MUSHROOMS 185 



nearly so long in our climate as that prepared with 

 the addition of cow-manure. 



Another method of preparing mushroom-spawn has 

 been adopted by the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Briefly, 

 it consists in developing the spawn or mycelium direct 

 from the spores of the mushroom. The best speci- 

 mens are selected and placed on sheets of paper. As 

 the spores ripen on the " gills," or lamellae, of the 

 mushroom, they fall on the surface of the paper, and if 

 undisturbed, mark the outline of the mushroom cap. 

 Some manure, nicely prepared as described above, 

 and a few mushroom spores, are then placed in a test 

 tube, the mouth of which is hermetically sealed. The 

 tube is placed in a warm stove, the spores germinate 

 readily, and in about a fortnight the mycelium threads 

 (or spawn) have spread throughout the manure in 

 the test tube. " Spawn " obtained in this way has 

 been used for the production of Mushrooms, but it 

 is said that the results, so far, have not been quite 

 so satisfactory as were anticipated. 



ONIONS 



Although there are many varieties of Onion (Allium 

 Cepa) in cultivation, there is now only one specially 

 adapted for intensive cultivation as practised by the 

 Parisians market-gardeners, that is, the variety 

 known as " Blanc hdtif de Paris'' or " Early White 

 Paris." Formerly another variety, the " Jaune des 

 Vertus," was extensively cultivated, but has been 

 discarded as it is not sufficiently remunerative. 



Seeds are sown in beds about the middle of August. 

 If sown earlier, or at least before August 15, in 



