THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 205 



built mushroom-house, or from an outhouse or shed. A well-con- 

 structed house, fitted up expressly for cultivating this edible, is 

 certainly the best, and will more than doubly repay the small outlay 

 over makeshift and uncertain contrivances. Though good crops can 

 be had from cellars, there are many objections to employing 

 them for that purpose. It is not nice to take the manure, 

 etc., necessary to the construction of the beds through the 

 house ; besides the injurious influence, the noxious gases which 

 emanate from fermenting matter, is likely to have upon the health 

 of the inhabitants. 



For the guidance of those who contemplate the erection of a 

 structure expressly for mushroom growing, I will throw out a few 

 hints upon that part of the subject. The best form of house is 

 what is commonly known as a " span roof," ten feet wide, and with 

 side walls nine feet high. These dimensions will give room for three 

 tiers of shelves three feet and a- half wide, and leave room for a 

 three feet walk down the centre. The length must depend upon 

 the quantity required ; twelve or fifteen feet will do for ordinary 

 families. The shelves can be formed with slates or stout planks ; 

 the first are preferable in every way, but costly, and supported with 

 stout posts or brick pillars. Twelve inches is a good depth for each 

 shelf, which should be about two feet apart, the first being placed on 

 the ground. The roof must be plastered for the purpose of pre- 

 serving an equable temperature at all times. Hollow walls are also 

 desirable if they can be afforded. With respect to heat, a four-inch 

 flow and return pipe will be sufficient to maintain a proper tem- 

 perature ; but unless they can be connected with a boiler used for 

 heating other houses, it will hardly be worth while to incur the 

 expense of a hot-water apparatus, as an ordinary flue will do quite 

 as well. Placed under the path, and covered with an iron grating, 

 or a lattice of wood for walking upon, the pipes or flue will heat 

 every part of the house alike, and take up no room available for 

 other purposes. It will be well to have two or three openings in the 

 apex of the roof, for giving air when necessary. The only objection 

 that can be raised against having an open lattice-work to walk upon 

 is the likelihood of its becoming choked up when making up new or 

 taking away old beds. That objection can be easily overcome by 

 laying down two or three mats. Where lean-to or other sheds already 

 exist, they can be fitted up in much the same manner as advised 

 for the new house, which is the most perfect form that can be 

 devised. 



The formation of the beds must now occupy our attention. Begin 

 by collecting a quantity of fresh horse-dung that has neither been 

 exposed to wet nor fermentation, clearing it from the long straw, so 

 as to leave one-fourth in quantity of the shortest litter when incor- 

 porated with the horse-droppings ; then add a fourth part of tolerably 

 dry turf-mould, or other maiden earth, and mix it well with the dung. 

 The advantage derived from this mould or maiden earth is the union 

 of the whole into one compact solid substance, so congenial to the 

 growth of mushrooms. This compost should be spread out for a. 

 week or so to dry under cover, and turned over once in two or three 



