190 



TJie Canadian Horticulturist. 



MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



Bv Hkkmann Simmers, Esq., Toronto. 



Fig. 51. 



THE cultivation of this nutritious 

 esculent is a very simple matter, 

 and requires only ordinary intelligence 

 and care. The materials needed are 

 fresh horse manure, good soil and 

 live spawn. The manure should not 

 be too short, as it does not combine 

 the necessary qualities. Long strawy 

 litter plentifully mixed with short 

 manure, makes by far the best beds, 

 as it does not heat too violently, de- 

 composes slowly, and retains its heat 

 for a long period. Put in a heap and 

 turn every three or four days to per- 

 mit the escape of noxious gases, and 

 prevent burning. Manure that has 

 become white or "fire fanged" and 

 mouldy is worthless for mushroom 

 beds. When ready for use it should 

 not possess an offensive odor, and 

 should be as hot as can be borne 

 comfortably by the hand. It should 

 also be moist, for if too dry the de- 

 composition of the mass will be 

 rapid, and the bed exhausted before 

 the crop has matured. If a shed or 

 cellar is not available they can be 

 grown in the open air, but the time 

 necessary to perfect a crop will be 

 longer. Make the beds 3 feet wide 

 at the base, i\ feet high, tapering to 

 6 inches at the top, and of any de- 

 sired length. The manure, when in 

 proper condition, should be quickly 

 handled to prevent the loss of heat, 

 and be beaten down to make the 

 heap firm and compact. When of 

 the desired size the sides should be 



dressed down neatly and the heap 

 covered with long litter. Allow this 

 to remain till the heat has decreased 

 to go°; at this point the bed is ready 

 to receive the spawn, which is done 

 by raising the manure with the hand 

 and inserting pieces of spawn 2 inches 

 square, g inches apart each way. 

 Liberal use of spawn results in larger 

 crops. Many beds fail to give satis- 

 factory returns owing to the bricks 

 being broken in too small pieces. At 

 the expiration of three days the 

 spawn will have commenced to run, 

 and the bed is in proper condition for 

 covering with soil. Any good fresh 

 soil will answer, but turfy loam from 

 an old pasture or meadow is preferable. 

 If the soil IS poor add a liberal quantity 

 of bone meal. The earth should be just 

 moist enough to press together 

 nicely ; if too wet when put on it is 

 apt to crack and thereb}' permit the 

 heat to escape instead of permeating 

 the bed evenly. If the soil is light 

 put on to the depth of 2 inches, but 

 if heavy i inch will be sufficient. 

 The bed should again be covered 

 with the litter, and it should remain 

 on till the bed is exhausted, only re- 

 moving it to gather the crop. If the 

 bed shows signs of dryness water on 

 top of the litter, and not directly on 

 the soil. 



Mushrooms can be readily grown 

 in cellars, stables, sheds or pits. The 

 requirements as to manure, soil, etc., 

 are similar, but the season can be 



