i88i.] MUSHROOM-CULTURE. 543 



ture fluctuates a good deal, and this is much against the Mushrooms. 

 A steady heat is most favourable to them, and this may sometimes vary 

 b° less or more from 60°, but never lower, and at times 70° is required to 

 bring them forward more quickly. Sometimes our temperature cannot 

 be raised above 40°, and this is a great disadvantage, as Mushrooms may 

 be checked in their growth like other things. A good layer of dry hay 

 thrown over the beds at such times is of great benefit. Still this is 

 never so satisfactory as having a good command of heat, and any one 

 putting up a Mushroom-house would find it much to his advantage to 

 see to this. Its form or position is not of very great importance ; 

 generally it is included with other sheds behind forcing-houses, and 

 this is very suitable. The most conveniently arranged house we have 

 had any experience of, is one with a pathway up the centre and a bed 

 on each side. The back is some five feet wide — which is a good width 

 for a Mushroom-bed, — and about four feet above this there is another 

 bed made of wood, of the same dimensions as the lower one, and in 

 this way two rows of beds can be made. To the front there is a vacant 

 space, which is filled up with fermenting material, and this answers ad- 

 mirably for bringing forward Rhubarb, Seakale, tfec, at the present time. 

 This hotbed manure also helps to keep up the temperature, and a nice 

 agreeable humidity is emitted from it. Besides this, sometimes small 

 beds can be made up here and there in comfortable corners, and these 

 often prove most useful. Whenever it is decided to make a bed to grow 

 Mushrooms, material for its composition must be found. At one time 

 it was generally thought that nothing but horse-droppings would pro- 

 duce Mushrooms, and much time was devoted in getting beds of this ; 

 but it is understood now that Mushrooms of the finest quality may be 

 had from beds with little or no horse-droppings in them. We have 

 proved this, and many others have done the same. In fact, the finest 

 Mushroom-bed we ever had has been bearing from July till now, and 

 three parts of it are leaves and turves, the remainder only being drop- 

 pings. At the same time it may be well to say, that had we abundance 

 of droppings at all times we would use them, but not wholly ; and the 

 want of droppings would not keep us from making a bed, as leaves 

 and turves and any other slightly fermenting materials would be used. 

 Lumps of fibrous loam are useful in all Mushroom-beds. It is surpris- 

 ing what a cluster of Mushrooms may sometimes be found coming out 

 of a nugget of loam. The material for the bed, whatever it may con- 

 sist of, should be moderately dry before being used ; but it must not 

 be too dry either, as much of the fertile matter is thereby lost. A 

 little experience will soon enable any one to tell when it is in proper 

 order, and then the bed must be made up. Firmness is one condition 

 of success. When put up loosely the heat soon escapes, and Mush- 

 rooms are not produced for long if there is not a little heat in the bed ; 

 the longer the heat lasts, the longer will Mushrooms appear. Its size 

 may be anything from one yard square. The larger it is the better ; 



