go THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



inserting a few lumps of spawn in a Cucumber or Melon bed while the 

 plants are still in bearing. Between spawning and cropping a period 

 of six or eight weeks usually elapses, so that if the plan just men- 

 tioned be adopted, the spawn should be introduced in the height of 

 summer, both to insure it a warm bed and to allow time for the crop 

 to mature before the season runs out. Sheds and outhouses not only 

 afford shelter and space for beds on the floor, but the walls may be 

 fitted with shelves on which Mushrooms may be grown as plentifully 

 as anywhere. In all cases the shelves should be two feet apart ver- 

 tically, and each shelf should have a ledge nine inches deep. The 

 walls of a house may be quickly and cheaply fitted with wood-work 

 for the purpose, but brick is so much better than wood that whenever 

 it is possible to employ brick it should have the preference. As re- 

 gards the ledges, they should be of stout planking in any case, and 

 should not be fixed because of the necessity for clearing the shelves 

 and renewing the soil periodically. The details of cultivation are the 

 same within doors as without, but the roof gives valuable protection, 

 and helps to maintain the beds at a suitable temperature. 



A proper Mushroom house for production during winter should be 

 heated with hot water, and have an opaque roof. There is nothing so 

 good for the crop as a roof of thatch, but there are many objections 

 to it, and usually slate is employed. A double roof will pay for its 

 extra cost by promoting an equable temperature. A few side lights 

 fitted with shutters will be necessary, as there should be a good light 

 for working purposes, but the crop does not need light, and a more 

 steady temperature can be maintained in a dark house than in a light 

 one. The niost convenient dimensions for a Mushroom house are : 

 length, twenty-five feet ; width, twelve feet ; height at sides, six feet, 

 to allow of a bed on the floor, and a shelf four feet above it ; the 

 ridge rising sufficiently for head room, and to shoot off water. There 

 will be room for a central path of four feet, and a bed of four feet on 

 each side. An earth or tile floor and a slate or stone shelf will, 

 with one four-inch flow and return pipe, complete the arrangements. 

 The less wood and the less concrete the better ; there is nothing like 

 cheap porous red tiles for the floor and stone for the shelves, with 

 loose planks on edge to keep up the soil, a few uprights being 

 sufficient to hold them in their places. 



Temperatures at every point are of great importance. The bed 

 should be near 80 when the spawn is inserted. The air temperature 

 requisite to the rising crop is 60 to 65, which is the usual tempe- 

 rature of the season when Mushrooms appear in the meadows. 



