VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 251 



chocolate color, and it is then more apt to be confounded 

 with other kinds of dubious quality; but the species which 

 most nearly resembles it is slimy to the touch, having a 

 rather disagreeable smell ; further, the noxious kind grows 

 in woods, or in the margin of woods, while the true mush- 

 room springs up chiefly in open pastures, and should be 

 gathered only in such places." 



Some of the species of this genus are very poisonous. 

 The mushroom is remarkable for its close assimilation in 

 taste to animal matter. It is beginning to be extensively 

 cultivated in this country near our large cities. 



Culture. Beds may be readily constructed at any time 

 of the year, except between April and September, when 

 the temperature is rather too high for successful culture, 

 unless in the cool cellar of some outhouse. But November 

 and December are the best months for the purpose. Mush- 

 rooms are propagated by spawn, which may be obtained 

 for commencing from the seedsmen of our large cities. 

 After a little spawn is obtained, it may be increased as fol- 

 lows: Take a quantity of fresh manure from high-fed 

 horses, mixed with short litter ; add one-third cow's dung, 

 and a good portion of loamy mould. Incorporate them 

 thoroughly, mixing them with the drainings of a dung heap, 

 and beat them until the whole becomes of the consistency 

 of a thick mortar. Spread the mixture on the level floor 

 of an open shed, and beat it flat with a spade. When it 

 becomes dried to the proper consistency, cut it into bricks 

 about eight inches square ; set them on edge and turn fre- 

 quently until half dry, then dibble two holes about half 

 through each brick, and insert in each hole a piece of good 

 spawn ; close it with a moist composition similar to that of 

 which the bricks were made, and let them remain until 

 nearly dry. Then somewhere under cover place a bottom 

 of dry horse-dung six inches thick, and place the bricks, 

 spawn side up, one upon another. The pile may be made 

 three feet high ; cover it with warm horse-dung sufficient 



