178 Mushroom-Culture. [Sess. 
other variety, the Agaricus campestris being the kind most 
desired. It is rather a curious fact that in Rome what we 
call toadstools are freely eaten, and the meadow mushroom is 
held in abhorrence. Nothing can convey the hatred of one 
Italian towards another more than by expressing a wish that 
he may die of a pratiolo (meadow mushroom). 
It is unnecessary to enter into any detailed account of the 
many kinds of mushrooms. No doubt you are well aware 
that many so-called poisonous ones are really quite harmless, 
but, owing to popular ignorance, are left to waste instead of 
being utilised as an article of food. Still, it is hard to under- 
stand the reasons which influenced the authorities at Rome to 
issue a command that all meadow mushrooms should be thrown 
into the Tiber.’ It is true that at Rome there is a plentiful 
supply of Agaricus Cesareus, certainly the most delicious of 
all mushrooms, but even that does not justify the severe con- 
demnation of A. campestris. 
With such diverse opinions we do not intend to intermeddle 
at present, but will proceed to give a plain account of our 
mode of cultivating the mushroom from a commercial point of 
view. One of the first considerations is the kind of place 
proper to grow them. -In the tunnel at Scotland Street we 
consider that we have an ideal place. It realises effectually 
all the conditions required: Istly, evenness of temperature ; 
2ndly, humidity; and 3rdly, absence of light. This last 
element may be disputed as not absolutely required, but ex- 
perience convinces us that it is a great assistance to the 
growth of mushrooms. Without these three essentials only 
a qualified amount of success need be looked for. 
In order that mushroom-growing be successful from a money 
point of view, it is further necessary that a command of a steady 
supply of manure be assured. This can only be done by being 
contiguous to a large town. To attempt growing mushrooms 
at a distance from a large town would so increase the cost of 
the material by extra haulage and cartage, that it would 
1 «*The stale funguses of the preceding day, as well as those that are mouldy, 
bruised, filled with maggots, or dangerous, together with any specimens of the 
common mushroom detected in the baskets, shall be thrown into the Tiber.”— 
From the Rules of the Jnspettore det Funghi at Rome. 
