FOBCING MUSHROOMS. 117 



and on the care taken in making it up, also on the after 

 management. 



The droppings of hard-fed horses only are useful. Those 

 of horses kept on green food will, of themselves, produce 

 (few or no mushrooms. I have made up beds from farm 

 horses, fed partly on hard, and partly on green food, and 

 from carriage or snddlc horses, fed entirely on corn and hay; 

 treated them in the same way in every respect ; and have 

 found, not OIK'C hut always, those made from the latter most 

 productive. Droppings from hard-fed horses may be pro- 

 cured at the public stables in towns, or at inns in the coun- 

 try, any time of the year; and if the supply be plentiful, a 

 bed of considerable dimensions may be made and finished 

 within five or six weeks. In as many more weebs, if in a 

 stable or dry cellar, or a flued shed, it will begin to produce 

 and often sooner; but if the situation of the bed be cold, it 

 will sometimes be two or three months in producing Mush- 

 rooms." 



It may be necessary to state further, that extremes of heat, 

 cold, drought and moisture, should be avoided in the culti- 

 vation of Mushrooms. Ffthe temperature keeps up to 50^ in 

 the Winter, the beds will be safe, and the heat in the beds 

 may rise to 60 or even 70 without injury. Air also must 

 be admitted in proportion to the heat, and GO* 5 should be 

 aimed at as a medium temperature. Water, when given a 

 little at a time, is better than too much at onco, after the 

 spawn has begun to spread ; and the water lor this purpose 

 should always be made blood warm. A light covering of 

 straw may be always used to preserve moisture on the sur- 

 face ; and if the beds are made in open frames, or otherwise 

 subject to exposure, the straw may be laid thicker than on 

 beds made in a cellar. 



Should beds fail in producing Mushrooms, after having 

 been kept over hot or wet, it raay be inferred that the spawn 

 is injured or destroyed ; but if on the contrary a bed that 

 has been kept moderately warm and dry, should happen to 

 be unproductive, such bed may be well replenished with 

 warm water, and a coat of warm dung may be laid over the 

 whole \ if this does not enliven the bed after haying lain a 



