OCT.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 541 



size : taking care to detach them from the bottom by a gentle twist, 

 pulling the stems out clean, for if broke or cut off, the remaining 

 parts would become putrid and full of maggots, and consequently in- 

 fectious to the successional plants. 



Where mushrooms are greatly admired, and expense not considered 

 an object, they may be had with more certainty, in greater abund- 

 ance, and in a regular succession, by making the beds as before di- 

 rected, under a range of wood framing, made in the manner of a hot- 

 house, or the top sloped both ways like the roof of a house ; in such 

 a place, they could be effectually defended from excessive wet, cold, 

 frost, and snow, and would consequently be very productive. Like- 

 wise, if in this place there are shelves fixed three feet apart, each 

 having a front board, a bed of dung may be made in each, raised at 

 top in a rounding manner, on which the spawn is placed, earthed over 

 near two inches thick, and then covered well with straw. Or you 

 may, by mixing a quantity of strong horse dung, moist stable litter, 

 and rich loamy earth together, have the spawn generated; by filling 

 a pit with this mixture, the dung predominating so as to produce a 

 slow and lasting fermentation, and covering the whole over with 

 about an inch deep of light earth and a good coat of straw, the spawn 

 will be produced; and from this, abundant crops of mushrooms, in 

 regular succession for several months. 



You may likewise make beds in the common hot-bed way, place 

 thereon frames and glasses, and when the violent heat is abated, 

 spawn the top all over, cover it with an inch and a half or two inches 

 of earth, then thickly with straw, and lay on the glasses to protect 

 the beds from rain. 



Mushroom beds may be made in any month, when the weather is 

 mild and dry, but those made in the beginning of this, are generally 

 most productive, and besides, they retain more heat on the approach 

 of winter than if made in September. However when a second bed 

 is to be made it would be well to make one in each month. The 

 most suitable temperature is between 55 and 60, and the nearer 

 the mushroom house is kept to this, the better they will succeed. 



ENDIVE. 



Continue every week to tie up some full grown endive for blanch- 

 ing, as directed on page 486, tying no more at a time than in pro- 

 portion to the demand or consumption ; for if it is not used soon 

 after being sufficiently blanched, it becomes tender, and is subject 

 to rot, especially if the season proves wet. Some people blanch 

 endive by laying boards or tiles flat on the plants ; they will whiten 

 tolerably well by this method, but their growth during the period of 

 whitening is greatly checked thereby, which is certainly of some im- 

 portance. 



Others draw earth around the endive plants after their being tied 

 up in the usual manner; this may do very well in dry weather, but 

 if rain ensues, many of the leaves will rot, and the whole be greatly 

 injured. 



If you have stout endive plants, and neglected in September to 



