572 MUSHROOMS, OR ESCULENT FUNGI. 



sidered that the heat is likely to increase, the covering must 

 be diminished for a few days, which is better than taking it 

 entirely off. 



u In about a month or five weeks, but frequently within 

 the former time, if the bed is in a high state of cultivation, 

 mushrooms will most likely make their appearance, arid, in 

 the course of eight and forty hours afterwards, they will have 

 grown to a sufficient size for use. In gathering, instead of 

 cutting them off close to the ground, they should be drawn 

 out with a gentle twist, filling up the cavity with a little fine 

 mould, gently pressed in level with the bed. This method 

 of gathering is much better than cutting, as the part left 

 generally rots, and breeds insects, which are very destructive, 

 both in frames and on mushroom-beds. 



" Where a mushroom-bed is to remain permanently, a 

 covered shed will be found convenient. 



" Sometimes it happens that a bed suddenly ceases to pro- 

 duce any mushrooms. This arises from various causes, but 

 principally from the cold state of the bed in winter, or from 

 a too dry state in summer. In the former case, a slight cov- 

 ering of mulchy hay laid over the bed, and on that six or 

 eight inches of well-worked, hot dung, and the whole covered 

 lightly with the straw that was taken off, will most likely 

 bring it about again. In the latter instance, moisture, if re- 

 quired, should be given moderately, two or three mornings ; 

 when, after lying about an hour, the whole may be covered 

 up, and be found of much service. In summer, most mush- 

 room-beds in a bearing state require more or less slight 

 waterings. Soft water should be used for the purpose : 

 spring water is of too hard and too cold a nature, and, 

 when at any time applied, checks vegetation. In summer 

 time, a gentle shower of rain, on open beds that are in 

 bearing and seem dry, will add considerably to their pro- 

 ductiveness. 





