HOW TO GROW MUSHROOMS. 



The Agaric campestris, or common mushroom, is the only species that is generally 

 grown artificially. It is thus botanically described : Stipes, (or stalk,) two or three 

 inches in length, white, solid, fleshy, furnished with an annular veil, (a thin membrane- 

 ous substance encircling the stalk.) Pileus, (cap or edible part,) fleshy, dry, convex, at 

 length plane, white, changing from yellowish to brownish. Gills, (thin parallel plates un- 

 derside of the cap,) free, ventricose, (swelling unequally on one side,) pink, changing to 

 deep purplish brown. Flesh, (internal substance,) white. 



There are several species of the Agaric besides the above, and also a few varieties of the 

 yi. campestris that are sometimes grown for using in a recent state. It is unnecessary 

 to describe them here, as those who purchase spawn need be under no apprehension of 

 receiving a spurious article; at least so far as my experience goes, I have never seen disap- 

 pointment in this respect. So far from there being any difficulty in growing them, I ven- 

 ture to say that not one in fifty who makes the attempt will fail. Of course, some little 

 attention is requisite, as with everything else artificially circumstanced. A knowledge of 

 the condition under which they are most plentifully found in nature, will be of material 

 assistance to the grower. The germs of fungi seem to be widely diifused in the atmos- 

 phere; all that is wanting for their development being a favorable medium. In very dry 

 seasons, mushrooms are most plentiful in low situations, on strongish soils; on the con- 

 trary, should there be much wet, they are more abundant in upland and drier localities. 

 A continuance of warm, dry weather, followed by slight showers, and a hazy, still 

 atmosphere, brings them most profusely. These considerations are worthy of keeping in 

 mind in their artificial culture. There is no particular season for making a mushroom 

 bed. In winter it requires to be under cover, and in summer the difficulty lies in keeping 

 it cool and moist. Autumn is perhaps the best season for building a bed out of doors, and 

 if a constant supply be an object, a bed should be made up in some spare cellar about the 

 beginning of November. 



Before entering into the details of management it may be useful to make a few remarks 

 upon the propagation of spawn. Summer is the best time for performing this operation. 

 Procure some horse droppings; if there is a sprinkling of short litter with them, so 

 much the better; cow dung and light loamy soil, or road scrapings, in about equal propor- 

 tions; it is not particularly necessary that they should be in exact quantities. I mention 

 this in passing, as an idea sometimes gets abroad, that unless everything is mathematical- 

 ly adjusted by number or weight, it would be folly to expect a satisfactory result. Mash 

 these ingredients together with water, into a thick mortar, and spread it out three 

 inches in thickness, in an open shed to dry. As soon as firm enough, cut it with a spade 

 in squares of seven or eight inches, set them on edge, and turn them occasionally to faci- 

 litate their drying. When they will admit of being handled with safety, cut with a knife 

 two or three holes, about two inches in diameter, little more than half through the brick, 

 and fill each hole with good spawn, plastering it over Avith a portion of what was cut out. 

 They should now be left until quite dry. Have ready a quantit}' of fermenting manure 

 which has been well sweetened by frequent turnings. Spread a la3'er of this six or eight 

 inches in thickness, and build the bricks on it with the spawned side uppermost, drawing 

 the pile up to a point, then cover the whole with the warm manures. A genial warmth 

 of about sixty degrees will be sufficient to cause the spawn to run through the whole of 

 the bricks; when this takes place the process is ended. They can be laid past in a dry 

 place, where they will keep good for years. 



shroom beds out of doors may be made of any material capable of producing 

 by fermentation. Stable manure is best, taking long and short as it comes to 



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