The Culture of Vegetables 



inserting a few lumps of spawn in a Cucumber or Melon bed while 

 the plants are still in bearing. Between spawning and cropping a 

 period of six or eight weeks usually elapses, so that if the plan just 

 mentioned be adopted, the spawn should be introduced in the height 

 of summer, both to insure it a warm bed and to allow time for the 

 crop to mature before the season runs out. Sheds and outhouses 

 not only afford shelter and space for beds on the floor, but the walls 

 can be fitted with shelves on which Mushrooms may be plentifully 

 grown. In all cases the shelves should be two feet apart vertically, 

 and each shelf should have a ledge nine inches deep. The walls of 

 a house may be quickly and cheaply fitted with woodwork for the 

 purpose, but brick is so much better than wood that whenever it is 

 possible to employ brick it should have the preference. As regards 

 the ledges, they should be of stout planking in any case, and should 

 not be fixed, because of the necessity for clearing the shelves and 

 renewing the soil periodically. The details of cultivation are the 

 same within doors as without, but the roof gives valuable protection, 

 and helps to maintain the beds at a suitable temperature. 



A proper Mushroom house for production during winter should be 

 heated with hot water, and have an opaque roof. There is nothing so 

 good for the crop as a roof of thatch, but there are many objections 

 to it, and usually slate is employed. A double roof will pay for its 

 extra cost by promoting an equable temperature. A few side lights 

 fitted with shutters will be necessary, as there should be a good light 

 for working purposes ; but the crop does not need light, and a more 

 steady temperature can be maintained in a dark house than in 

 one which has several windows. The most convenient dimensions 

 for a Mushroom house are : length, twenty-five feet ; width, twelve 

 feet ; height at sides, six feet, to allow of a bed on the floor, and a 

 shelf four feet above it ; the ridge rising sufficiently for head room, 

 and to shoot off water. There will be room for a central path of 

 four feet, and a bed of four feet on each side. An earth or tile floor 

 and a slate or stone shelf will, with one four-inch flow and return 

 pipe, complete the arrangements. The less wood and the less 

 concrete the better ; there is nothing like cheap porous red tiles 

 for the floor and stone for the shelves, with loose planks on edge to 

 keep up the soil, a few uprights being sufficient to hold them in their 

 places. 



Temperatures at every point are of great importance. The bed 

 should be near 80 when the spawn is inserted. The air temperature 

 requisite to the rising crop is 60 to 65, which is the usual tem- 



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