THE C.YYK CULTURE OF MUSHROOMS. 75 



beds has lately been invented ; it consists of a portable 

 water-cistern to be strapped to the back and fitted with a 

 rose and tubing, so that a workman may carry a larger 

 quantity of water, and apply it more regularly and gently 

 than with the old-fashioned watering-pots while one hand 

 is left free to carry the lamp. An iron frame has also 

 been invented, in which the bed is first compressed and 

 shaped, the frame being then reversed and the bed placed 

 in position. Another invention for earthing the beds over 

 as soon as the spawn has taken will soon be in operation 

 if not already so. As on an average 2500 yards of beds 

 are made every month, simple mechanical contrivances 

 to facilitate the operation will prove of the greatest ad- 

 vantage to the cultivator. 



In addition to the caves in the localities above al- 

 luded to there are other places near Paris where the 

 culture is carried on notably at Moulin de la Roche, 

 Sous Bieetre, near St. Germaine, and also at Bagneux. 

 The equability of temperature in the caves renders the 

 culture of the mushroom possible at all seasons ; but the 

 best crops are gathered in winter, and consequently 

 that is the best time to see them. I, however, saw 

 abundant crops in the hottest part of the very hot season 

 of 1868. These mushroom caves are under Govern- 

 ment supervision, and are regularly inspected like any 

 other mines in which work is going on. As regards the 

 depth at which this culture is practised, it usually varies 



