MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION. 79 



bed. Should Ihe bed bo made up about the middle of August, mushrooms may be ex- 

 pected towiird the end of September, from six weeks to two months after spawning. 

 When the nights become cold, the covering should be increased, and to guard against 

 damp, choose a clear day, occasionally turn off the covering, remove all decaying mat- 

 ter, and when all is dry, cover as before. It will keep in bearing for two months or 

 more, if the interior heat is preserved by additional covering. 



Various schemes may be resorted to for obtaining mushrooms in winter. Those who 

 have a greenhouse may make a bed in tho furnace-room, if they desire to do so, taking 

 advantage of the heat that escapes from the furnace. A good supply may be bad from 

 a bed formed underneath the plant-stage, provided the drippings of water from the . 

 pots above bo guarded against by boards or water-proof cloth. Portable boxes, three 

 or four feet long, two feet wide, and one in depth, filled with horse-mauure, and 

 spawned in autumn, being set in a dry place, will, when soiled over in rotation, and 

 placed in the warm end of a greenhouse, afford a moderate supply. Even good sized 

 flower-pots may be thus prepared, and a few introduced at intervals. The equal tem- 

 perature of an underground cellar or root-room is very suitable for tho growth of this 

 esculent. In such a place mushrooms may be had the whole year from successional 

 beds without much trouble or expense. Tho best crop I ever saw was in beds on each 

 side of a close shed, with a row of fermenting manure between them. The frequent 

 turning over of the manure filled the place with an agreeable moisture, and. obviated 

 the necessity of watering. Tho ammonia disengaged by this i^rocess was also decidedly 

 beneficial. Shelves four feet long and one in width, rising one above another, will be 

 found economical where space is limited. Where an ample and constant supply is de- 

 sired, it is better to erect a structure on purpose. This need not be a costly aliair. A 

 house thirty feet long, ten wide, and ten high to the ridge, built with timber, would 

 not be expensive. Allowing three and a half feet on each side for beds, there would be 

 three feet in the center for a path, underneath which a flue or hot-water pipes should 

 be placed. By having a bed on the surface, there would be space for two tiers of 

 shelves on each side, affording, in all, upward of six hundred square feet of surface for 

 growing the crop. This would be sufficient for a constant supply the whole year 

 Means should bo provided in the roof for light and ventilation. Four windows, three 

 feet square each, would bo sufficient for this purpose. 



The principal material for forming beds in winter or at any season, on shelves, 

 should consist of horse-manure, with a little short litter intermixed. As this is col- 

 lected, spread it out thinly to dry, turning it over frequently to prevent violent heat- 

 ing. The object is to get it into a dry state without decomposition. When it is in this 

 latter condition, commence making the bed, by throwing in the manure to tho depth 

 of three or four inches, and beat it firm with the back of a spade, or, what is more 

 expeditious, with a flat, heavy board, having two handles to work it with. Proceed 

 in this manner until there is a depth of ten inches or so, firmly beaten ; then insert the 

 spawn just below the surface as before. Insert the bulb of a thermometer into the 

 bed, and should tho heat rise above eighty degrees, bore holes eight or nine inches 

 apart all over it. When the temperature is about seventy-five degrees, cover the sur- 

 face with two inches of strong turfy loam, well beaten, leaving the surface smooth and 

 level. The atmospheric temperature may range from fifty to sixty degrees, with pro- 

 portionate humidity. A sprinkling of short hay laid over the bed will keep it moist 

 Where it is found necessary to moisten tho surface, apply the water on the hay, which 

 is preferable to watering directly on the surface of the soil. Pass it through a syringe 

 or fine-rosed watering-pot, observing to use the water a few degrees warmer than the 

 temperature of the house. It is better to give it frequently than too much at a time. 

 If duly attended to, mushrooms will bo gathered in six or seven weeks, and keep in 

 bearing for two or three months. An occasional watering with weak, clear manure- 

 water will prolong their duration. In gathering the crop, the mushrooms should be 

 twisted up as far as possible without disturbing the young ones around. When cut 

 over, the remaining part of the stem is liable to hurt the others from its decomposi- 

 tion. 



Edible fungi. — As it is highly important to be able to distinguish the edible from 

 the poisonous fungi, I herewith submit a list of the former, as tested by one of the 

 highest authorities on this subject. Dr. Curtis, of North Carolina: 



Jgaricus, (Amanita.) — casareus, strobiliformis, rubescens. 

 Lepiota. — procerus, rachodes, excoriatus, mastoideus. 

 Armillarla. — melleus. 



Tricholoma. — Russula, frumentaceus, hypopithyus, Columbctta, caatus, albellus, con- 

 Bcciatus, personatus. 



Clifocyhc. — nebularis, odorus, giganteus, cespitosus. 



Collijbia. — radicatus, esculentus. 



P/euro^i/.s.— uluiarius, tessulatus, Pometi, glandulosus, ostreatus, salignus, 



Voharia. — bombycinus, speciosus. 



CUlopihis. — Prunulus. 



PhoUota. — squarrosus, mutabilie. 



