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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  5,  1 89t>. 
next  year,  and  in  this  feeling  he  was  sure  the  French  nurserymen  were 
unanimous. 
Mr.  Munro  9poke  from  the  market  growers’  point  of  view,  alluding  to 
the  high  prohibitive  tariff  that  France  imposed  on  fruit  that  was  exported 
from  England,  and  he  had  only  had  one  reply  to  many  inquiries  he  had 
made  relative  to  supporting  the  exhibition,  and  that  was  a  direct  refusal. 
Market  growers  were  business  men,  and  proud  as  he  was  of  their  produce, 
he  feared  that  they  would  not  readily  respond.  Mr.  Hudson  thought  ir 
contributions  were  invited  from  private  gardeners  their  employers  should 
be  written  to,  an  opinion  that  was  shared  by  Mr.  Melndoe,  who  also 
thought  that  growers  would  prefer  to  set  up  their  own  exhibits  on 
the  spot. 
The  Chairman  having  replied  to  several  points,  explained  that  there 
would  be  no  duty  on  the  exhibits,  that  wherever  one  exhibited  there 
would  sure  to  be  tome  damage  and  expense.  lie  thought  it  was  a  case 
more  of  public  spirit  for  the  honour  of  the  country,  especially  as  it  would 
be  exhibiting  our  produce  not  to  the  French  only  but  to  the  whole  world. 
COLOUR  IN  FRUIT. 
Air  in  plenty  play3  a  much  more  important  part  in  giving  colour  to 
fruit  than  is  usually  suppose1,  and  just  as  wind  is  needed  to  ripen  Wheat 
and  other  white  straw  crops,  so  it  has  its  effect  upon  the  foliage  and 
fruit  in  the  garden.  I  am  gatheiing  Princess  of  Wales  Peach  now  from 
a  late  house  which  has  been  kept  wide  open  for  the  sake  of  trees  of  earlier 
varieties,  and  I  have  nev  r  seen  this  somewhat  pale  Peach  so  well 
coloured  before.  All  fruits  exposed  to  wind  are  b  tter  coloured  than 
others  iu  more  sheltered  positions,  and  the  same  thing  may  be  noted  with 
foliage. 
We  have  Ampelopsis  Veitchi  on  the  mansion,  and  one  very  draughty 
corner  of  the  wall  has  a  very  fine  plant  on  it.  Tni.  always  has  brighter 
coloured  foliage  upon  it,  and  takes  on  the  colour  earlier  in  the  season 
than  other  plants,  though  all  are  precisely  the  same  variety.  Instances 
without  number  might  he  given  where  truit  attains  the  highest  stage 
of  development  as  to  colour  in  the  most  exposed  places.  Colour  is 
not  always  evidence  of  good  quality,  of  course,  but  ns  a  rule  when  well 
grown  fruits  of  pale  nn  i  good  colour  are  placed  side  by  side,  the  latter 
will  be  found  the  better,  while  those  engaged  in  fruit  dealing  know  well 
enough  which  sells  the  more  readily. — Suffolk. 
MUSHROOMS. 
Evidently  owing  to  the  welcome  showers  of  rain  in  the  early 
portion  of  September,  fine  supplies  of  Mushrooms  have  been  sold  in  the 
Birmingham  market,  including  a  quantity  of  that  delicious,  though  large 
and  courso  looking,  esculent  *•  St.  George’s  Mushroom  ”  (Agaricus 
gambosus),  which  is  principally  used  for  the  making  of  ketchup,  it 
differs  somewhat  in  form  and  texture  from  the  comm  ui  “  II  rse”  Mush¬ 
room  (Agaricus  praten-iis).  ami  is  said  to  ho  the  principal  variety 
produced  in  the  south  of  England  for  edible  purposes,  instead  of  the 
common  variety,  Agaricus  campestris  ;  but  of  this  I  may  not  have  been 
altogether  correctly  informed. 
There  is  another  species  of  edible  fungi,  which  is  not  so  recognised 
as  its  merits  deserve — viz,  the  Giant  Puffball  (Lyeoperdon  Bovista),  but 
which  is  generally  regarded  by  the  uninitiated  as  not  eatable  or  poisonous, 
whereas  when  young  connoisseurs  esteem  it  among  the  elite  of  the  edible 
species.  The  mode  of  cooking  it  is  simple — bv  merely  cutting  one  into 
slices  about  an  inch  thick,  and  frying  in  a  p  n  with  a  little  butter  or 
dripping  fat.  Its  flavour  resembles  that  of  Siveetbread,  and  in  fact  it  is 
known  as  the  Sweetbread  fungus.  When  fully  ripe  its  dry  mass  of 
threads  and  spores  is  used  as  a  styptic,  and  its  fumes  answer  the  purpose 
of  chloroform. — W.  G. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Seakale. 
The  middle  of  October  is  a  suitable  time  to  commence  lifting  a  few 
plauts  for  forcing  :n  the  Mushroom  house.  Seakale  can  be  easily  raised 
from  seeds,  but  the  quickest  way  is  to  procure  some  “sets,”  or  root 
cuttings  from  a  reliable  source.  These  “  sets  ”  should  be  about  4  or 
5  inches  in  length,  and  as  thick  as  a  man’s  small  finger.  The  middle 
of  March  is  a  suitable  time  to  plant  these  root  cuttings  in  ground  which 
has  been  thoroughly  prepared  by  deeply  trenching  and  manuring  in  a 
fully  exposed  quarter  of  the  garden.  They  should  bo  not  less  than 
15  inches  asunder  each  way,  with  the  crown  just  under  the  surface  soil. 
When  all  the  crowns  are  lifted  in  October  or  November  for  forcing  in  the 
Mushroom  house  is  the  time  to  take  the  cuttings,  which  should  be  cut  off 
1  inch  from  the  crowne  and  laid  in  a  heap  of  leaf  soil,  so  that  in  inclement 
weather  these  roots  may  he  converted  into  sets.  The  thickest  part  of 
these  roots  will  form  the  crowns,  and  will  require  cutting  straight  across 
the  top,  the  lower  or  thinner  end  being  given  a  sloping  cut. 
The  crowns,  after  being  lifted,  should  also  be  laid  in  leaf  soil,  so  that 
ibey  may  be  easily  got  at  if  severe  frost9  set  in,  it  being  almost  im¬ 
possible  to  lift  them  from  their  growing  quarters  in  frosty  weather.  Of 
course  a  good  portion  of  the  crowns  should  be  left  for  forcing  in  the 
open  ground  for  the  latest  supply  of  all.  If  no  frost  has  occurred  in 
October  the  probability  is  that  the  leaves  will  still  be  fresh  and  green  ;  if 
so,  partially  lift  those  crowns  that  will  be  required  by  putting  a  long- 
ttr.ed  fork  do  vn  deeply  by  the  side  of  the  crowns  and  heaving  them  up. 
This  should  be  done  a  week  before  the  time  they  are  wanted,  and  the 
leaves  will  soon  afterwards  readily  part  from  the  crowns.  In  all 
probability  this  partial  lifting  will  not  be  necessary  for  the  next  batch. 
The  forcing  may  commence  by  placing  the  roots  in  the  Mushroom 
house  rather  thickly  together  and  working  some  light  soil  in  amongst 
and  just  over  them  ;  water  with  a  rosed  can  when  completed,  and  after¬ 
wards  as  required.  All  light  must  be  excluded,  and  a  temperature 
ranging  from  53°  to  53°  will  be  all  that  is  necessary  to  produce  fine 
blanched  heads.  Seakale,  like  Rhubarb,  always  forces  much  better  after 
a  few  frosts,  and  no  harm  is  done  to  the  roots  if  exposed  to  the  elements 
after  being  dug.  When  the  supply  is  once  started  it  should  go  on 
regularly,  and  if  Seakale  roots  are  placed  in  the  Mushroom  house  every 
week  ou  a  certain  day  without  fail  it  will  bo  easy  to  avoid  a  break. 
For  the  production  of  the  latest  supply  of  all  the  crowns  should  be 
left  where  they  are  grown,  and  not  lifted  until  growth  is  commencing, 
which  will  be  near  the  middle  of  March.  They  should  then  be  lifted  and 
planted  in  rows  on  a  north  border,  and  covered  with  leaf  soil  1  foot  in 
depth.  If  a  very  large  heap  of  leaf  soil  is  in  stock  the  Seakale  may  be 
blanched  there,  covering  the  ciowns  to  the  same  depth.  Some  groA’ers 
for  a  late  supply  simply  put  ridges  of  soil  over  the  crowns  where  they 
grow  without  lifting  them,  and  some  cover  them  with  burnt  garden  refuse. 
Many  gardeners  are  obliged  to  get  their  early  supply  by  covering  the 
crowns  with  large  deep  pots,  round  which  fermenting  material  is  put,  so  as 
to  generate  the  necessary  heat  for  the  Seakale  to  grow.  Pots  with 
movable  tcpi  are  the  most  suitable,  as  the  Seakale  can  be  readily 
examined  as  growth  proceeds.  This  methrd  is  a  very  oil  one,  and  not 
to  be  recommended,  ns  a  great  amount  of  labour  is  attached  to  it. — 
Foreman  X. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Cherry  House. — If  it  is  intended  to  plant  any  trees,  it  should  be  seen 
to  as  soon  as  the  leaves  have  fallen.  Early  Rivers,  Governor  Wood,  Black 
Tartarian,  and  Elton  are  excellent  varieties,  both  for  siza  and  quality. 
The  lights  having  been  removed,  they  need  not  be  replaced  for  cix  or 
eight  weeks,  the  old  surface  soil  being  removed  without  injury  to  the 
roots,  and  Iresh  compost  supplied,  good  calcareous  loam,  with  the  addition 
of  a  fourth  of  well  d  caye.l  manure,  answering  A  hand  ul  per  square 
yard  of  some  approved  fertiliser  sprinkled  on  the  top-dressing,  and  lightly 
scrrtcherl  in,  will  prove  of  advantage  at  starting  time,  and  alterwnrds  in. 
the  early  swelling  of  the  fruit. 
Trees  in  pots,  required  to  be  shifted  into  larger  sizes,  should  be 
attended  to  at  once,  and  those  not  needing  such  treatment  may  be  turned 
out  of  the  pots,  removing  a  ferv  incites  from  the  ha  c,  cutting  back  the 
roots,  supplying  fresh  loam,  adding  old  mortar  rubbish  if  not  calcareous* 
with  a  fourth  of  decayed  manure,  and  providing  good  drainage.  Remove 
the  surface  soil  in  other  cases  a9  well  as  the  last  named,  anu  supply  fresh 
loam  duly  enriched,  maki  ig  quite  firm.  Afford  a  good  watering,  amj, 
place  the  trees  where  they  can  have  abundance  of  air. 
Melons. — Cankered  and  cracked  fruits  are  most  frequent  during  damp* 
weather,  especially  dewy  nights  after  bright  days.  The  best  practice  is  to 
keep  both  the  soil  and  atmosphere  dry,  find  for  canker,  freshly  slaked 
lime  well  rubbed  into  the  affected  part9.  Cease  syring'ng  the  foliage,  and 
supply  water  at  the  roots  to  prevent  flagging,  and  no  more.  Remove  all 
superfluous  growths.  The  late  fruits  are  swelling,  and  must  be  supported. 
Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  65°,  and  70’  to  75°  by  day,  closing  the 
house  early  in  the  afternoon,  keeping  through  the  day  at  80J  to  9o°  from, 
sun  heat. 
Plants  in  manure  heated  pits  and  frames  will  not  require  any  water 
after  this  time,  a  dry  condition  at  the  roots  being  nece'S  iry  to  accelerate 
the  ripening  process.  Any  fruits  that  have  finished  swelling,  or  on  plar  ta 
that  are  dying,  should  be  cut  with  a  good  portion  of  stem  aud  placed  in  a 
dry  warm  house  to  ripen.  If  left  in  the  frame  they  will  probably  decay* 
or  acquire  an  unpleasant  flavour. 
Vines. — Early  Farced  Vines  in  Pots. — The  canes  to  furnish  ripe  Grapes- 
in  March  or  April  should  be  started  not  later  than  the  first  or  second 
week  in  November.  Early  and  free-fruiting  varieties  must  be  chosen. 
All  points  considered,  White  Frontignan,  Foster  s  Seedling,  Black  Ham¬ 
burgh,  and  Madresfield  Court  are  tho  most  satisfactory.  If  bottom  heat 
can  bo  given  to  start  them  they  will  break  well  and  make  good  progress. 
Provided  there  is  a  pit  of  3  feet  depth  and  4  feet  w  idth,  the  pots  may  be 
raised  upon  loose  brickwork  in  pillar  fashion,  so  that  their  rims  are 
slightly  higher  than  the  pit  edge,  and  so  that  the  pots  will  be  in  the 
centre  of  the  bed.  Leaves  being  placed  in  to  fill  the  pit,  a  gentle  warmth 
will  be  afforded  the  Vines,  and  the  roots  will  pass  from  the  pots  into  the 
leaves,  deriving  support  beneficial  to  the  growth  of  the  Vines  and  Grapes. 
The  temperature  at  the  roots  must  bo  moderate  at  all  times,  especially  at 
the  commencement,  60°  to  65°  being  sufficient  about  tho  pots,  and  70°  to 
75°  at  their  base.  When  in  growth  the  temperature  about  the  pots  ought 
tn  be  between  70’  an  I  7  >°.  Tho  house  must  be  light,  properly  ventilated,, 
and  well  heated.  It  should  face  (be  south,  a  leau-to  or  thiee-quartens 
span-roof  being  most  suitable. 
