A G A 



A G A 



be preferred to that of the field, for garden cul- 

 ture. 



It has been remarked, that where mushroom 

 spawn is obtained from places where the dung 

 happens to consist principally of that from stone- 

 horse stables, it is of a stronger quality than that 

 of the common horse-dung ; and, in its culture, 

 more productive in large thick fleshy heads, and 

 continues longer in production in the same bed. 



The cultivators of mushrooms near large towns, 

 where vast quantities are raised for sale, gene- 

 rally prefer what they call virgin or maiden spawn, 

 to such as has never been worked or produced 

 mushrooms, and that has not been generated 

 from old beds, as possessing greater vigour in 

 its cultivated growth, and affording a more cer- 

 tain and superior production. 



It is sometimes produced by art in composts 

 formed of a quantity of horse-stable dung, of 

 very moderate heat. The shortest moist parts, 

 and as much of the dunging of the horses as 

 possible, should be used, the whole being mixed 

 with some rich mellow earth, or if of a loamy 

 kind, the better; and deposited under the protec- 

 tion of some covered shed, or other place, the 

 mass being closely covered with dry litter: the 

 spawn in this way is sometimes formed in the 

 compost in the course of six or eight weeks. 



Spawn is likewise produced by procuring a 

 quantity of full-grown mushrooms, cutting them 

 to pieces, or only detaching the gills, and depo- 

 siting them into composts as above, or at once 

 Strewing them over the surface of the regular beds, 

 earthing them over, and covering them with 

 etraw litter. 



The best season for finding natural spawn in 

 plenty and perfection, is the autumn and early 

 part of winter, while in full vigour, after the 

 preceding summer's production ; though good 

 spawn is occasionally met with at all times of 

 the year, and may be collected accordingly: it 

 is most advisable, however, to procure the ge- 

 neral necessary supply in the above seasons; for, 

 spawn being of a singular nature, and liable 

 to perish or be greatly injured by much wet and 

 cold, it should be carefully collected in proper 

 time, before it is weakened by the inclemency 

 of the weather; as it is of much importance to 

 have it in hill vigour. If it he In a tolerably dry- 

 state, it may be immediately used for spawning 

 such beds as are ready for its reception: but if 

 rather moist, it should remain under cover a few 

 days, to dry a little. 



In collecting it, care should be taken to have the 

 lumps or cakes of the spawny dung, &c. in which 

 it appears, taken up entire, laying them in a 

 basket. or wheel-barrow, and carrying them into 

 .some dry close shed, or other apartment, to be 



deposited securely from wet, cold, Sec. previouslv 

 examining whether any of the lumps be wet; i"i 

 which case, spread them to dry a little: and 

 if not immediately wanted, let the whole be 

 placed closely together in a warm dry corner, 

 or put in hampers or sacks ; and be closely co- 

 vered with straw, or dry long litter, or garden 

 mats, till wanted for spawning the beds. In 

 this way its vegetative power may be long re- 

 tained ; and, it necessary, may be safely sent to 

 any distance, as is often the case in places where 

 a sufficiency cannot be procured at the time when 

 wanted. 



Where great quantities of mushrooms are 

 raised, and consequently considerable supplies 

 of spawn required, there are mostly mushroom- 

 men who, at the proper season, go about col- 

 lecting, both in town and country, the true sort, 

 which they dispose of by the bushel, at from half 

 a crown to five or six shillings, according to its 

 goodness, and the ease with which it is obtained. 



There is a variety of the mushroom termed 

 White Cup. which rises with a small, thin, white 

 head, without any material fleshy part, the 

 spawn of which is entirely useless. It is distin- 

 guished by its very fine silky or cobweb-like 

 nature, and exquisitely white hoary appearance, 

 closely spreading in the spawny lumps, and. 

 emitting scarcely any smell of the mushroom. 



Constructing the beds. — In the production of 

 this crop much depends upon the proper con- 

 struction of the beds. The best season for mak- 

 ing the principal ones, for the winter and spring 

 production, is the autumn and beginning of 

 w inter. The autumn beds may he prepared a^bout 

 the middle or latter end of August, or any time 

 in September, and occasionally till the middle or 

 end of October; as in this season the spawn can 

 be had in the best perfection and abundance, 

 and the beds be made and prepared for the spawn 

 to better advantage than later, when cold wet 

 weatherprevails ; and the spawn will work sooner, 

 and afford a more speedy and abundant crop 

 during the winter; but beds for successional 

 production, or where unavoidably omitted in 

 autumn, may be made in November, or even as 

 late as December. 



The most suitable material for this purpose is 

 horse-stable dung, which, as it heats too much 

 at first for the growth of mushroom spawn, 

 should always lie prepared before it is worked up 

 into the bed, in order to reduce it to a more mo- 

 derate temperature, by forking it well up together 

 in a heap for a week or two, and turning it over 

 once or twice, that the rank burning steam may 

 sooner and more effectually evaporate, before it 

 heats in too great a degree : a quantity of the 

 best moderately fresh dung should be procured, 

 E 



