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the beds after they are made and spawned. I obtain an abundance of beautiful Mushrooms, and I have some beds at the present time one mass of Mushrooms. Of course plenty of good horse-droppings is the main point, and getting them fresh from the stables and spreading them out in a shed, then mixing plenty of good loam among them when making the beds. When these matters are attended to and the spawn is good, then Mushroom-growing is a very simple affair indeed. I am sure nothing can be more simple than my mode of growing Mushrooms, and its results are most satisfactory; I get plenty of fine Mushrooms, and rarely have I seen them better, even when very great labour has been bestowed on their culture.

I need hardly mention how useful a good supply of Mushrooms during the winter is to those who have to provide for the wants of a first-class establishment. Those who can get a tolerable quantity of horse-droppings and have any out-house, shed, or cellar where they can make some beds, need not hunt for plenty, if they follow the plan I have pointed out above. I may mention that I find it a good plan to make one large bed or two tolerable ones early in the autumn; one has then plenty of Mushrooms to start with, and by making beds at intervals of a month or six weeks the supply is easily continued through the season.

Stourton.

M. SAUL.

PHAJUS GRANDIFLORUS.

WHAT a glorious old Orchid for winter-blooming-suitable for vases and in-door decoration as well as for the warm conservatory! It looks admirable in any position, its majestic spikes towering above its Flag-like foliage! A dozen well-grown and well-bloomed plants of this, with the same quantity of the charming sweet-scented Zygopetalum Mackayi, will beautify and perfume any house of moderate proportions, and that amply enough to gratify the fastidious senses of an eastern monarch.

Those who possess a plant-stove need not despair of growing and flowering the Phajus most successfully. Some old plants at this place, which, I believe, have been inmates of the Pine-stoves for the last twenty years, bloom annually most profusely, and are in as good condition now as ever they were. The culti vation of the Phajus is so extremely simple and so well known to all who grow plants, that I consider it would only be uselessly taking up the valuable space of the FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST to enter into minute details. I would, however, remark, that I find it most advantageous in order to bloom this Orchid successfully to remove the plants for three months in the height of summer to a cooler position-say under the shade of Vines in a late vinery-that is, after they have completed their growth. This, I consider, as far as my practice goes, to be the main point in order to ensure success. A No. 24-sized pot I consider large enough, for if flowered in larger sizes the plants are, in the majority of cases, useless for in-door decoration. A few larger plants will answer in a large house.

Wrotham Park, Barnet.

JOHN EDLINGTON.

CULTURE OF THE NEPENTHES, OR PITCHER-PLANT. A FEW remarks on these wonderful plants may not be out of place, for we seldom see them grown at all, and still more rarely in a flourishing condition.

The plants here are grown in boxes a foot from the front lights, and immediately over the hot-water pipes in the Amherstia-house, and of course obtain

a high moist temperature the whole year. Early in spring I removed the old soil, which was in a very sour state, put a large quantity of broken pots at the bottom of the boxes for thorough drainage, and replaced the soil with lumps of very fibrous peat, charcoal, silver sand, and live sphagnum chopped into about one-inch lengths. I gave the plants a good watering, and sponged them twice a-day, keeping the floor continually watered, and the evaporating-troughs full of water, maintaining at the same time a temperature of from 70° to 75° at night, and from 85° to 90° by day, with shade from bright sunshine.

The plants soon commenced to root and grow. Young shoots started from all the old hard wood, and had a pitcher at each leaf. The boxes were soon full of roots, and from the loose nature of the potting material and the continual watering required, the soil sank below the top of the box an inch or more. A top-dressing of baked cowdung, chopped into about half-inch pieces, and mixed with silver sand, was therefore given; also a covering of chopped live sphagnum to make the surface look neat, and to encourage the roots to that part. The plants made a wonderful growth, so much so that there is not space to train the shoots, but the house being enlarged will give more training space.

I give these few hints to show the benefit arising from the use of live sphagnum for plants in general requiring moss, for there is no comparison between the vigorous growth of Orchids, Sarracenias, &c., in the live, and that made by them in the dead and partially decayed material; also, that some plants generally grown in poor light soil when in good health and vigorous growth, will flourish in a rich soil if the drainage is good and watering is carefully attended to.

J. T.

POTATOES.

A SMALL collection of Potatoes, exhibited at the recent International Show at South Kensington by the Rev. G. W. St. John, Woodstock Rectory, deserves a special notice both for the interest attaching to the collection, as well as for the really admirable way in which they were staged. The sorts were Daintree's Seedling, second early, a wonderful cropper and very good-looking, and Hogg's Coldstream, first early, a very fine-looking sort, said to be very good indeed for small gardens where only one sort is depended on. Both these are round white Potatoes, and were awarded first-class certificates. Daintree's Seedling was also shown as two kidney-shaped kinds, the one an improved Lapstone-shaped root, and the other a longer and thinner kidney-shaped tuber. These had been selected from the parent round variety, and were both awarded first-class certificates. A good-looking early half-round variety was named Beehive, and was said to be a seedling from the Fluke. A very handsome and good-sized round variety was named Fenn's Onwards; it is a new seedling second early Potato, the result of a cross between Jackson's Seedling and the Fluke; it wasawarded a first-class certificate. The raiser is the author of those instructive papers in recent Numbers of the "Journal of Horticulture," signed Upwards and Onwards," an admirable motto for a practical horticulturist. Of other white kidney-shaped roots there were some excellent tubers of the old Cobbler's Lapstone, a good second early; some fine specimens of the original Fluke Kidney; British Queen, a first-rate sort, but which produces coarse foliage, and should therefore be grown on a poor soil; and Shutford Seedling, a mediumsized root, Lapstone-shaped, and a good forcer. To each of these four kinds firstclass certificates were awarded. Two other white kidney-shaped roots were Huntingdonshire Kidney, supposed to be a synonyme merely, a medium sized, but very handsome bulb, and Mitchell's Early Albion, a good forcing kind. Some admirable specimens of the old Fortyfold were also produced; it is said

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to be one of the best varieties for mashing for the dinner table. The only red kidney-shaped Potato was Haigh's Seedling, a second early; it has a spare foliage, and though not a large cropper, the individual tubers are large and very heavy, and it is also one of the most nourishing varieties grown; to this a first-class certificate was also awarded.

The manner in which these were named furnished an instructive lesson to exhibitors, each label being fastened to the dish in such a manner that it could not become detached, and the methods of writing and affixing the labels presented a marked contrast to the slovenly manner in which some other collections were named. R. D.

NOTES OF THE FLORAL AND FRUIT COMMITTEES.

January 23rd. This was the first meeting of the year, and proved to me a most interesting one. Prominent was a splendid collection of plants from Mr. W. Bull, of Chelsea, which occupied more than one side of the Councilchamber. Generally they were ornamental-foliaged plants out of bloom, but of a very choice and valuable character. The Lindley medal was awarded to Mr. Bull by the Society for the group. Conspicuous was a pan of a species of Achimenes, remarkable for its very handsome foliage, the leaves being bronzy green, with a broad stripe up the middle of a creamy white colour. There were also some handsome female plants of Aucuba japonica with large bright red berries; Chamæranthemum reticulatum, from Brazil; Pandanus ornatus, to which a first-class certificate was awarded; Anthurium magnificum, Herrania palmata, a very handsome pendulous-foliaged Palm-like plant, to which a first-class certificate was awarded; Gleichenia hecistophylla; a white variety of Dielytra spectablis, from China; Gymnostachyum Verschaffelti, &c. From Messrs. A. Henderson & Co. came a very handsome variety of Lastrea Sieboldi, which was awarded a first-class certificate.

A special certificate was awarded to Mr. Veitch, of Chelsea, for an extremely interesting group of flowering Orchids, and other plants. It comprised several beautiful varieties of Lycaste Skinneri, the marking in a few cases being very rich indeed; Barkeria Skinneri; Odontoglossum cordatum; Angræcum eburneum, to which a special certificate was awarded; the beautiful Cattleya Warscewiczii delicata, C. bogotensis, &c.

Mr. B. S. Williams also received a special certificate for fine plants of Angræcum eburneum, A. eburneum virens, and what was said to be a variety of Calanthe vestita, in this case the spot in the flowers being of a deep gold colour; and a first-class certificate for Cattleya species nova. From Mr. W. Earley, of Digswell Park, came a seedling Begonia, named Earley's Hybrid, with large and striking pink blossoms. Dr. Pattison, of St. John's Wood, produced a plant of Angræcum sesquipedale, with two expanded blooms; and from James Bateman, Esq., of Biddulph Grange, came Phalaenopsis amabilis, Dendrobium moniliforme, Thibaudia macrantha, and T. bracteosa.

But little fruit was present at this season of the year. Some Uvedale's St. Germain Pears were sent by Mr. George F. Wilson to show the colour that can be obtained in an orchard-house. A first-class certificate was awarded to Mr. R. H. Betteridge, of Abingdon, for a medium-sized good-looking seedling Pear, the flavour of which was said to be excellent. There were also present fruit of the following Pears: Beurré de Flandre, Suzette de Bavay, and Eliza d'Heyst. The following Grapes were sent by Mr. W. Tillery, of Welbeck Abbey, to show their keeping qualities: West's St. Peter's, Trebbiano, Welbeck Black Tripoli, and Muscat of Alexandria. Some fruit of Pyrus nepalensis were sent from Southampton by Mr. W. B. Page, sen.

The Rev.

M. J. Berkeley stated that the genus Pyrus was supposed by some to be identical with Cydonia, and it did indeed differ from it, mainly in the form of construction of the seed-vessels. He also stated that the fruit of Pyrus nepalensis would no doubt be useful for preserving, but was too hard to be eaten as other fruit for dessert.

At the meeting for the election of Fellows, &c., presided over by Lord Henry G. Lennox, M.P., a paper was read by Mr. Hungerford Pollen, F.R.H.S., of the South Kensington Museum, "On the Management of Plants, Fruits, and Flowers for Exhibition." Mr. Pollen contended that foliage plants and plants in flower should be grouped together and not separately, as is generally done; and he thought this could be done without destroying the effect of either as a group. In the arrangement of plants he would have Nature imitated as far as possible, and in the first place in regard to the quality of the light thrown upon them. This gave rise to the question, Should plants be exhibited in a building, in arcades such as those employed at South Kensington, or under tents? He had a decided preference for tents. Nature diffuses light all round her objects, not merely on them; while in regard to works of art, it was necessary to concentrate the light in parts only in order to get shade. Flowers are not done justice to unless an extraordinary quantity of light is brought to bear upon them. Thus the first great requisite is an abundance of light. Secondly, the plants should be mingled together, so that the bloom should be relieved by the foliage. The effect of Geraniums, for instance, without this aid, became in a great measure lost, a green background being required. The eye cannot take in such an excess of colour unrelieved, and parts of the effect are thereby lost. Thirdly, that on which plants should be shown. This should be Nature's green grass or turf. Boxes of grass were recommended to be used to furnish a background for many things. Fruit should also be exhibited on grass, while white paper should be used as a background for cut flowers. The Rev. Dr. Rock recommended the use of branches of the Lycopodium, or Lady Fern, as being well adapted to show to advantage the colours of fruit; and Mr. Wilson Saunders pointed out as another side to the question, the necessity of plants being so arranged that judges could decide which were the most meritorious; that plants should be so placed that the judges could come to a decision rapidly; and that while it was necessary that flowers should be made as attractive as possible to the eye, it was equally necessary that they should be made instructive, also which were the best plants in any section of the exhibition.

R. D.

CULTURE OF LILIUM LANCIFOLIUM.

NOTWITHSTANDING the immense popularity of the new Lilium auratum from Japan, the several fine varieties of Lilium lancifolium will always be great favourites, and most justly so, and I would urge cultivators to direct attention to these kinds, and try to get improved form and deeper colours. The late Mr. Groom, of Clapham, had he lived longer, would have introduced some improved strains, for I quite recollect seeing in his nursery in bloom, just before his death, some fine high-coloured varieties of improved form, the petals being quite free from curves or curls on the margin, and being, moreover, broader than they are in the Lilium lancifolium generally. All, or most of his fine stock of Liliums were distributed at the sale which followed his death, and some of the best strains are no doubt about, but difficult to meet with. Our chief aim in preserving the characteristics of this fine species and its varieties should be to continue breeding by seed from the finest-coloured varieties, with the view of getting

richer-coloured kinds and better form. I cannot say how much is to be done by crossing with other species, but I hope to see some of our florists try their hands at improving the existing varieties of the grand old L. lancifolium.

Great attention is paid to the culture of this Lily in various parts of Yorkshire, and it is astonishing what very fine examples are to be met with repeatedly at very small country shows in the autumn. It is no unusual thing to

meet with pots containing from five to eight roots, with from fifteen to twenty superb blooms on each.

The plan generally adopted by good growers is to pot-up the roots early in February, using pots about 11 or 12 inches in diameter for three or four fine roots, and larger-sized pots for a larger number of roots, but I think it a mistake to grow so many roots in a pot when good blooming roots can be had. A good compost may be made up of fibrous sod, well-decayed leaf mould, and well-rotted frame manure, all chopped and not sifted, and with some sharp sand run in with it, so as to make a good porous compost. A good-sized crock and about 1 inch of rough crocks should be used, and over these a few lumps of fibrous sod should be placed. Many make a mistake in potting too near the top of the pot. I prefer filling the pot with soil to within 5 inches of the top, on which the bulbs should be placed and covered, leaving fully 2 inches of space below the top, for this reason: Those who have given a moment's attention to the growth of the Lilium must have observed the quantity of young fleshy roots sent out from the base of the flower-stem, and to the full development of these roots especial attention should be directed. As soon as the shoots are of a moderate height, and have become pretty firm, fill up the pot to the rim with similar compost to that used for potting, adding a little more manure. This will give them an efficient top-dressing. and the stem-roots will speedily become matted into it, and the flowers will consequently become large and plentiful. The main point in the culture of the Lilium is to develope the stem-roots, a point too often lost sight of.

After potting they should be placed in a cool shed or frame, or under a stage where light is attainable; and as soon as the soil gets dry and cracks from the side of the pot, give sufficient water to moisten the soil without saturating it. Many allow the young growth to be started too early and become drawn, which should be avoided. The pots should rather be kept quite cool and exposed to the light, for the Lilium is a perfectly hardy plant, and should be grown hardy. The best plan is to treat it as an out-door plant as far as possible, by standing the pots out of doors after the winter is over, taking care to shelter them from spring frosts and blistering winds. Of course, at the blooming time they should be under cover in bad weather. When they have done flowering, the pots can be placed on their sides, and as soon as frosty weather sets in, removed to a dry shed, and be kept quite dormant, dry, and undisturbed until potting-time. Everybody knows what a glorious plant it is for autumn decoration. Shipley, Yorkshire.

W. DEAN, in Gardeners' Chronicle.

CONCERNING PETUNIAS.

I DEVOUTLY trust that I am right in assuming that horticulture can now be credited with a desire to throw off the allegiance to those large and ungainly single flowers of the Petunia grandiflora section, and also those uncouth and uninviting double flowers which had their day, and with thankfulness be it said, a very short one too. It was simply a liking for mere novelty that made these double flowers popular-if such a transient career can by any license be translated into popularity. To beauty they could make but little claim. What

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