80 BUIST'S FAMILY KITCHEN GARDENER. 



part left generally rots and breeds insects, particularly the 

 wood-louse, which is very destructive to Mushroom beds. 



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

 ductive. This may arise from various causes, but most frequent- 

 ly from the cold state of the bed in Winter, or a dryness of soil. 

 In the former case, an additional covering should be given, in 

 the latter, water in a milk-warm or tepid state should be ap- 

 plied moderately, for two or three mornings in succession. 

 After each watering leave the covering off for about an hour. 

 Soft water should be used for the purpose. In Summer the 

 beds will require watering every two days, though in Winter 

 they may not need it in as many months. A good bed will b& 

 productive for three months, though it may occasionally happen 

 to wear out in half that time. 



From these observations, an ingenious mind can make a 

 Mushroom bed in a multitude of situations, all obtainable where 

 there are cellars, stables, or other buildings. We would not 

 despair even in the open air during Winter, covered with plenty 

 of litter, under a few boards to ward off cold rains. In Spring 

 and Summer, any quantity may be grown in this way. 



It will be observed, in the cultivation of every other vegeta- 

 ble we either sow or plant some evident material of reproduc- 

 tion ; but in the cultivation of Mushrooms, we neither sow nor 

 plant any antecedent production of seed, plant, or root, yet it 

 is certain that mushrooms are reproduced by a process in which 

 the dung of certain animals forms the chief instrument, and 

 n the goodness and strength of that ingredient, in whatsoever 

 way it is made, chiefly depends the crop. We are aware that 

 this vegetable appears in certain situations without any appa- 

 rent cause, though we feel fully satisfied that there are inert 

 ingredients that only require a combination of influences to 

 produce certain results, and these results in nature are uner- 

 ring. 



The young Horticulturist should never desist from making 

 moderate and well-considered experiments. Let him never 



