THE MUSHKOOM HOUSE. 183 



favourable to Mushroom culture, and prevent that 

 poisonous and dry atmosphere which generally attends 

 these houses. It is a recognised fact that the species 

 Agaricus campestris becomes poisonous, more or less, 

 according to the state of its surroundings. Let any 

 one get Mushrooms fresh gathered from our rich open 

 pastures, and some also from a dry Mushroom house, 

 and cook both lots separately ; serve them up, and have 

 the unprejudiced opinion of those who taste them ; and 

 I know that the most decided favour will be given to 

 those gathered from the pasture. It would be quite 

 impossible to get a Mushroom to retain that purity and 

 richness at the size to which they grow in the meadows 

 from an ordinary Mushroom house. Why is this ? Not 

 solely on account of the soil, for generally a made bed con- 

 tains considerably more manure than a meadow. No, 

 it is chiefly on account of the dewy state of the atmo- 

 sphere which prevails at night during the Mushroom 

 growing months, September and October. It is this 

 which gives purity and richness of flavour to the Mush- 

 room. The water troughs on the floor of the house 

 will answer two most important purposes, viz. prevent 

 the ascension of the woodlouse and beetles to the beds, 

 and cause the necessary vapour for the production of 

 really good Mushrooms. 



No difficulty stands in the way of having Mushrooms 

 all the year through, if a convenient house like the 

 one in the illustration is built. They may then be 

 grown without houses for nine months of the year. 

 To have them in June it is necessary to make a bed 

 under some warm and sheltered wall or hedge, in the 

 month of March or the beginning of April. Having 

 chosen a favourable spot, commence by digging out the 



