358 ON OLEAGINOUS PLANTS, ETC. 



those species which grow wild are generally of a poison- 

 ous quality, it is important that we should learn how to 

 produce such as are known to be innoxious. For this 

 purpose, the white filaments commonly called the spawn 

 of mushrooms, should be cut in pieces and sown in a 

 hot-bed. Whether these filaments consist of shoots, 

 runners, or seeds of mushrooms, has not been well as- 

 certained ; but when spread over a hot-bed, and shelter- 

 ed from the open air, either under a shed or in a cellar, 

 they will germinate. In Paris, mushrooms are raised in 

 the Catacombs ; and I know no place where they are 

 produced in such abundance, or sold so cheap. The 

 spawn should be sown in December, covered with a lit- 

 tle earth and a litter of straw, then watered ; and after a 

 short time, if the litter be raised, the mushrooms will be 

 seen growing beneath it. 



These are some of the principal families from which 

 we derive our vegetable food : I will not attempt to go 

 through the whole seventeen, it will be uselessly tres- 

 passing upon your patience. 



I have now, I believe, imparted to you the whole of 

 my little stock of botanical knowledge. The source from 

 which I drew it was rich and copious ; but I am too well 

 aware of my incapacity to do justice to the subject, not 

 to shrink at the apprehension of having disfigured those 

 lessons which afforded me such a delightful source of in- 

 struction ; which taught me to investigate, with wonder 

 and admiration, the beautiful organization of the vegeta- 

 ble creation, and raised my mind, with increased fervor 

 of gratitude, towards their bountiful Author. 



1943. Where is it raised in Paris'? 1944. When should the 

 spawn be sown 1 ? 1945. How should it be coveredl 



