed, with a more careful preparation of materials, 
so as to ensure against their overheating, must be resorted to, supposing 
that a place on purpose is to be had, with shelves in the usual way. I 
would, in making up the beds, throw in pieces of half-decayed turf, and 
also pieces of spawn; this is on the supposition that the latter is 
plentiful, which it ought to be. A good beating or treading is neces¬ 
sary, and, last of all, a good coating of fresh maiden loam, preferably 
from a pasture where Mushrooms are known to grow naturally ; this 
coating, however, had better be delayed a few days, until there be no 
danger of the bed overheating ; at the same time, it must heat a little. 
AVatering should not be done except for keeping the surface moist until 
the Mushrooms appear, when they may have a little ; tut if the bed 
seems to do well at first, it wouhl be better to avoid heavy waterings 
until the bed begins to go off, or partially cease, when a heavy watering 
will sometimes revive it again, and another good crop will be the issue, 
with an extended season of bearing. 
AVhere no shed nor outhouse exists in which to make up a Mush¬ 
room bed, and there is plenty of good horse dung to be had, a very 
