156 On the Cultivation of the Mushroom. 



on the cultivation of the mushroom ; and, as it is an old ac- 

 quaintance of mine, and one which I consider deserving a 

 prominent place in the vegetable department, especially du- 

 ring the winter months, I shall take the liberty of throwing 

 out a few hints on its culture, which may not be unaccepta- 

 ble to at least some of your readers. My mode of culture dif- 

 fers in some minor points from that in general practice, but as 

 it possesses the advantages of being both cheap and simple, 

 I hope it may lead to a more extensive culture of this delicious 

 vegetable. 



Early in the month of November last, I erected a shelf 

 eighteen feet long by four wide, and one foot six inches deep, 

 in a basement, underneath a row of lean-to buildings on the 

 north side of a vinery wall. The bottom of the shelf is ele- 

 vated eighteen inches from the floor, and, in forming it, I left 

 a cavity of one inch between each board, for the purpose of 

 drainage, as well as to allow the heat from fermenting materi- 

 als, placed underneath, to pass freely up into the bed : the shelf 

 being completed, my bed was formed as follows : — I first 

 shook a light layer of litter from the barn-yard, over the bot- 

 tom; then four inches of horse-droppings free from the litter, and 

 previously exposed in a dry airy place, in order that very lit- 

 tle moisture may be in it at the time of using for forming the 

 bed. I then put over this two inches of sandy loam, which I 

 beat down firmly ; and again put on four inches of horse-drop- 

 pings and two of loam, which I also beat down ; then four 

 inches more of the horse-droppings, and two of loam, which, 

 when thoroughly beat down, completes my bed. 



Thus far completed, my next object was, to fill the vacancy 

 underneath the shelf, with a mixture of hot stable manure, 

 and leaves well moistened previous to their being put in, and, 

 in the course of a week, I had a pretty lively heat in my bed ; 

 I think this was about the 18th of November. I then went to 

 New York to procure the spawn, but, on making inquiries at 

 the various seed stores, 1 found, to my regret, there was none 

 to be had at the time. On my way home, however, I learned 

 that a gentleman's gardener on the island had a mushroom 

 bed the previous spring, where, on applying, I found the bed 

 had been turned out some time previous ; however, I obtained 

 the liberty to examine the heap, and succeeded in finding suf- 



