THE MUSHROOM HOUSE. 183 
favourable to Mushroom culture, and prevent that 
poisonous and dry atmosphere which generally attends 
these houses. It is a recognised fact that the species 
Agaricus campestris becomes poisonous, more or less, 
according o the state of its surroundings. Let any 
one get Mushrooms fresh gathered from our rich open 
pastures, and some also from a dry Mushroom house, 
and cook both lots separately ; serve them up, and have 
the unprejudiced opinion of those who taste them ; and 
I know that the most decided favour will be given to 
those gathered from the pasture. It would be quite 
impossible to get a Mushroom to retain that purity and 
richness at the size to which they grow in the meadows 
from an ordinary Mushroom house. Why is this? Not 
solely on account of the soil, for generally amade bed con- 
tains considerably more manure than a meadow. No, 
it is chiefly on account of the dewy state of the atmo- 
sphere which prevails at night during the Mushroom 
growing months, September and October. It is this 
which gives purity and richness of flavour to the Mush- 
room. The water troughs on the floor of the house 
will answer two most important purposes, viz. prevent 
the ascension of the woodlouse and beetles to the beds, 
and cause the necessary vapour for the production of 
really good Mushrooms. 
No difficulty stands in the way of having Mushrooms 
all the year through, if a convenient house like the 
one in the illustration is built. They may then be 
grown without houses for nine months of the year. 
To have them in June it is necessary to make a bed 
under some warm and sheltered wall or hedge, in the 
month of March or the beginning of April. Having 
chosen a favourable spot, commence by digging out the 
