CHAP. XV VILLA GAKDENING 459 



liquid manure may be applied with advantage. Guano, at the rate 

 of half an ounce to a gallon of water, may be given at any time 

 the beds require water. A pinch of salt may be added with 

 advantage to each potful of water. The water should always be 

 given warm — say at 85°. 



Gathering the Crops. — The age at which Mushrooms are 

 gathered must depend on the pm-pose for which they are used. 

 For grills, of course. Mushrooms must be nearly fully grown. They 

 may be said to be at their best when nearly but not quite fully 

 expanded, just before the fringe or beard, which attaches the 

 outside edge of the Mushroom to the stalk, separates from the 

 latter. The gills inside are then a bright pink, and the Mushrooms 

 are more delicate in flavom- than if left to get old. In gathering 

 draw the I\Iushroom out of the bed with a quick twist, and after 

 each cutting fill up the holes with some fresh loam. Mushrooms 

 have been grown in many places, some of which, at first sight, 

 might appear unlikely to secure success; but if we possess the 

 requisite materials for making the beds, and the right temperature 

 can be seciured, they may be grown anywhere. I have grown them 

 in champagne-cases, filling the case two-thirds full of manure, and 

 spawning and adding soil when the right temperature had been 

 reached. The lid of the box may be closed, and the box carried 

 into the house or stable, or placed under the greenhouse stage. A 

 succession can easily be kept up if we possess half-a-dozen boxes, 

 filling one every fortnight or so. Mushrooms can be grown just 

 as well 



In the Open Air, provided the requisite covering can be 

 had, as in a building. The Mushroom requires certain conditions 

 as to warmth and moisture, and provided these are present it does 

 not matter a straw where the beds are situated. There is, of 

 course, more trouble with beds in the open air, but otherwise the 

 means required are the same for one set as for another. The beds 

 should be larger in order to secure a more regular temperature, as 

 the heat is steadier in the large bulk than in the small one. The 

 open-air beds shovdd be built up in the form of a ridge, about 3 

 feet wide and as much in depth or thickness, the sides tapering up 

 to a point, the spawn being inserted on both sides of the ridge. 

 It is a good plan to make the beds against a wall in a position not 

 much influenced by the sunshine, north being the best, especially 

 for summer. In this case the ridge will only have one side to 

 spawn, but the back of the bed will be higher than the front, thus 

 giving a long face. Mushroom beds are sometimes made by 

 digging out the soil and filling in with stable manure, and, as soon 

 as the temperature is right, inserting the spawn. I like the beds 



