THE GANADIA.N IIOKTICL'I/I UlilST. 



51 



I 



decide each for himself which sorts he 

 will continue to grow. Doubtless hun- 

 dreds have been brought forward that 

 were to supersede the Wilson, and yet 

 to-day the Wilson in the hands of most 

 cultivators is the most profitable variety 

 gi-own. 



Our colored illustration this month 

 presents to our readers an early ripen- 

 ing sort of the Wilson type. It was 

 raised by Mr. A. M. Smith, when he 

 resided at Drummondville, and has 

 been named by him the Early Canada. 

 The illustration is a reproduction in 

 colors of a drawing taken from nature, 

 and is a very accurate representation 

 of the fruit. It ripens about a week 

 earlier than the Wilson, under the 

 same conditions ; is about as produc- 

 tive, as good a shipper, and much the 

 same in quality and size. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



MUSHROOM CULTURE. 

 Mr. Editor, — Please inform me how 

 to grow mushi'ooms with success through 

 the Canadian llorticultwrist and oblige, 



Toronto. 



Yours truly, 



H. B. L. 



To grow mushrooms with success our 

 corresf)ondent will need to add to his 

 knowledge, patience ; and to patience, 

 experience. In all the extent of vege- 

 table culture there is not another that 

 \, so mocks our skill and sets at defiance 

 all our knowledge. Instead of yielding 

 returns in from four to six weeks, 

 according to our well founded expect- 

 ations, it may be as many months before 

 the much-wished for crop appears. 



The first requisite is the material for 

 the mushroom bed. Fresh horse drop- 



pings are procured from the stal>If'< 

 every morning, and spread out to div, 

 where they are frequently turned over 

 to dry and to prevent heating. It is of 

 first importance to get the dung into 

 proper condition, not so wet as to pro- 

 duce violent fermentation, nor so dry 

 as not to ferment, but of that degree ot 

 moisture that will secure a nice, gentle 

 heat. 



The second i-equisite is a suitable 

 place in which to prepare the bed. This 

 should be where the temperature will 

 not fall below fifty degrees of Fahren- 

 heit, nor rise above sixty. If the room 

 can be kept dark, so much the better, 

 and the atmosphere never allowed to 

 become dry. On this account many 

 prefer a cellar having a dry bottom. 



The third requisite is a properly 

 prepared bed. This is made by placing 

 first a layer of the dung, which has 

 been collected and prepared for this 

 purpose, laid regularly and evenly to 

 the depth of five or six inches, and 

 beaten hard as it is laid down, then in 

 the same manner adding layer after 

 layer until the bed is from a foot to 

 eighteen inches deep. Now plunge a 

 thermometer into the bed and watch 

 the temperature. It should not rise 

 higher than 110°; it may be that it 

 will not rise above 100°. Giadwally 

 the heat will decline, and when it has 

 fallen to 80°, the spawn should be 

 planted. This you will procure of any 



of our larire deah 



seeds. The 



bricks of spawn should be broken into 

 pieces about the size of a lien's a^^^, and 

 these inserted into holes made iu tlio 

 bed about nine inches apart an! two 

 inches deep, which should be closed 

 again, and the whole beaten down firm. 

 About a week or ten days aftei- cover 

 the bed with an inch and a half of light 

 turfy soil, neither wet nor dry, but just 

 moist enough to firm readily when 

 beaten down with the back of t lie ^pih'. 

 To prevent evaporation cover the UA 



