290 
JOUnXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GABBENER.  September  24,  1903. 
Bad  Effect  of  Grass  on  Apple  Trees. 
In  the  third  report  of  the  Wohnrn  Experimental  Farm,*  the 
compilers  say  :  “  As  to  the  general  effect  produced  by  grass  on 
young  Apple  trees,  the  results  of  the  last  few  yeai-s  have  brought 
forward  nothing  which  can  in  any  way  modify  our  previous  con¬ 
clusions  as  to  the  intensely  deleterious  natui-e  of  this  effect,  and 
we  can  only  repeat,  that  no  ordinary  form  of  ill-treatment — in¬ 
cluding,  even,  the  combination  of  bad  planting,  growth  of  weeds, 
and  total  neglect^ — is  so  harmful  to  the  trees  a.s  growing  grass 
round  them.  .  .  .  The  results  of  weighing  some  of  these 
trees  in  1898  showed  that  the  grass-grown  trees  had  not  increased 
by  more  than  about  twe-thirds  of  their  original  weight  since 
they  were  planted  in  1894,  whilst  their  neighbours,  which  had 
been  kept  free  from  grass,  had  increased  in  weight  from  10  to 
13-fold.  Judging  by  the  appearance  of  the  trees,  we  believe 
that  a  similar  comparison  at  the  present  time  would  show  a  still 
greater  difference.  .  .  .  Experiments  have  been  devised  to 
ascertain  the  cause  of  the  action  of  gra.ss  on  trees,  and  we  may 
say  at  once  that  we  have  not  yet  succeeded  in  discovering  this 
cause,  although  we  believe  that  we  have  made  considerable  pro- 
gre.ss  in  the  right  direction,  by  reducing  the  possibilities  of  the 
ca.se  to  within  certain  narrow  limits.  The  evidence  which  wo 
shall  bring  forward  will,  we  believe,  be  siufficient  to  di.spos6  of 
the  views  that  the  gras.s-effect  is  due  to  an  interference  with 
either  the  food  supply,  the  water  supply,  or  the  air  supply  of 
the  tree,  and  that  it  must,  in  all  probability,  be  attributed  to  the 
action  of  some  prodyet,  direct  or  indirect,  of  grass  growth,  which 
exerci.ses  an  actively  poisonous  effect  on  the  roots  of  the  tree. 
“  The  fact  that  numerous  Apple  orchards  exi.st  where  tho 
trees  are  flourishing  in  spite  of  being  grass  grown,  forces  us  to 
conclude!  that  grass  is  not  seriously  deleterious  to  Apple  trees 
under  all  circumstances;  and  the  one  circumstance  which 
naturally  suggests  itself  as  counteracting  the  evil  effects  of  the 
grass,  is  the  age  of  the  trees.  While  discussing  this  subject  in 
our  second  report  (p.  173),  we  assumed,  therefore,  that  the 
grassing-down  of  older  trees  might  be  effected  without  much 
injury,  and,  also,  we  suggested  that  certain  of  our  results  might 
be^in'dicating  that  our  trees,  even  then  (1899'),  were  beginning  to 
recover  from  the  effect  of  the  grass  (Second  Report,  p.  166). 
“We  have,  however,  now,  no  doubt  but  that  such  recovery 
as  has  occurred  in  our  grass-groAvn  trees,  may  be  due  simply  to 
some  of  the  roots  having  extended  beyond  the  grassed  area  ; 
whilst,  oix  the  other  hand,  experiments  instituted  to  examine 
the  effect  of  grassing-down  tree.s  of  eight  or  nine  years  of  age 
have  proved  that  the  action  of  the  grass  (at  any  rate,  in  our 
soil),  is  quite  as  deleterious  to  trees  of  this  age  as  it  is  to  younger 
ones,  and  we  have  received  confirmation  of  our  own  experience 
from  a  practical  fruit  grower  who  has  tried  the  experiment  on 
still  older  trees.  This  will  simplify  the  problem  which  we  have 
to  discuss  at  pi’esent,  for,  so  far  as  our  results  have  yet  extended, 
the  effect  of  grass  on  Apple  tree.s  is  uniformly  serious,  indepen¬ 
dently  of  the  age,  variety,  or  root-stock  of  the  tree. 
“But,  as  recovery  follows  when  the  roots  extend  beyond  the 
grassed  area,  it  is  probable  that  it  will  occur  also,  whenever  the 
roots  extend  .sufficiently  far  downwards  to  escape  from  the  gj'a.=s 
roots;  and  we  must  remember,  therefore,  that  a  tree  may  re¬ 
cover  as  it  grows  older,  without  implying  that  the  effect  of  grass 
on  its  roots  is  diffei’ent  from  the  effect  on  tho  roots  of  younger 
trees:  and  this  consideration  will  also  lead  us  to  conclude  fhat 
trees  might  recover  much  faster  in  deep,  rich  sods,  which 
favoured  the  extension  of  the  roots  downwards,  than  in  shallow 
roils  like  ours,  where  a  close  subsoil  of  .stiff  clay  tends  to  keep 
the  roots  very  near  the  surface.  Further,  if  recovery  be  brought 
about  by  the  extension  of  the  roots  of  the  tree  downwards,  we 
should  expect  trees  cn  the  Crab  stock  to  recover  sooner  than 
those  on  the  Paradise.^’ 
Value  of  Very  Early  or  Late  Fruits. 
Considering  how  the  price  of  ordinary  fruit  doubles  or  trebles 
at  the  beginning  or  end  of  its  season,  the  value  of  an  early  or  late 
variety  may  be  easily  understood.  An  example  of  the  value  of 
cross-breeding  fruits  is  to  be  seen  in  Peach  Duchess  of  Cornwall. 
It  has  been  known  to  ripen  nearly  a  fortnight  before  any  other 
British  hothouse  Peach.  It  is  a  cross  betw-een  an  early  Peach 
and  an  early  Nectarine,  and  is  earlier  than  ei+her  of  its  parents. 
*  Woburn  Kxrei  iment.al  Fi uit  Farm.  Thir.l  report  by  tlie  Puke  of  Bedford, 
K.G.,  aud  Spencer  U.  Pickering,  F.R.S.  1903.  Eyre  and  Spottisivood*.  Price  lJ.6d. 
Edible  Fungi. 
{Concluded  from  page  253.) 
The  following  notes  conclude  our  report  of  Dr.  Cooke's 
lecture,  delivered  on  September  1.5,  The  veteran  scientist,  in  a 
letter  on  our  “  Readers’  V’iews  ”  page,  names  two  useful  publica¬ 
tions  for  students. 
Agaricus  villaticus  should  rank  as  a  species,  but  J.  M.  Berke¬ 
ley  only  made  it  a  variety  of  A.  campestris.  The  cap  is  9in  in 
diameter,  and  has  a  skin  like  the  common  Mushroom. 
Twice  or  thrice  Dr.  Cooke  had  received  specimens,  and  each 
had  come  from  coal-cellars :  it  is  always  as.sociated  with  coal,  which 
is  significant.  The  Horse  Mushroom  is  found  in  rings,  in 
meadows ;  moreover,  it  is  cultivated  for  ketchup.  It  is  a  well- 
marked  form,  and  is  widely  distributed.  The  Bleeding  Mush¬ 
room  (see  page  2.58)  was  first  found  in  Hungary  some  years  ago. 
The  St.  George’s,  or  May  Mushroom,  so  called  because  it  makes  its 
appearance  about  St.  George’s  Day,  has  a  distinctly  strong  odour. 
It  grows  in  rings  or  parts  of  rings.  The  flavour  bears  .some 
resemblance  to  that  of  the  common  Agaricus. 
The  Blue  Caps  (Tricholoma  nuda)  are  found  amongst  decayed 
leaves  in  woods.  They  are  three  or  four  inches  in  diameter,  and 
sometimes  even  five  or  six  inches.  They  ai'e  of  a  bluish-purple 
colour,  and  make  good  eating,  being  best  when  cooked  young. 
The  Dusky  Caps  (Clitocybe  nebularis)  attain  considerable  size, 
are  of  a  cloudy-grey  colour,  with  darker  centres.  .  They  are 
found  in  December,  and  the  flesh. is  thick  and  firm.  This  species 
is  gregarious. 
The  Parasol  Mushroom  (Lepiota  procera)  has  a  cap  of  a  dirty- 
white  colour,  borne  on  stems  eight  to  twelve  iiifhes  long,  and 
only  half  an  inch  in  thickness. 
The  Shaggy  Caps  (Coprinus  comatus)  is  one  of  a  very  few 
black-spored  Agaricini  that  are  fit  for  food.  It  comes  up  freely 
in  waste  spaces,  by  roadsides,  or  amongst  the  rubble  left  around 
building  sites.  It  is  .sometimes  cultivated;  and  it  should  be 
cooked  as  .soon  as  gathered. 
Then  the  lecturer  named  the  Chantarelle  (Cantharellus 
cibarius),  which  is  a  brilliant  golden-yellow  fungus,  one  of  the 
commonest,  but,  according  to  the  Doctor,  it  has  been  praised  far 
beyond  its  merits.  However,  “  it  may  on  occasion  arrest  the 
pangs  of  death.”  The  top  of  the  pileus  is  depre3,=ed,  or  crater- 
formed.  These  growths  are  to  be  found  in  woods  in  September 
and  October,  and  for  a  surety  in  the  New  Forest  and  Epping 
Fore.st.  It  is  considerably  used  in  Paris. 
The  next  little  subject,  the  white-spored  Fairy-ring  Cham¬ 
pignon  (Marasmius  oreades),  has  a  great  reputation,  both  at 
home  and  abroad.  (In  France,  by-the-by,  all  Agarics  are  called 
Champignons.)  Its  stems  are  white  and  slender,  the  cap  about 
one  inch  across,  convex  at  first,  but  flat  later ;  and  it  has  creamy 
white  gills.  As  a  prod'uct,  it  can  be  dried  and  kept  for  winter 
use,  as  is  invariably  done  on  the  Continent,  and  is  employed  in 
soups.  By  placing  the  dried  caps  in  water,  it  soon  assume,s 
its  original  shape.  Its  habitats  are  widely  placed,  and  it  is  com¬ 
mon  in  Siberia  and  in  Borneo. 
Coming  to  the  edible  Boletus,  Dr.  Cooke  said  it  possesses  the 
external  appearance  of  the  typical  Agaricus,  but  the  minutim  of 
the  gills  and  under  surface  differ.  It  is  common  in  woods,  and 
forms  an  artie'e  of  commerce  in  Soho  (London),  and  likely 
enough  elsewhere.  The  flavour  is  like  that  of  the  common 
Mushroom.  B.  scaber,  the  rough-legged  Boletu-s,  has  a  quality 
much  the  same  as  that  of  B.  edulis. 
The  Morchellas,  or  Morels  ( Ascomycetes),  are  not  so  much 
esteemed  in  this  country  as  in  France,  Paris  particularly,  though 
one  sometimes  sees  them  offered  in  Covent  Garden  Market ;  and 
can  be  purchased  by  the  pound  weight,  for  flavouring  soups.  In 
the  British  Islands  there  are  five  or  six  indigenous  species. 
They  are  not  “  Agarics,”  but  are  closely  related  to  that  genus. 
Unfortunately,  no  methods  have  been  found  whereby  they  can  be 
cultivated.  In  their  natural  state  they  are  found  from  Anril  to 
June  on  chalky  or  clayey  soil,  Smitlds  Morel  attains  one  foot  in 
height  and  seven  inches  in  diameter.  It  is  of  a  warm  tawny 
colour. 
The  Helvellas  are  found  in  our  woods,  but  much  scattered  in 
numbers.  Where  found,  however,  they  can  be  gathered  and  hung 
up  to  dry.  While  the  Morels  all  appear  in  spring,  the  Helvellas 
are  autumnal.  Dr.  Cooke  stated  that  in  one  afternoon’s  foray 
during  this  year  his  party  collected  no  fewer  than  fifty  species. 
Lastly,  the  lecturer  named  the  Great  Pxiff  Ball  (Lycoperdon 
bovista),  which,  he  said,  was  a  phenomenon  by  itself.  It  is  often 
as  large  or  larger  than  a  man’s  head.  It  has  no  gills,  the  spore¬ 
bearing  mass  being  inside.  The  flesh  is  moist,  juiev,  and  firm. 
It  can  be  sliced  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  like  a  Turnip,  fried 
in  butter,  and  served  hot,  with  spices.  In  olden  days  it  was 
used  as  a  dressing  for  wounds.  It  occasionally  grows  in  gardens, 
singly,  or  two  or  three  together.  The  full  text  of  the  lecture 
(doubtless  with  some  illustrations)  will  bo  published  in  the 
Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
It  has  frecjnently  been  remarked  that  while  certain  kinds  cf 
I  Fungi  appear  every  year  in  the  same  locality,  others  are  ex- 
