Cultural Directions. 219 



Now insert a thermometer in the centre of the mass, and 

 again allow the first violent heat to subside. When the tempera- 

 ture has been reduced to 85 or 90 degrees, the bed is ready for 

 planting the spawn. 



Break the bricks of spawn into pieces of the size of a small 

 egg; then make holes 2 inches deep, and 10 or 12 inches apart 

 each way, all over the bed, and drop a large piece, or two smaller 

 ones, into each, afterwards filling the holes with the manure 

 mixture, and again beat the beds down smoothly and evenly. 

 Then cover the whole with two inches of fine loam firming it 

 with the back of spade or shovel. 



In a dark cellar and even temperature of from 55 to 60 

 degrees the mushrooms will appear in from 5 to 8 weeks. 

 If the cellar is rather light, the bed had better be covered with 

 6 inches of hay or straw. In a reasonably damp cellar watering 

 will not be necessary ; but in a dry one warm water should 

 occasionally be sprinkled over the bed with a fine rose sprinkler. 

 A little nitrate of soda, or saltpetre, dissolved in the water will, 

 I think, be found of great advantage in lengthening the bearing 

 period of the bed. The spawn can be obtained of any large 

 seed house. 



MUSTARD (White Mustard.) 



Sinapis Alba. German, Gelber Senf ; French, Moutarde 

 blanche ; Spanish, Mostaza blanca. Annual of rapid growth and 

 easiest culture. The leaves while young are used for salads and 

 for garnishing, and are of pleasant pungency. Sow seed in drills 

 one foot apart, and keep free from weeds. 

 The ripe seed is variously used in the prep- 

 aration of pickles, and when ground makes 

 the chief ingredient in the well-known condi- 

 ment on sale in groceries under the name 

 " Mustard." Some years ago I saw a variety 

 of mustard in the south, where it was grown 

 under the name " Curled mustard " for greens 

 and for salad. Each plant formed a great 

 mass of beautifully curled leaves, and I grew it for two seasons, 

 then accidentally lost the seed, and have not been able to find a 

 new supply. Probably this is a sport or selection of the Chinese 

 Cabbage-Leaved mustard. 



NASTURTIUM. (Indian Cress) Dwarf. 



Tropaolum Minus. German, Kapuziner Kresse ; French, 

 Capucine petite ; Spanish, Capuchina pequena. Annual of easy 

 culture, and like the climbing form (T. Majus) more frequently 

 found in the flower garden and border than in the kitchen 



