M U S 



389 



MUS 



made : it will shortly spread through together. The spawn to be inserted 

 the whole texture of the slabs, if kept when they are half dry. 



in a warm dry place, when eacli may be 

 broken into four pieces, and when quite 

 dry laid on shelves — separate, and not 

 in heaps, otherwise a bed will be form- 

 ed for the spawn to run in. Mr. Wales 



Quantity required. — One bushel of 

 spawn is required for a bed five feet by 

 ten; two bushels for one double that 

 length; and so on in proportion. 



MUSK-FLOWER. Mimulus mos- 



recommends the composition to consist chata. 

 of three parts horse-dung without lit- ' '»"''^' 

 ter, two of rotten tree-leaves, two of 

 cow-dung, one of rotten tanners' bark, 

 and one of sheep's dung, mixed to the 

 consistency of mortar, and moulded in 

 sinall frames like those used by brick- 

 makers, six inches long, four broad, 

 and three deep. Three holes to be 

 made half through the bricks, an inch 

 apart, with a blunt dibble, for the re- 

 ception of the spawn. They should be 

 put on board for the convenience of 

 moving abroad during fine days, as they 

 must be made perfectly dry, which they 

 often appear to be on the outside when 

 they are 'ar otherwise internally. Be- 

 fore they are perfectly dry they require 

 Treat care in handling and turning, from 



MUSS.T.NDA. Eight species. Stove 

 evergreen shrubs. Cuttings. Loam and 

 peat. 



MUSTARD. Sinnpis alba. 



Soil and Situation. — It succeeds best 

 in a fine rich mouldy loam, in which the 

 supply of moisture is regular ; it may 

 rather incline to lightness than tenacity. 

 If grown for salading it need not be 

 dug deep; but if for seed, to full the 

 depth of the blade of the spade. 



In early spring, and late in autumn, 

 the situation should be sheltered ; and 

 during the height of summer, shaded 

 from the meridian sun. 



Time and Mode of Sowing. — For sal- 

 ading, it may be sown throughout the 

 year. From the beginning of November 



their aptitude to break; but in about i to the same period of March, in a gentle 

 three weeks, if dry weather, when per- hot-bed appropriated to the purpose, 

 fectly exsiccated, they become quite in one already employed for some other 

 firm. To pervade them with the spawn, plant, or in the corner of a stove. From 

 a layer of fresh horse-litter, which has the close of February to the close of 

 laid in a heap to sweeten as for a hot- April it may be sown in the open ground, 

 bed, must be formed, six inches thick, [on a warm sheltered border, and from 

 in a dry shed. On this a course of the thence to the middle of September in 

 bricks is to be laid, and their holes | a shady one. Both the white and black, 

 completely filled with spawn ; and, as ! for seed, may be sown at the close of 

 the bricks are laid in rows upon each i March, in an open compartment. For 

 other, the upper side of each is to be ' salading, it is sown in flat-bottomed 

 scattered over with some of the same, j drills, about half an inch deep and six 

 The bricks are not placed so as to touch, i inches apart. The seed cannot well 

 so that the heat and steam of the dung ! be sown too thick. The earth which 



may circulate equally and freely. The 

 heap is to terminate with a single brick, 

 and when completed, covered with a 

 layer, six inches thick, of hot dung, to 

 be reinforced with an additional three 

 inches after a lapse of two weeks. The 

 spawn will generally have thoroughly 

 run through the bricks after another 

 fortnight. If, however, upon examina- 

 tion this is not found to be the case, 

 they must remain for ten days longer. 

 The bricks being allowed to dry for a 

 few days before they are stored, will 

 then keep for many years. 



Mr. Oldaker recommends the bricks 

 to be tnade of fresh horse-droppings, 

 mixed with short litter, to which must 



covers the drills should be entirely di- 

 vested of stones. Water must be given 

 occasionally in dry weather, as a due 

 supply of moisture is the chief induce- 

 ment to a quick vegetation. The sow- 

 ings are to be performed once or twice 

 in a fortnight, according to the demand. 

 Cress {lepidium .lativuin) is the almost 

 constant accompaniment of this salad- 

 herb; and as the mode of cultivation 

 for each is identical, it is only neces- 

 sary to remark that, as cress is rather 

 tardier in vegetating than mustard, it is 

 necessary, for the obtaining them both 

 in perfection at the same time, to sow 

 it five or six days earlier. 



It must be cut for use whilst young, 



be added one-third of cow-dung and a I and before the rough leaves appear, 

 small portion of earth, to cement them I otherwise the pungency of the flavour 



