74 THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



average proportion of fat-formers and minerals. These facts have been 

 clearly established by chemical analysis, and may dispose of timid 

 misgivings, always supposing the true edible Mushroom, Agaricus 

 campestris, to be in question. 



Hitherto the artificial production of Mushrooms has never been 

 equal to the demand. Notwithstanding the enormous quantities 

 sent to Covent Garden by the growers around London, many tons 

 are imported from France, although it is generally admitted that 

 they are neither so fine nor so rich in flavour as those produced in 

 this country. If, however, the large centres of population are in- 

 adequately supplied, the scarcity of Mushrooms is more keenly felt 

 in the provinces, except perhaps in certain favoured districts, where, 

 after a few warm days in autumn, an abundant crop may be gathered 

 from the neighbouring pastures. Then there is a brave show in the 

 greengrocers' windows for a brief period, followed by entire dearth for 

 weeks and perhaps months. Obviously, therefore, the demand, large 

 as it already is, might be immensely augmented by a commensurate 

 supply. Yet it is not only possible but quite easy to grow Mush- 

 rooms for the greater part of the year in very small gardens, even 

 when such gardens are entirely destitute of the appliances generally 

 considered necessary for the higher flights of horticulture. The idea 

 that Mushroom-growing is somewhat of a mystery, forbidden to all 

 but the strictly initiated, has happily been dispelled. If we examine 

 the conditions under which Mushrooms grow freely in pastures, it is 

 surprising how few and simple are the elements of success. The 

 crop generally appears in September, when temperature is genial and 

 fairly equable, with sufficient but not superabundant moisture. The 

 artificial production of Mushrooms in the garden needs only reliable 

 spawn, a sweet, fertile bed, and some means of maintaining a steady 

 temperature under varying atmospheric conditions. When the prin- 

 ciples of Mushroom culture are thoroughly mastered, they may be 

 successfully applied in many different ways, and they render the 

 practical work easy and tolerably certain. 



Although the Mushroom may be grown from seed, it is seldom 

 done except for strictly scientific purposes. The seeds are, however, 

 largely disseminated by Nature, and, having found a suitable home, 

 they germinate and produce an underground growth which at a hasty 

 glance resembles mildew. It really consists of white gossamer-like 

 films, which increase in number and distinctness as they develop, 

 until they push their way towards the surface, and give rise to the 

 growth above ground of the Mushroom. It follows that if we do not 



