86 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 01, 1889. 
realise half price, and we are pleased to say that from all our customers, 
both in England, Ireland and Scotland, nothing but praise comes as to 
the quality of the Mushrooms grown by us. The whole length of the 
tunnel is occupied with Mushroom beds, and about 3000 tons of manure 
and soil are at present in use ; the work is like perpetual motion. New 
soil and manure go in daily, and the old soil is taken out, so that we 
have always beds coming forward, and thereby are able to supply our 
customers all the year round with fresh Mushrooms. We supply our 
Glasgow customers by ten o’clock in the forenoon with Mushrooms 
growing three hours previously, which can easily account for the demand 
as against the old fusty French ones two or three days old on arrival.” 
It is recorded in the “ Industries of Scotland ” that the aggregate length 
of the beds in the tunnel is three miles. 
Disused tunnels or mines, covered quarries, caves, or large cellars are 
admirably adapted for growing Mushrooms, as their equable moderate 
temperature enables crops to be produced at all times, even in the 
summer, when the heat is too great for their production above ground. 
STOKING AND FORCING. 
With the advancement of the year forcing will become 
pretty general. It is very interesting work, and especially so 
when we have suitable structures and appliances wherewith to 
carry it on. Instructions as to temperature and ventilation are 
repeatedly given in the Journal for the benefit of its readers, 
but seldom do we see advice given on firing—the chief means 
of obtaining the requisite temperature—a very important item in 
these days of strict economy in the garden. 
Forcing during the winter months means firing, and firing can 
be made a source of waste as regards fuel, as well as loss and 
disappointment in the houses. Stoking is, no doubt, very un¬ 
welcome work to many young gardeners, who generally have it 
to do, but they must learn how to do it, not only to the satis¬ 
faction of the gardener under whom they serve, but also that 
they may be able to direct those under them in the work when 
they are themselves appointed to responsible positions. It is not 
so much the kind of fuel, but the use which is made of it that 
leads to waste or otherwise. Young men should take into con¬ 
sideration the anxiety they save the gardener when they are 
thoroughly relied upon in their duties, at night especially. A house 
of Grapes, for instance, is soon ruined after the berries are set, 
if, through a little careless stoking, the temperature is raised too 
high at night. I well remember a case of this sort, and also how 
the head gardener was “ put out ” about it. 
Some men are not content unless they are often praised for 
their work. I would say to such, Be well satisfied if you give no 
cause for grumbling, never mind the praise; absence of fault¬ 
finding may be taken as praise. Habitual grumblers are, I am 
sure, few, and if it is the lot of any to serve under such, never 
mind, but satisfy your own conscience when performing your 
duties, and untimately you will gain respect, if not open praise. 
The first thing to be considered is a tidy stokehole and clean 
flues round the boiler. The condition of the stokehole I have 
invariably found to be a pretty sure test of the habits of the 
stoker himself. When the heat is required to be raised in the 
houses, begin with a small flat fire, with no dust at the back of 
the fire-bars, and no fire scarcely on the fire-plate. The dust will 
prevent a proper draught passing through, and fuel on the fire- 
plate is unnecessary. Put a few shovelfuls on the fire occasion¬ 
ally, on no account piling on a lot at once, which will prevent the 
heat having full play upon the boiler. As soon as the requisite 
temperature is acquired throw on a little fuel and damp ashes, at 
the same time closing the dampers so as to leave a steady draught 
up the chimney. The stoker must observe the weather. If the 
sun appears to be promising a bright warm day he will not need to 
have the temperature by artificial means quite so high, the heat 
from the sun being husbanded for the purpose of raising the 
temperature. Especially must this be taken note of a little further 
on in the spring when the sun gains power. In clear frosty 
weather, too, the pipes must not be overheated, as this would 
result in weak spindly growth, and it is generally the case that the 
fires burn brightest then, and so overheat the pipes if not 
regulated. 
Different kinds of fuel are used—coke and coal chiefly. When 
banking-up the fire at night it should be done with a moderate¬ 
sized clear fire pushed well back before banking-up, always leaving 
a space of a few inches between the surface of the fuel and the top 
of the boiler. In the case of coke or coals being used a few damp 
ashes should be placed on the front part of the fuel and made firm 
with the back of the fireshovel. When small coal slack is used 
great care must be taken in banking up, else the fire will burn out 
hollow, leaving a black ridge of unconsumed slack between the fire 
and the boiler ; the consequences are—the pipes are nearly cold 
and the temperatures much too low the next morning. To 
prevent this the fire should be as stated above—bright at banking- 
up time and pushed well back in the furnace—then throw on the 
slack as usual, which will be gradually consumed to the furnace 
doors, and the temperatures not far off the mark next morning. In 
attending to the fire the following morning, if there be a fair bright 
one, pull it all towards the furnace doors and rake the dust through 
the bars ; then put the live coals back, place on a little fuel, and 
give all the draught possible for a time ; but if the fire is rather low 
simply ease it up, put on a shovelful or two of fine fuel, open all 
dampers, and allow it to burn up for a while ; then the dust and 
clinkers can be removed in the manner before stated. If the 
attempt is made to remove them the first time with such a fire it 
will probably be put out altogether. 
The above remarks apply to the heating of boilers and hot-water 
pipes chiefly. In the case of flues a small steady fire should be the 
rule, never attempting to raise the temperature with a large one, as 
red spider will soon appear as one result from such fires, giving 
trouble which should be avoided. —G. Garner, Amberwood 
Gardens, Hants. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
We are asked to state that the metropolitan Show of this Society 
has been fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12th and 13th, 
at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, the following Judges having been 
appointed :—Messrs. Donald & Prickett for plants ; J. Douglas and G. 
Gordon, for incurved blooms ; E. Molyneux and E. Beckett for Japanese 
blooms ; with Lewis Castle and W. G. Head for miscellaneous cut bloom 
classes ; and reserve Judges in each section. The National Society’s- 
provincial Show at Hull will be held on Thursday and Friday, Novem¬ 
ber 21st and 22nd, those dates having been chosen instead of Novem¬ 
ber 14th and 15th previously announced by the Hull Society. A very 
liberal schedule of open classes has been provided for the last-mentioned 
Show, to which we shall have occasion to refer again. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM AMY FURZE. 
This is an especial favourite with many cultivators I find, owing to- 
its peculiar colour, a blush rose with a lilac tinge, but sometimes the 
blooms are pale in colour and have a washy ” appearance. When 
well cultivated the blooms are very deep, more so than any variety that 
I know when compared with the width of each bloom. Some societies 
are doubtful what to do with this variety, whether to recognise it as a 
Japanese or a reflexed variety, as few societies have yet been able to 
make a class exclusively for Japanese reflexed. My advice to com¬ 
mittees of societies who want to see this variety upon the exhibition 
table, and yet who are doubtful as to its proper class, is to add a note to 
the special class in which they consider it ought to be shown, whether 
Japanese or reflexed. In this way exhibitors would know exactly what 
to do without fear of disqualification, and judges would be relieved of 
responsibility. My opinion is that if is to be much shown it must be 
admitted into the reflexed class, where one does not exist for Japanese 
reflexed, as it is generally decidedly too small to take a high position 
amongst the ordinary Japanese varieties. Exhibitors will soon be alive 
to this fact, and will consequently cease growing the variety with a 
view to exhibition if it is to be admitted in the Japanese class only. 
Societies which are not bound by the rules of the “ National,” are, of 
course, at liberty to use their own discretion with regard to any variety. 
I mention this now as the schedules will soon be in course of pre¬ 
paration for the coming season, and committees must come to some 
decision. The wording might be somewhat in the following manner :— 
Twelve blooms reflexed in eight varieties (Amy Furze admissible) or to 
the contrary if desired. This would render the matter clear to all 
concerned.—E. Molyneux. 
KENT COUNTY CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of the Kent County Chrysanthemum 
Society was held at Blackheath on the 23rd inst. The report of the 
Committee showed the Society to be in a flourishing condition, nearly 200 
members having been enrolled in the first year of its existence, the 
greater part of these membersibeing growers of the Chrysanthemu m within 
the county. The President of the Society, F. W. Prior, Esq., in his 
address to the meeting, said he felt very much honoured at presiding 
over such a body of fellow lovers of the Chrysanthemum, and he felt 
sure that growers in Kent would stick to their laurels gained during the 
past year and advance their Society still more. The Society was par¬ 
ticularly fortunate in finding in Mr. H. A. Needs such a thoroughly 
energetic Secretary, who felt great interest in the Chrysanthemum and 
in the Society. The dates fixed for the next show were the 6th and 7th 
