January 57,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
65 
night unglazed pots become unsightly. In many places pots are all 
washed once a week, and it may be said that in spite of the most careful 
handling on the part of the washers) the plants are often none the 
better of the washing day. In the case of many Orchids that root 
down the outsides of the pots it is impossible that pot-washing can be 
carried out without some injury being done. 
Some people may urge that glazed pots are dearer than unglazed 
ones, and so they are, but the saving effected in labour, and the 
cleanliness always associated with them, also the saving of much pulling 
about to the plants, and in the case of Orchids entire avoidance of 
root-bruising or breaking, more than compensate for any extra ex¬ 
pense at first, in connection with glazed pots.—S. 
MUSHROOMS IN BOXES. 
I have pleasure in giving my experience in Mushroom culture. Let 
me preface my account by crediting that excellent treatise “ Mushrooms 
for the Million,” as the sole medium of my knowledge attained in the 
art of growing Mushrooms. My experience has been twofold, both of 
which have been under circumstances when one would have almost 
expected failure on account of the really miniature trials, and yet in both 
cases I can but believe I have been almost more than successful. 
My first attempt was in the open, on the north side of a hedge and 
really beneath the same. There I made up (after a few turnings only) 
a very small ridge in August, comprising perhaps not more than four 
wheelbarrows full of horse droppings. This ridge speedily rose in heat 
to 120° and upon declining to 80° an inch below the surface. I spawn all 
as directed and did the et-ceteras, following closely the instructions in the 
manual. In due time Mushrooms were pushing through in all directions, 
and I have gathered from time to time, even to the present, what I 
consider from size of bed a fairly good crop ; indeed, but for the trouble 
of slugs the product would have been excellent. 
My second effort lay in the direction of boxes kept in my 
cellar, the sizes of which are scarce 2 feet long and 1 foot in 
Fig. 10.—Growing Mushrooms in boxes. 
width. These (three in number) were filled with fresh droppings, 
without any preparation, beaten down firmly, and duly spawned 
at the above quoted temperature. They have been in bearing 
over two months, and some hundred fine and perfect Mushrooms 
have been gathered from the same, some of which have weighed 4 ozs. 
At the time of writing, with the thermometer at 42° in my cellar, one 
of the said boxes is quite a picture ; indeed, bunches of a dozen fine 
Mushrooms have gladdened the eyes of the amateur grower as the product 
of these tiny hotbeds. As a covering to these I have used oat husks, and 
the Mushrooms have in consequence been most beautifully clean with 
bright salmon-coloured gills, milky white exterior, and of delicious flavour. 
I have another large box, which I have spawned,- and at the surface of 
which I have kept the temperature for three weeks at 60° to 70°, and in 
regard to which I have no doubt as to the issue. I should certainly, 
from the experience I have gained, be adverse to more than a few 
turnings, when the bulk of material is small. .With given opportunities 
1 hope to make further trials in this culture, and have little doubt of 
failure if I faithfully adhere, almost to the letter, to the instructions in 
the manual above quoted.—T. Fowlek, 5, Brighton Road, Cheltenham. 
We send by this post a photograph of Mushrooms grown fiom our 
spawn by Mr. Frank Ford, gardener, at the Frindesbury Brewery, Strood. 
T ou will see the form they are grown in, and they may be grown by 
almost anyone in any cellar. These boxes are made up about every 
month, and. they afford a regular supply of Mushrooms, except in the 
very hot weather, when of course they do not succeed very well. We 
were at a place the other day in the midland counties, and to our surprise 
a man asked whether Mushrooms could be grown in a room, and we 
replied that we thought it would be a very peculiar place to grow them ; 
but he showed us in his dining-room under the table a box quite as well 
done as shown in the enclosed photograph, and there was no unpleasant 
smell from the manure. As they can be grown so easily, everyone 
should try and produce them.— William Cutbush and Son. 
[A similar instance of growing Mushrooms “ under the table ” in a 
dwelling, as well as in a cupboard in the room, is recorded on page 101 
Of “ Mushrooms for the Million,”' the crops being quite as good as those 
engraved from the Brewery photograph. Good spawn is essential to 
success, and in both the cases alluded to it was undoubtedly good, 
though obtained from different sources. It is only right to say that no 
particular brand is specially adapted to this or any method of culture, 
and the best of spawn fails to produce satisfactory crops in the absence 
of good manure and management.] 
ROOT-PRUNING. 
In the Journal of December 23rd the following question is asked 
by an “ Old Soldier,” Has root-pruning done the moBt good or the 
most harm to the fruit supply of this country? No doubt the 
question is important and suggestive, as well as interesting, to all 
fruit growers. Of the value of root-pruning in order to check the 
too-luxuriant growth of trees and induce fruitfulness there is no 
doubt, as myself and others have oft m proved ; but I am not awore 
of any direct or reliable evidence whereby we can decide the main 
part of the question. If I state my opinion upon the wide view of 
the question, it is that root-pruning has not as yet substantially and 
generally improved our fruit supply, for two reasons. The large 
plantations and orchards of this country from which our large 
supplies come have not as a rule been subjected to that treatment, 
because it would not pay ; the plan adopted, and which is considered 
more economical and safe is, when a tree proves barren or partially 
so that cannot be relied upon, it is soon taken out and another one 
planted, the grower's aim being to have large, well-developed trees, 
so as to produce both quantity and quality, and to root-prune large 
trees would be in his case a waste of time and labour, with a doubt! ul 
result. Cutting off the top and grafting would be considered a more 
practical and speedy operation. I am, therefore, of opinion that in 
their case, if root-pruning is practised, it has not proved of any 
practical and profitable advantage. I should be pleased, however, to 
hear that my opinion is not well founded. 
I now come to professional gardeners, amateurs, and other small 
growers, and I believe it is to them we must look for a more decisive, 
answer to the question. Probably they have studied the system care¬ 
fully and carried it out practical'y according to the reciprocity of 
action between root and branch, the result being an increased supply 
and an improvement in quility according to soil and situation. But 
the amateur and small grower are placed at a disadvantage ; their 
knowledge of how, why, and when root-pruning should be done 
is as yet imperfect; these questions will be solved by time and close 
observation. 
It has been too much a custom for many among them to root- 
prune trees off-hand, whether they wanted it or not, and in such a 
clumsy, impracticable way, that the operation is an abuse of the 
system instead of a benefit to the tree. This, I am glad to say, is 
more exceptional than general, but when a more practical knowledge 
of root-pruning and its advantages become generally known and 
carried out, we may then be able to get at some reliable statistics as 
to the influence root-pruning has upon our fruit supply, and I venture 
to prophesy it would be decidedly in its favour.— Thomas Record. 
THE ROYAL JUBILEE AND THE ROYAL 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Nearly every class of the community are doubtless anxious to mark 
in some form the Jubilee of Her Majesty. Many suggestions have been 
mooted to hold exhibitions and raise institutions that shall stand out as 
monuments of loyalty to the Queen who has won affections of her sub¬ 
jects. Horticulturists are no less loyal than any other portion of the 
community, and I do not doubt that they too would be pleased to carry 
out some project that would prove of benefit, not only to the present, 
but future generations. 
Many ideas have been discussed to commemorate the year of Jubilee 
in the provinces by gardeners and associations to which they are con¬ 
nected, but nothing definite has been settled on a large scale. Neither 
do I think it possible that anything worthy can be accomplished by in¬ 
dependent action in any one district. This is the case in the provinces, 
but it may be different in and about the metropolis. London seems to 
be the heart of horticulture, and something substantial might there be 
achieved without the aid of those who dwell in the provinces. But this 
is neither wise nor desirable, for efforts to produce any work or carry out 
a scheme of magnitude would be more or less paralysed and narrowed by 
limitation ; but with the united effort, energy, and perseverance of 
horticulturists throughout the country a great undertaking may be ac¬ 
complished, and one that could be pointed to w r ith pride in years to 
come. 
Horticulturists as a rule are slow of action, but when they see clearly 
the object before them they rise to the occasion and respond with energy 
and will. There is unmistakeably a kind of freemasonry amongst gardeners, 
for they are always willing to lend a helping hand to any good work, 
whether to assist a needy member of the craft or a widow that has been 
