342 A Fezv Remarks on Mushroom Phenomena. [Sess. 



look the fact that the early stages of the mushroom are hidden 

 from view by the grass, and they rush to the conclusion that 

 as they did not see them, they were not there ! 



Another very prevalent error is the opinion held by many 

 that the French mushroom is superior to our own, and that 

 it commands a higher price accordingly. The fact is, that we 

 are now producing such a good article that we have beaten 

 the French completely out of our markets. Twenty years ago 

 we depended almost entirely on French mushrooms for our 

 table-supply : at present there is no market for them, which 

 accounts for their seeming scarcity. 



Another fallacy is the belief that so much good food is 

 allowed to go to waste in our fields. The error of this belief 

 is evident to any one who sees the truck-loads of field mush- 

 rooms which are sent daily into the English markets during 

 the season. Mushrooms were offered to the public this season 

 as low as one penny per pound, and if commission, freight, 

 baskets, &c., are taken off, there is not much left to the 

 gatherer. 



Some errors invariably crop up in all works relating to 

 mushroom culture, and one of the most constant is that ad- 

 vising the use of leaf -mould as a material for mushroom beds. 

 Cow manure is also suggested. Both these materials are 

 absolutely of no value. 



Again, many and various are the instructions how to grow 

 mushrooms in frame-houses, heated artificially. I think I am 

 right in saying that no mushroom ever grew in a frame-house 

 that was entirely free from maggot. 



In regard to the proper material for a mushroom bed, it is 

 quite certain that up till now nothing but horse manure can 

 be used successfully. It is possible that at some future time 

 some new and improved method may be discovered which will 

 take the place of this medium. 



The mushroom has three separate parts : first, the mycel- 

 ium ; second, the stem and pileus ; and thirdly, the gills or 

 hymenium. 



The mycelium is a delicate, filamentous substance, white in 

 colour, and is the first stage with which we are acquainted in 

 the life of a mushroom. By-and-by there appears a globose 

 bud, which gradually becomes elongated, but showing no sign 



