306 



JVatural uses of Hair. 



Vol. XII. 



then four inches of horse-droppings free from 

 the litter, and previously exposed in a dry 

 airy place, in order that very little moisture 

 may be in it at the time of using for forming 

 the bed. I then put over this two inches of 

 eandy loam, which I beat down firmly; and 

 again put on four inches of horse-droppings 

 and two of loam, which I also beat down ; 

 then four inches more of the horse-droppings, 

 and two of loam, which, when thoroughly 

 beat down, completes my bed. 



Thus far completed, my next object was, 

 to fill the vacancy underneath the shelf, with 

 a mixture of hot stable manure, and leaves 

 well moistened previous to their being put 

 n, and, in the course of a week, I had a 

 pretty lively heat in my bed ; I think this 

 was about the 18th of November. 1 then 

 went to New York to procure the spawn, 

 but, on making inquiries at the various seed 

 stores, I found, to my regret, there was none 

 to be had at the time. On my way home, 

 however, I learned that a gentleman's gar- 

 dener on the island had a mushroom bed the 

 previous spring, where, on applying, I found 

 the bed had been turned out some time pre- 

 vious; however, I obtained the liberty to ex- 

 amine the heap, and succeeded in finding 

 sufficient to give me a start; this I put into 

 my bed, and as soon as it began to work, I 

 lost no chance of separating it, and distribu- 

 ting it as equally as possible over the bed. 

 By using this precaution, and a judicious at- 

 tention to my watering-pot, I soon had the 

 satisfaction of seeing the prospect of a rich 

 harvest; and, indeed, I was not disappointed; 

 for the produce, I must confess, has rather 

 out-weighed my expectations. The first 

 mushroom I gathered, was on the 22nd of 

 December, since which time, I have gather- 

 ed, on an average, one peck per week. The 

 bed is still improving, and I have no doubt but 

 I shall be able to give a better supply for at 

 least three months longer from the same 

 bed, when I shall more than likely give it a 

 month's rest, and then start it ahead again, 

 when I shall furnish you with the results of 

 my second progress. 



It now remains to detail the mode of treat- 

 ment since the bed was spawned, and, as the 

 judicious applications of water are of the 

 highest importance in the successful cultiva- 

 tion of the mushroom, I shall give the mode 

 pursued by myself during the past winter, 

 which I suppose will apply be&t for the sys- 

 tem described above. I gave no water till 

 the spawn began to run, which 1 was able to 

 ascertain by thrusting my hand into the bed 

 in various places, and when what I brought 

 up had the appearance of net-work, and 

 smelled like mushrooms, I gave the bed a 

 liberal watering, which I repeated the two 



following days. I was then sure that I had 

 given sufficient to moisten all the materials 

 in the bed. This set the spawn actively to 

 work, and I have only given a light sprink- 

 ling once a week since, which has kept the 

 bed in a medium state, neither wet nor dry; 

 but of the two I prefer the latter, as it is 

 much easier at any time to wet the materi- 

 als than to dry them ; and too much water, 

 in any stage of their growth, is certain de- 

 struction. With regard to temperature, I 

 have seldom had it below 50'', and never 

 above 60°, and between these two points, I 

 am convinced, from a long course of experi- 

 ence, that mushrooms can be produced in 

 the very highest state of perfection. 



In gathering mushrooms, I always cut 

 them ; some twist them off, but I am not 

 much in favour of this plan, as they are sure 

 to disturb the young ones, which are always 

 clustering and forming about the roots of 

 those ready for gathering. I have often met 

 with mushrooms formed and matured under 

 the surface of the bed ; but as they push up 

 little hillocks, they are easily distinguished, 

 and should be uncovered carefully, that the 

 surrounding spawn may not be disturbed. It 

 may be prudent to mention, that, when the 

 weather was very cold, I covered the bed 

 with litter to the depth of three or four 

 inches. 



I may also mention, as an additional en- 

 couragement to those who may be desirous 

 of giving the above a trial, that they can 

 force sea kale and rhubarb to a high state of 

 perfection in the same cellar, and without 

 any additional means: I have been supplying 

 Mr. Jones's family with these vegetables 

 from the same basement, since February. 

 Staten Island, March 29th, 1848. 



Natural uses of Hair. 



That hair effects an important purpose in 

 the animal economy, we have evidence in 

 its almost universal distribution among the 

 mammiferous class of animals ; and if we 

 admit the analogy between the feather and 

 the hair among all warm-blooded animals, 

 additional evidence is obtained in the perfec- 

 tion of its structure, and again in its early 

 appearance in the progress of development 

 of the young. As a bad conductor of heat, 

 it tends to preserve the warmth of the body; 

 and in man it would have that effect upon 

 the head, and serve to equalize the tempera- 

 ture of the brain. It is also a medium of 

 defence against external irritants, as the 

 heat of the sun's rays and the bites of insects, 

 and against injuries inflicted with violence. 

 Of special purposes fulfilled by the hairs, we 

 have instances in the eyebrows and eyelids, 



