THE PREPARATION OF THE MATERIALS. 17 



dry and white from heat are moistened with water from 

 a rose watering pot. This preparation shortens and 

 mollifies the longer material considerably, mixes the mass 

 well, and it is transferred to the caves in a slightly de- 

 composed, well mixed, and moist, but not wet, condition. 

 The French do not actually hammer or desperately tramp 

 down the beds, as nearly all our writers on mushroom 

 culture recommend, but press it pretty firmly ; and I 

 have seen as good crops on their light spongy beds as 

 ever I have on those so firmly tramped down. I might 

 give other striking instances of the diversity of opinion 

 on this subject, but it is needless to multiply them. 



My conclusions respecting the preparation of the manure 

 for mushrooms are as follows: 1. That very careful prepa- 

 ration and frequent turning over of the manure undercover 

 are not necessary to success, and that it is quite needless 

 to prepare the manure under cover, except when it is 

 gathered in a very small quantity, so that a heavy rain 

 or snow would saturate it. Where, however, the culture 

 is pursued on a very small scale, and, it may be, only one 

 bed made, it is best to keep it in a covered shed. 2. 

 That carefully picked droppings are not essential, though 

 they may be more convenient. Excellent crops are 

 gathered from beds made with ordinary stable manure, 

 droppings and long materials mixed as they come ; but 

 when the manure is used as it comes from the stable, it 

 should be allowed to ferment before being used. 3. That 



c 



