November 28, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
983 
Bouvardias.—As these useful flowering plants go out of 
flower reduce the supply of water gradually in order to assist 
in ripening the wood, as on this depends in great measure 
profuse flowering next year. The plants must, still bei kept in a 
house where some fire-heat is applied for the same reason. 
When all the foliage has fallen, they may be stored under a 
sta^e in the greenhouse, where drip does not, reach the roots. 
Cinerarias.—Continue to feed the late' batches a,s previously 
advised and maintain plenty of moisture round about the pots, 
but, not overhead. These plants derive much benefit, from well- 
diluted sootrwater applied once or twice a. week. K. M. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Protecting Choice Shrubs.—The protection of those shrubs 
which are not sufficiently hardy to withstand a, severe winter 
will now occupy the attention of the cultivator, and should be 
proceeded with without delay. After the wet and sunless 
summer it is quite probable that we may experience severe 
frosts, so that any new or choice shrubs which have not proved 
quite hardy should also be covered, and in the case of small 
rarei plants it will be advisable, to lift and pot them, wintering 
in a cold frame or house. When protecting small or medium- 
sized shrubs in the borders; it is essential that the work should 
be done in as neat a manner as possible, so; that the bracken 
or whatever material is used does not become loose and blown 
about. The branches should be tied up to the central stake, 
not tightly, so that they do not become damaged, and three 
or more sticks placed firmly round, according to the size of 
the plant, and all tied securely together at the top. The 
bracken can, them be placed round between the sticks, and the 
whole kept together by winding string round several time®. 
When shrubs of a fair size—that is to say, from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in 
height—have to be protected, a very good method is to place 
several stakes round and tie a mat to them, leaving it open 
at the top, when, if necessary, another mat, can be tied over. 
Wall shrubs of doubtful hardiness will be rendered practically 
safe if a mat is tied or nailed over them. 
Some Ornamental Ligustrums.—Apart from the two well- 
known Privets which one sees in, almost every garden—namely, 
L. vulgare and L. ovalifolium, which are generally used for thei 
formation of hedges, there are several other varieties, deserving 
of extended culture, some on account of their value as flower¬ 
ing shrubs, and others for the beauty of their foliage. Par¬ 
ticularly noticeable are some of the variegated kinds at, this 
season, and, considering their value, it is, 'surprising] that one 
does not see them more frequently used, a,s few things are 
brighter or give a, more pleasing effect. The Privets are well 
adapted to several forms of planting, the various golden, and 
variegated forms making fine beds on. the lawn, or as single 
specimens on grass or - in the slrrubbery. In, bold rockwork, 
too, they can, also be used with splendid effect, and small plants, 
a foot, or so, in, height are very suitable for planting in large 
vases toi remain through the winter, when the summer-flower¬ 
ing plant,s are taken out. Thei Golden Oval-leaved Privet 
(Ligustnun ovalifolium foliis-aureis) is one, of the most popular 
and useful for all purposes, being bright in colom" and with 
a neat appearance, answering well when closely pruned to 
form a dense growth or allowed to makei a specimen. L. 
i, argenteum exoelsum, though seldom .seen,, is onei of the most, 
effective, and quite distinct from any of the others. Though 
not a strong grower, it, forms a shapely bush, and thei varie¬ 
gated foliage-when young is pleasingly suffused with pink. 
L. ovalifolium argenteum elegansis a somewhat new variety 
; with pale green foliage, edged with light gold, and worthy of 
1 a place on account of its distinct variegation and habit. 
L.lucidum, with green foliage, forms a, handsome, bush, and 
the large spikes of creamy white flowers are, very showy. 
There arei several varieties of this, one named inacroph’yllum 
being worthy cf notice, having large, shining leaves, also a 
variegated form ; and Triomphe de Bordeaux, which is a, veiy 
j strong grower. L. coriaceum is suitable for planting on small 
rock or the margin of the shrubbery, being of very slow growth. 
The leaves are closely arranged on short stems, and a- very 
dark, lustrous green, the colour alone being-most distinct. 
Two other desirable varieties are L. japonicum variegatum, 
the foliage being suffused with red and white, and L. sinense 
floribundum, which has slender branches, and is very free 
flowering. There are also several varieties with a, pendulous 
habit, and these look extremely well when grafted on, to a, 
good length of stem so as to form specimens, but they should 
be securely staked, as high winds are liable to damage the 
branches. All the Privets succeed well in the majority of 
soils, but that of a heavy loam or clayey nature seems the 
best, and a good open position is; necessary to fully develop 
the colour of the foliage, especially with the variegated forms," 
as these if overshadowed will assume a sickly pallor which is 
moist, unsatisfactory. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens;, Elstree, Herts. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Mushrooms. •—Po-ssibly nothing cultivated under the head¬ 
ing of vegetables causes more anxiety, care and forethought 
than these when a regular supply has to be maintained all 
through the year, a,nd this is expected in many,establishments. 
Even when every facility is provided for producing them, and 
all possible pains taken to ensure a crop, I have repeatedly 
known complete failures. Often, oven- anxiety is the cause of 
this. As I have before pointed out, it is not those who are 
possessed of the most, modern and elaborate structures that, a,s 
a, rule, succeed best. Bouglily constructed buildings in some 
out-of-the-way corner", old and disused caves, saw-pits or cellars 
are generally better for their culture; in fact, I know of no 
more suitable place than caves; and if, instead of building 
houses above ground, people would only excavate and arrange 
for their culture underneath where opportunities 1 offer, and 
this can generally be managed, much less expensei would bei 
incurred in, the first outlay, and afterwards practically nothing 
as regards the upkeep. One great, item which can be disposed 
of is hot-water pipes, as, by judicious management, the tem¬ 
perature can be so regulated that even in the severe-st weather 
they would not be required. To promote a quick growth a,t 
this season, introduce fresh droppings into the place, whatever 
it. may be, where these are being grown, sufficient, to create a 
nice beat. This should be turned each morning, which is the 
very- thing to stimulate and bring to perfection good Musk- 
rooms in the dead of winter. I have dealt at some length for 
a calendar on these, but having to produce them daily myself 
through the whole year, and I may say that for nearly twenty 
years we have rarely been without, them, it may help, those who, 
like myself when I first, took over the responsibilities of a 
garden, found much difficulty in cultivating them satisfactorily, 
and once when I wa,s in great difficulties respecting them, I 
well remember walking some miles to see, what, I was told was 
a veiy successful cultivator. I found this, to- be absolutely 
true, as I saw beds in, all stages promising well. The man in 
charge treated me most kindly, and after explaining to bint 
the object, of my visit and the trouble I was in, be in a few 
words did more to instruct me than I had ever been taught 
before. Do away with your costly bouses, said lie, , clear away 
thei hot-water pipe®, thatch the whole of the building inside 
with straw, get- your spawn from a reliable source, and en¬ 
deavour to promote the temperature and atmospheric condi¬ 
tions as near like' a September month as possible, and "you will 
have no cause for further complaint. This was rather irksome 
to me, a,s I had just put my employer to the] expense of a, new 
Mushroom house; consequently I returned home a, somewhat, 
sadder but wiser man, and I resolved to carry out, his advice 
as near to the letter as possible, which I have, done even- since, 
- and have always been, grateful for my friend’s kindly advice. 
The manure which is used for creating warmth should in; turni 
when ready be made into, beds and freHi supplies take, its' place. 
Good Mushrooms may be grown through the winter in a tem¬ 
perature of 50 deg. to 55 deg. of heat, and in extremely cold' 
