MUSHROOMS 445 



to dirty the Mushrooms or interfere with their growth. By 

 making three or four beds under cover in the year, a continuous 

 supply may be secured ; and besides, during summer, beds may 

 be made in the open air, which will yield abundantly at a 

 trifling expense. Hot-beds, in which other plants are grown, 

 might have their sides and the spaces between the plants 

 spawned, and would often yield well, provided their temperature 

 was suitable for the purpose, and that care was taken to protect 

 the young Mushrooms' with a slight covering of soil as soon as 

 they commenced to grow. 



The very interesting Paris culture of Mushrooms is fully 

 described, and illustrated with a variety of original woodcuts, 

 in " The Parks and Gardens of Paris," second edition ; and the 

 English market-garden culture is fully treated of in Shaw's 

 " London Market-Gardens." 



Mushroom spawn produced by the old methods was apt to 

 degenerate. Some Mushroom growers to counteract this obtained 

 virgin spawn from spores born in farmyard manure heaps that had 

 remained long undisturbed ; but owing to the diversity of varieties 

 and differences in the cultural value of spawn thus obtained, it failed 

 to give satisfaction. 



All attempts at raising virgin spawn by sowing the spores of 

 the best Mushrooms were fruitless until, in 1897, Dr. Repin, after 

 numerous attempts, discovered a way of producing virgin spawn. 

 This virgin spawn, now manufactured by Messrs. Vilmorin- 

 Andrieux et Cie. in their laboratory by Dr. Repin's process, is 

 characterised by great vigour of growth, and, being raised from 

 spores of the healthiest Mushrooms only, is entirely free from 

 the noxious bacterial organisms so prevalent in spawn not 

 sterilised by the new process, and is therefore not so liable 

 to be attacked by diseases a fact which removes one great 

 hindrance to Mushroom growing. The virgin spawn is sold in 

 the form of compressed slabs or tablets, of handy size, thoroughly 

 pervaded by the spores. One hundred tablets weigh about eighteen 

 pounds. 



Before using the tablets they should be revived, i.e. slightly 

 moistened on both sides, and laid out in a moist, moderately warm 

 place, i.e. on the prepared beds themselves or between two beds. 

 In five or eight days the tablets should be ready for use ; they will 

 then have an unctuous and fatty touch if pressed between the 

 fingers, as also the smell of Mushrooms if a small portion of the 

 inside is laid bare. Each tablet should then be split into two or 

 three pieces, each piece being used separately and set into the 

 bed in such a manner that the surface laid open is in contact with 

 the prepared manure. A rapid and even growth of the spawn 

 through the whole bed is thus secured. 



