484 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Sept. 



genus, and is eaten fresh, either stewed or boiled; and preserved 

 either as a pickle or in powder. The sauce commonly called 

 catchup is made from its juice with salt and spices. Dr. Withering 

 asserts that those gathered from fresh undunged pastures are more 

 delicate than those which are raised in artificial beds. Mr. Miller 

 is of a different opinion, probably because the cultivated ones are 

 more sightly, and may be collected more easily in a proper state 

 for eating. 



It will be necessary in the early part of this month to provide a 

 quantity of fresh horse dung, and to throw it up in a heap to fer- 

 ment; when it has lain two or three weeks turn it again, that all 

 the parts may be equally fermented, and the violent heat passed 

 away. In this state it should remain till about the first week of 

 October, when the bed is to be made as directed in that month, or 

 the preparation may commence in August, and the beds be made 

 any time this month at pleasure. 



The reason for the previous preparation of the dung, is to pre- 

 vent a too violent fermentation when the bed is made, which would 

 totally destroy the spawn; and moreover, by this management it 

 will preserve a slow temperate warmth much longer than if put 

 together when quite fresh. 



You must likewise provide a sufficiency of good mushroom spawn; 

 this is frequently to be found in rich pasture fields, old mushroom 

 beds, old cucumber beds, dung-hills or dungy composts, but that 

 of the true kind from the pastures or old mushroom beds is to be 

 preferred; it may also be found where horses are employed under 

 sheds in turning mills, riding-houses, livery-stable yards, &c. 



The spawn is a white fibrous substance, running and spreading 

 itself in the rich pasture-grounds and in lumps of dryish rotten 

 dung, and if of the true sort, has the exact smell of the cultivated 

 kind. 



Take up the earth or dung in which you find it in lump9, ob- 

 serving to preserve these entire, and lay them in a dry shady place 

 till wanted; you may cover them with straw or garden mats, for 

 much wet would totally destroy the spawn. But if the pieces are 

 wet or very damp when collected, they must be spread to dry 

 gradually; the spawn is seldom, if ever, destroyed by drought, 

 especially when mixed with earth or dung. For the method of 

 making and spawning the bed, &c, see the Kitchen Garden for 

 October. 



Gather Seeds. 



Gather all kinds of seeds as thev ripen, which may be necessary 

 in the ensuing season, and spread them to dry on mats or cloths; 

 when sufficiently hardened beat them out clean and put them up 

 carefully till wanted for sowing. 



Perennial Herbs. 



Towards the latter end of this month you may safely transplant 



