270 
THE FLORIST. * 
possible, either at top, or by means of ventilators cut in the body of the 
frame. Water only sparingly, taking advantage of a fine day, and 
then not giving them a thimble full, but a tolerably good supply. 
Cover up carefully at night, either with mats or “ frigi domo,” and keep 
the frost from them as much as possible. Early in February they will 
look probably very seedy, but if they have a good stout heart, never 
mind. Take out now an inch or two of the surface soil, and top dress 
with somewhat richer stuff than they were potted in, but of the same 
character. Turn your frame right round, so that it face the south. 
Now replace all your plants, give more water, and as the weather 
becomes warmer you will see the necessity of being more liberal in the 
supply ; the trusses will now be throwing up, and your care and 
anxiety will be, if you are a real florist, thoroughly repaid. 
Probably most of our readers recollect Mr. Punch's advice to people 
about to marry—“ Don't! ” Now let me say, if when you have done 
all this you feel inclined to leave home, and to put your pets under the 
charge of a respectable old man, who thinks a Cabbage far beyond an 
Auricula, I, too, would say— “Don't!" But let me urge all who 
desire to grow them properly to avoid all stimulating stuff and wet. I 
am told there is sad havoc this year amongst English growers, owing to 
their neglect of the latter caution, one having saved only five plants out 
of 1000 ! 
And now a word or two as to sorts. Owing to a printer’s error when 
I wrote last about them, I have had several letters about the list I gave 
—reasonable was printed remarkable. My object in that list was 
simply to give the names of a few which were within everybody’s 
reach ; I w r ould now add those of a few more expensive ones in each 
class. 
GREEN 
Booth’s Freedom 
Dickson’s Duke of Cambridge 
Leigh’s Colonel Taylor 
EDGED. 
Lightbody’s Sir John Moore 
Hudson’s Apollo 
Page’s Champion 
GREY EDGED. 
Chapman’s Maria 
Cheetham’s Lancashire Hero 
Lightbody’s Richard Headley 
Lightbody’s Alma 
Maclean’s Unique 
Bone’s Perfection 
Gaines’ Model 
Lightbody’s Meteor Fl^g 
August 18, 1858. 
WHITE EDGED. 
Lightbody’s Countess of Dunmore 
SELFS. 
Martin’s Eclipse 
D. 
CULTIVATION OF MUSHROOMS. 
Haying met with considerable success in the cultivation of Mushrooms, 
both as regards the quantity and quality of the produce, I am naturally 
led to ascribe it to the method I have practised. I will first speak of 
the preparation of the spawn, which I manage in the following manner : 
I collect pure cow r -dung, not fresh, but such as I happen to find in 
