160 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



fibres which grow in the soil, and it is this part that is used 

 in propagating them. 



Culture. The cultivation of the mushroom is often attend- 

 ed with uncertainty. It is, however, being grown on an in- 

 creasingly larger scale, and the demand for it constantly in- 

 creases. The conditions essential to success in growing it 

 are a rich artificial soil and a steady temperature of from 

 50 to 75 degrees. It is for the purpose of securing this lat- 

 ter requisite that cellars and old caves are often utilized in 

 its culture, as light is not necessary. Horse manure is a 

 practically indispensible material for the growth of mush- 

 rooms. If possible, it should be from animals fed on rich, 

 nitrogenous food and as free from straw or other litter as it 

 oan be obtained. This should be thoroughly mixed with a 

 fourth or fifth part of good garden soil and is then ready to 

 go into the beds. Care should betaken that the beds are in a 

 well drained damp place. They may be of any size or shape de- 

 sired but should be about ten inches deep. Some of the largest 

 growers use tiers of shelves or boxes, each one of which is 

 eight or ten inches deep, into which they put the soil. What- 

 ever the shape of the beds, the soil should be packed into them 

 firmly and evenly and be left smooth on the outside. A ther- 

 mometer should then be inserted in the center of the mass. As 

 soon as fermentation sets in, the temperature will rise until 

 probably over 100 degrees will be indicated, and when it falls to 

 80 degrees the bed is ready to receive the spawn. This may 

 sometimes be obtained from old hotbeds, but it is best to de- 

 pend on that sold by seedsmen, as it is more certain to be free 

 from other fungi. The operation of spawning consists in put- 

 ting pieces of the spawn bricks the size of small hens' eggs in 

 holes made about two inches deep and ten or twelve inches 

 apart. Afterwards the holes should be filled with the soil and 

 the surface firmed and smoothed off. 



If the work has been well done and the conditions are fav- 

 orable, the spawn should commence to grow in seven or eight 

 days; at the end of that time, it should be examined and any 

 pieces that have not started should be removed and be re- 

 placed by fresh spawn. A failure in germination is indicated 

 by the absence of white threads in the manure around the 

 spawn. When the spawn has nicely started and begins to 



