M USHR O QMS. 



which may be done by saving flour barrels in halves cross- 

 wise; and boring four or five half inch holes in the bottom 

 of each for drainage. Fill the tubs two or three inches 

 deep with any good fresh garden soil, and add the prepared 

 manure until the tub is half full. Place six or seven pieces 

 of spawn, each about the size of a hen's egg, upon the 

 manure in each tub, and fill the tub full of manure, pressing 

 it well down and rounding off the top dome-shaped. The 

 spawn ; which may be obtained of any of our seedsmen, 

 comes in the shape and size of common bricks. At the 

 end of ten days, if the spawn have taken which may be 

 known by its developing white, thread-like filaments 

 cover it with an inch or two of fresh soil screened through 

 a coarse sieve. 



The tubs, when made up, should be placed in a dark cel- 

 lar, free from draughts of cold air, in which the tempera- 

 ture can be kept as nearly as possible at 50 degrees. The 

 main points to be attended to are that the temperature of 

 the manure is at its proper height (about 76 degrees Fahr.) 

 when the spawn is inserted, and that it should not bo 

 covered with soil until the spawn is well developed. Should 

 the soil and manure in the tubs become dry, they should be 

 watered by sprinkling them with water at about blood-heat 

 or 100 degrees. 



In a few days the mushrooms will show themselves. 

 They should be gathered every other day, by breaking off 

 in the soil a slight twist with the hand facilitating this 

 operation. Never use a knife to gather them, and fill up 

 with fresh soil any hole that may be made in pulling them. 

 They will continue yielding for three or four weeks j and a 

 second but smaller crop can be obtained after the first is 

 gathered, by giving another dressing of fresh soil about 

 half an inch thick, beating it down moderately with the 

 spado and watering it with blood-warm water. 



