A NEW MUSHROOM. 223 



temperature it may continue to yield a crop for five or 

 six months, the total weight will be no more than in the 

 first case. The spawn can produce about so many mush- 

 rooms and will keep on, over a period varying with the 

 surroundings, until it becomes exhausted. One pound 

 per square foot is an excellent crop, while half that 

 quantity is a good average, and mushrooms seldom sell 

 for less than fifty cents per pound wholesale in the winter 

 months. When the crop has been taken off, if the litter 

 is removed, the bed moistened with lukewarm water, an 

 inch or two of loam added and the litter replaced, a 

 second crop can generally be obtained. 



The mushrooms are attacked by a number of insects, 

 and for description and remedies the reader is referred 

 to the chapter treating on "Insects and Diseases. " 



A NEW MUSHROOM. 



In the summer of 1891, Mr. Boulon, a market gar- 

 dener on Long Island, New York, discovered a new form 

 of mushroom, which gave such returns that he grew it 

 largely the following year. In 1892, the same form 

 came under the eye of Wm. Falconer, then editor of 

 Gardening, who brought it to the attention of Prof. C. 

 H. Peck, who pronounced it a new species and named it 

 Agaricus submfescens. It differs from our common 

 mushroom in being larger and coarser, with a lighter 

 yellow neck and white gills. The cap is broader and 

 thinner and somewhat lighter in color. When grown 

 out of doors, it has a coarse, mushroom-like appearance, 

 but in the house, especially if in darkness, it seems to 

 bleach out and lose its coarseness. 



It is an excellent mushroom for growing in the 

 summer, as it develops so rapidly that it almost escapes 

 the maggot, and it does equally well in winter, provided 

 it can be given a high temperature. Beds made under- 

 neath the benches, where under-bench piping is used, 



