March 7, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
*75 
Garzas. 
How and What 
To Grow. . . . 
During the past few years these showy 
and useful subjects have increased in 
public favour, and one has only to see 
the beautiful varieties exhibited at each 
Temple Show, by Messrs. Cannell and 
Sons, to realise the gorgeous effect that 
may be produced by their use. 
They may be raised by sowing the seed 
in the early months of the year, first 
soaking the seed in water, but the best 
way to obtain a good show is to buy 
named varieties from a reputable firm 
and increase them by division, and I will 
endeavour to explain the system of cul¬ 
ture which we have found successful. 
In January stocks that have been rest¬ 
ing all the winter should .be brought out, 
knocked from their, pots and carefully 
divided, leaving an eye or growing point 
to each division. They should Be potted 
in as small pots as they will go into, in 
a compost of loam two parts, half part 
each of leaf-soil and peat, and a good 
sprinkling of sand, passing the whole 
through a 5 in. sieve, and taking care 
in all cases to use well-crocked pots. 
After potting plunge them in tan, in a 
heated frame or pit having a temperature 
of 65 'to 70 degs. Fah. 
Till they start making growth they are 
best sprayed over with a syringe daily, 
later they may be watered with a can. 
When nicely established they may be 
potted into 5, 6, or 7 in. pots, according 
to their size and vigour, using for this 
potting three, parts of fibrous loam, 
picked to pieces by hand, one part of 
leaf-soil, and a good sprinkling of sand, 
while to each barrow-load of this mixture 
may be added a 5 inch pot of bonemeal 
and the same of soot. 
After potting return them to the pit till 
they are again started, when they may be 
placed in a light house or. pit having a 
day temperature of 60 degs. 
When their flower spikes appear feed 
them twice a week, using Clay’s Ferti¬ 
liser and Chinchas guano, 1 oz. to a gal¬ 
lon of water. During their period of 
flowering they may be kept in quite a cool 
house. 
After flowering plunge them in a bed of 
ashes outside in a sunny position, and 
i continue to feed them, alternating the 
above manures with liquid farmyard 
manure. They will soon throw fresh 
flower spikes, when they may again be 
housed, and this treatment may be con¬ 
tinued till the autumn, when they should 
be well ripened off in a vinery or similar 
structure, giving water decreasingly till 
the tops die down, after which they may 
be stored away in the dry, where the tem¬ 
perature does not fall below 40 degs. 
They are not very subject to insect 
pests, green fly being the worst offender, 
and this may be kept in check by occa¬ 
sional fumigations of X L All. - 
The varieties are so numerous that to 
enumerate them is needless. Messrs. 
CanneH and Sons in their Floral Guide 
publish a good selection. 
r , ,, F. W. Speed. 
topped Hall Gardens, Epping, Essex. 
JVtushfooms 
And Their Culture. 
“ The Culture of Mushrooms,” was the 
title of a paper read before the members 
of the Croydon and District Horticultural 
Mutual Improvement Society at their last 
meeting by Mr. C. W. Benger, F.R.H.S., 
nurseryman, Mitcham, who may be con¬ 
sidered a considerable grower of this appe¬ 
tising esculent, for as he mentioned he 
gathered over 30 cwt. since last Oc¬ 
tober. Provided one is careful as to 
detail, said Mr. Benger, the growing may 
be practised successfully by all who have 
the convenience of a garden or houses. 
Making up the material is the first point 
to be considered. This should be composed 
of horse manure, with a good quantity of 
straw litter, stacked in big heaps. After 
it has been lying in this condition for a 
time a good heat will be generated. It 
should then be turned over, taking away 
all the long straw and the shorter material 
stacked again, adding a little moisture. 
Turn again every other day at least after 
it has lain about seven days, and 
this turning should be done five 
or six times, adding moisture when 
it becomes dry. The beds should 
be prepared outdoors 3 ft. high and about 
3 ft. at the base, tapering to a point; 
tread the manure as firmly as possible. 
To prevent burning out make holes in the 
ridge of the bed with a pointed stake. The 
spawning should be done about a fort¬ 
night after the beds have been made, and 
the temperature of the bed should be from 
70 to 80 degs. F ahr. A week after spawn¬ 
ing, a little fresh soil should be placed 
on the bed to a depth of one inch, and 
well patted down with a spade. Cover 
over with litter, and in very cold weather 
the addition of old sacking or hop pockets 
will greatly preserve the temperature. He 
impressed very strongly the necessity for 
correct temperature, for this is the all im¬ 
portant point between success and failure. 
Moisten occasionally with tepid water, put 
on with a rose water can, and the holes 
made to allow the high temperature to 
escape should be filled occasionally with 
water, thus allowing a uniform moisture 
in the bed. The crop should be ready 
about six weeks after spawning, and will 
extend over a period of several months, 
providing proper care is bestowed on it. 
He did not recommend using salt or any 
other material when watering. Growing 
indoors, the- treatment is very similar to 
that adopted in the outdoor ridges, except 
that the surface should be made flat and 
the material well trodden down to a depth 
of twelve to fifteen inches, before insert¬ 
ing the spawn, a little soil should be 
shaken over the bed and moisture added, 
as it becomes dry. No covering of loose 
litter is required, and to prevent too much 
sun heat under glass, paint the roof with 
a little lime-wash, the old idea of grow¬ 
ing them in the dark being quite dis¬ 
pelled. A minimum temperature in the 
house should be not less than 55 degrees. 
Like everything else in the gardener’s oc¬ 
cupation, he must pay strict attention to 
his subject, otherwise he will be courting 
failure . . 
Colonial-Grown Fruit and Vegetables (both 
Fresh and Preserved). 
The President and Council of the Royal 
Horticultural Society have again arranged 
to hold an exhibition of Colonial-grown 
fruit and vegetables at their Hall in Vin¬ 
cent Square, Westminster, on March the 
5th and 6th next. Sir Somerset French, 
K.C.M.G., the newly-appointed Agent- 
General for the Cape Colony, and pre¬ 
viously Postmaster-General for the Cape, 
has very kindly consented to perform the 
opening ceremony, which will take place 
at 12.30 on March the 5th, and it is hoped 
that a large number of interested friends 
will be present to meet him then. Fel¬ 
lows’ tickets admit to the opening; for 
the public the cost of admission to the 
ceremony is 2s. 6d. Entries for many- 
interesting exhibits have been received”, 
and include fruits (Plums, Pineapples, 
etc.) from South Africa, Apples from 
Nova Scotia, Bitter Oranges and other 
Citrus fruits from Cyprus, and also South 
African and Mediterranean preserves, 
cheeses, jellies, and honeys — many being 
of a new and unique character. The 
Band of His Majesty’s King’s Colonials 
will be in attendance on both days, under 
the conductorship of Captain Peter C. 
Anderson. Our Colonial Governors, 
Agents - General, Commissioners, and 
other Government Officers, as also 
growers abroad, are doing all in their 
power to assist Imperial interests by send¬ 
ing exhibits, and they do this at very 
considerable trouble and expense. It is 
therefore hoped that there may be a 
hearty response to their efforts, and the 
efforts of the Royal Horticultural Society-, 
on behalf of the home country and the 
Colonies, by a good attendance on the 
part of the public at the present exhi¬ 
bition. 
WATSON’S LAWN SAND 
(THE ONLY ORIGINAL IMPROVED) 
Destroys Daisies, Plantains, Dandelions. &c.. and 
Invigorates the Crass. 
Testimonials and Instructions on application 
31/- per cwt.; 561b, Kegs, 18/-: 231b. Tins, 9/6. Sample 
Canisters, 5/6, 2/6 (post 3/2), and 1/- (post 1/i). 
When ordering, please see that you get the genuine article. 
Sold by Seedsmen and Xurserymen. or direc f ■ om depot— 
A. J. BARBOUR, 8 Upper Fountains Street, Leeds. 
All Seeds in id, 
Packets. 
A Border of 
Sweet Smelling 
Flowers. 
13 Packets Post Free !/• 
No. Seeds Id. Pit. 
665 Sweet Alyssum, an old favourite ... ... 5,000 
610 Lemon Scented Verbena, delightful . 100 
2115 Sweet Sultan, mixed colours . 500 
3)02 Sweet William, finest m xed . 2 000 
3)63 Old Clove Scented Pink, mixed ... ... 1(000 
37s8 Dame’s Violet or Purple Rocket . L000 
3928 Sweet Candytuft, mixed colours . 21)00 
4420 Sweet Peas, giant mixed varieties ... ... 10 O 
45 JO Lavender, the old fragrant sort . 100 
93 iO Rosemary, old-fashioned and sweet . 200 
5096 Musk, for borders and pots . 5,001 
6110 Tobacco Plant, delightful fragrance. 25 000 
6153 Evening Primrose, pale yellow . 5.000 
13 Best Annuals In 4 colours, 1/- Post Free. 
3 Best Blue Flowered Annuals. 
3 Best Red Flowered Annuals 
3 Best Yellow Flowered Ann -als. 
' 4 Best White FI wered Annuals. 
The collection of 26 Packets, with Catalogue of 4,000 
varieties, 2/- Post Free. 
BEES, Ltd., 14, Wapping Buildings, Liverpool 
