also a peculiarly delicate scent, while the poisonous species generally emit a rank 

 and somewhat pungent odor, attended by a clammy or greasy excrescence on the 

 outside. 



JIoic to mnhe the Beds. — We will consider a suitalilo sized bed is four feet wide 

 by ten feet long, wliieh will retiuire about one barrowfid of material to each two 

 feet in length. Collect for this enough horse droppings, fresh from the stable ; 

 place in a heap, in a dry and open shed, protected from rain ; let them become 

 somewhat, but not too much heated by commencing fermentation; when so, turn 

 them over daily, still retaining the warmth, and the lumps as whole as possible. 

 In ten or twelve days, they will become nearly dry and mouldy looking ; next, 

 cover the flooring of the bed with two or three inches of stable straw-litter ; u})on 

 this lay the prepared droppings, to the depth of ten to twelve inches, after being 

 made solid ; and remember, that the more compact, the better chance there will 

 be of success. In the course of two or three days, it is probable that this bed, 

 so made, will begin to heat ; and if it should do so enough to burn the fingers if 

 put into it, make a few holes with a stick, which will soon cool it down. When 

 there is surety that the warmth is on the decline, and has lowered to about T0° or 

 75°, break up some spawn into lumps of three inches culjic ; plant one of each 

 of these, at the distance of nine inches, just below the surface; afterwards, cover 

 with two inches of turfy loam ; beat and tread all down until quite hard and 

 solid, and cover with any kind of soft hay or straw, excepting that from salt 

 marshes. And here I would caution against allowing either salt or lime from 

 coming in contact with any portion of the material used for Mushrooms, as these 

 ingredients will most assuredly kill the plant. The most suitable temperature is 

 from 50° to 55°, with a corresponding moisture in solution in the atmosphere. 

 Mushrooms will not develop in a dry heat, while too much wet and cold rots the 

 spawn. I am thus particular in mentioning these details, because not only this but 

 all other fungoids must have their own and peculiar requirements present, or they 

 will not prosper. With these, there is nothing more easily grown than our pre- 

 sent subject, and what is recorded above, if strictly adhered to, will undoubtedly 

 lead to success. A bed thus made and cared for, will commence bearing in five 

 or six weeks after being finished, and ought to continue to do so for two or three 

 months. If a regular succession be needed the year round, it will be necessary 

 to make up a fresh bed once a month, and it only requires common intelligence, in 

 addition to the above recorded ideas, to carry out the differences in the way of 

 preparing the material according to the state of the weather. Sometimes it will 

 l3e found that the young Mushrooms shrivel up while small, and consequently come 

 to nothing more than clusters of small " buttons." This arises from one of two 

 causes, viz : a deficiency of moisture, or by the covering lying too close, and 

 thereby excluding the air. In the former case, the upper crust is dry, and crum- 

 bles between the fingers, when a sprinkling of clear water (enough to soak down 

 about two inches) will remedy the evil ; and, in the latter, if the surface be wet, 

 the removal of and applying fresh covering, will answer the purpose. 



Mushrooms can be also grown in pots or boxes filled with the above-mentioned 

 materials, and in the same way. Pieces of spawn may also be planted under the 

 surface of the soil inside any grapery not at work in the fall, when the probability 

 is, a crop with more or less certainty, until the base becomes too wet by the re- 

 quisite supply of water for starting the vines. It is well known that Mushrooms 

 are produced in great plenty, naturally, in some localities where cattle feed in the 

 fall, after a dry summer ; and if we consider these conditions, it will readily be 

 seen how many suitable places there are around a homestead where the object 

 view may be carried out, when the nature of the plant is understood. 



