460 VILLA GAEDENING PART v 



above-ground best, as they are more imder control. Mushroom 

 beds are often made up in pits or frames, and I have seen excellent 

 crops grown in an old-fashioned vinery in the pit that ran along 

 the centre of the house, making up one piece at a time to form a 

 succession. Where only two or three beds are made up in the 

 year it is best to buy the spawn, but where a constant succession 

 is kept going the spawn woidd cost a good bit of money at 5s. 

 per bushel ; and then it is better to spawn one bed from the other, 

 which is easily done if the spawn is not too much exhausted. 



Insects, Diseases, etc. — When damp and cold, the young 

 Mushrooms sometimes damp off; and the same thing may happen 

 when the temperature is too high and the house kept too dry. 

 Under the last-named conditions they run up spindling, with long 

 stalks, and are generally weak and poor. From 55° to 60° is the 

 best temperature, and this should be kept regular and steady. 

 Woodlice are the most destructive insect pests to the Mushroom 

 crop. The best way of dealing with them is to pour boiling water 

 round the edges of the beds between the manure and the wall, as 

 they hide in such positions when they are not feeding. A toad or 

 two in the house may be useful, if the number of insects in the 

 house is not too great. Traps, consisting of empty flower-pots, 5 

 or 6 inches in diameter, with a wisp of dry hay loosely thrust 

 inside, to form a shelter for them, may be used. The insects hide 

 inside the pots, and should be destroyed daily by throwing them 

 into a pot of hot water. Snails are very often destructive to the 

 beds in the open ah-, and must be sought for diligently every time 

 the beds are uncovered. Greased Cabbage leaves placed near will 

 tempt the slugs and snails to show themselves, when they may be 

 caught and destroyed. Bran or grains will do as well or better. 



CHAPTER XVI 



The Parsnip. — The cultivated Parsnip, like the Carrot, has 

 been evolved from a native stock, which may be found in abun- 

 dance in some places. It will grow in any soil, but the best and 

 clearest roots are obtained from deep soil of medium texture, rich 

 from previous manuring. Where fresh manui-e is used the roots 

 often canker round the crown, and the flavour is not so good as 

 when sown on land rich enough without fresh manure. Parsnips 

 may follow Celery or Caidiflower, or any other crop for which the 

 land has been much enriched. Soot and salt may always be applied, 

 as their tendency is not only to enrich the land, but to cleanse it 

 from insect and fungoid pests. The roots of the Parsnips descend 



