October 22, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
839 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Mushrooms. —These can now be produced with much greater 
ea*o than has been the case for the past three months, and 
every bed possible should be made up at this season where 
constant supplies of fresh; Mushrooms are in request. For- 1 
innately, Mushrooms may be grown in almost any position, 
either under cover or in the open, and it frequently happens 
that much better results are obtained from rude, home-made 
structures than is the case with elaborately fitted up Mush¬ 
room houses. Unquestionably, one of the. most important 
factors, is the collecting and preparing of the manure, and this 
should be. done as much as possible before the droppings have 
been allowed to remain in the heap too long, and that from 
light horses is always preferable to heavy draught ones. Too 
much care need nob be exercised in taking too much of the 
short straw away, as this rather helps than otherwise. An 
open shed, at this, season of the year especially, is by far the 
best place to prepare it previous to making the beds, and the 
heap should be turned every morning at first, and later every 
other day will suffice until the heat is well on the decline. 
Beds which are just coming into hearing in sheds where there 
are no hot water pipes will be much assisted if hot, sweet 
manure, is placed in the paths .and turned over every morning, 
and to any beds which have been in. bearing for 1 some time and 
show signs of exhaustion give a. thorough .soaking of tepid 
farmyard manure water, fairly strong, which will give quite a 
new lease of life, to the beds. Slugs have a particular liking 
for Mushrooms, and will do a, considerable amount of damage 
as the young buttons make their appearance. Diligent, search 
must be made for those with, a."light during the evening, when 
they can be soon exterminated. Wood-lice are also, very 
troublesome in many places, and the best wa.y to get rid of 
these is to pour a good quantity of boding water all round 
the outside, of the beds during early evening, which will do. no 
harm to the Mushroom .crop. 
Cucumbers. —Plants which are intended to produce fruit 
all through the winter should now be strong and well-estab¬ 
lished. A good strong bottom heat will be necessary, and 
maintain a moist growing atmosphere. Strenuously avoid 
overcropping the plants, otherwise they will become much 
exhausted before mid-winter, and great, difficulty will be found 
in maintaining a, supply. Never allow the fruits to remain 
on the plants after they are a, fair size, but cut, place in, waiter, 
and if kept, in the same, tempera hire as that in which they have 
been growing they will last for many days in good condition. 
Red spider, thrip and mildew are each often very troublesome 
to the Cucumber grower in winter, each of which must be 
nipped .in the bud by using the approved remedies on their 
first appearance. 
Cauliflowers. — All seedlings sown during last month should 
now he pricked off into cold frames about four inches apart 
all ways'. Avoid using too rich a. compost; indeed, it. can 
hardly be too poor. Make it very firm and give the plants a 
good watering in. The lights may be kept closed for two. or 
three days, but avoid coddling in any way, and abundance of 
a.ir .should be given all through the winter months on every 
favourable opportunity. Late spring sowings of Autumn Giant 
should now be lifted with good balls of earth and layered in 
either cold frames or pits. These will give .splendid little 
heads for the next two or .three: months, which are sure to be 
appreciated. Cauliflowers and Broccoli which are now turn¬ 
ing in .should be looked over every other day, and all the more 
forward one® cut and stored in a, cool plaice, whilst those, which 
are not sufficiently developed .should have plenty of leaves 
placed over the heads to prevent frost damaging them. 
Asparagus. —Preparations should now be made for forcing 
this, and few things answer more readily to it. A mild, gentle 
bottom beat either in the forcing house or heated pits is the 
best place for it at this season. Strongs clumps should be 
selected and placed in position as. soon, as possible after lifting, 
covering the crowns about four inches with fine soil. 
E. Beckett. 
Aldemham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Ixoras. —These plants are not so frequently met with as 
they once, were, yet there, are few to equal them for making 
a, gorgeous display in the stove, during the .summer and autumn 
months. The. plants delight, in abundance of heat and mois¬ 
ture during active growth, so if the pots can be plunged in a 
bed of fermenting material so. much the. better. From mow 
onwards they should be inured to. more air and less moisture 
in order to. mature the young growths, as from these proceed 
the. blossoms in the ensuing year. Although it is. not advised 
t.o actually dry off the plants, yet the amount of uniter applied 
must now be gradually reduced. As soon as the flowers a.re 
past their best the plants should be thoroughly cleansed by 
laying them on, their sides and syringing with petroleum, on» 
wineglass, to the gallon of rainwater. Apply with force, as it 
is well known that scale and mealy-bug secrete themselves 
in the crevices of the old wood, thus .making them somewhat 
difficult to dislodge. Keep the plants up to the light and 
dispense with shading. 
Rondoletias. — These alto are handsome stove-flowering 
plants and should be accorded similar treatment to the fore¬ 
going at this season. It. is most essential to well ripen the 
growths to ensure free-flowering in ensuing years. 
Ferns. —The time has, arrived for affording most species 
.a partial rest. Adiantums especially should be kept, quiet', 
if an abundance, of well-developed young fronds are looked 
for early in the spring. It. is. good practice where large quan¬ 
tities .are grown to set, apart a batch that, show signs of ex¬ 
haustion through hard picking and allow them to. die down 
gradually by withholding waiter, and when most of the fronds 
are decayed cut them over and keep quite dry and cool for a, 
few weeks. These will be ready for repotting early in, the 
new year, and if placed in heat and encouraged 'to. grow will 
quickly form new fronds. 
Solanum Capsicastrum —A batch of well-berried plants 
of these is of inestimable value for conservatory and room 
decoration in, winter, and assuming that the plants have been 
grown in the open during summer and recently potted up 
they should now be introduced to a, temperate house in order 
to ripen the berries, hut on no. account must hard forcing be 
resorted to or the, berries will fall prematurely. 
When well re-established in the pots commence, feeding 
judiciously, and continue this until the berries Are n'cely colour¬ 
ing, when clear water only should be given,. There is no 
better stimulant for these than, fresh sheep or cow manure 
waiter well diluted. 
Cinerarias. —The earliest batches of these will soon be 
showing flower, and feeding will no longer be nececsary. The 
later plants will, however, be greatly benefited by continuing to 
■apply .manure for some time to come, and If any require 
another shift into larger pots it sbo Id be attended to forth¬ 
with. 
Composts. — It, isi necessary to see that plenty of the various, 
potting soils are under cover, for at any time we may experi¬ 
ence cold heavy rains and severe frosts, which would make 
them unsuitable for use. if left, in, the open. The present time 
is opportune for digging the top-spit from, a, loamy pasture 
and stacking it for winter and spring use. Tree leaves that 
were saved last winter should now be removed and placed in 
a neat, heap, thus making room for new ones which will soon 
need, .collecting. It .should be borne in mind that Oak and 
Beech leaves are best for potting purposes. 
Watering plants —This is one of the most important opera¬ 
tions the gardener is called upon to. perform, and on its-proper 
performance depends in great measure success in plant grow¬ 
ing under glass. The cultivator should keep in mind the con¬ 
ditions under which the various plants under his care exist 
in their native country, and follow a, course of procedure, as 
nearly allied to nature a,s circumstances permit. Close ob¬ 
servation justifies me in saying that more failures may be at¬ 
tributed to injudicious watering than to any other cause, and 
although close watchfulness, is necessary all the year round, yet 
