VEGETABLES - MUSHROOM. 



171 



often bewildered in choosing a guide. In this, I will only 

 detail one method, which I have practised for many years 

 with unfailing success. To make the cultivation of the 

 Mushroom profitable, it must be done in a building, either 

 specially erected for the purpose, or in some shed, stable, 

 or cellar, already on the premises, and which can be con- 

 verted to that use. The most suitable place, in establish- 

 ments having green-houses, vineries, or forcing pits, are 

 the back sheds, usually erected over the boiler pits, such 

 as are shown in the plans of 

 forcing pits in this work. 

 But such an erection is not 

 indispensable ; any place, 

 where a temperature from 

 40 to 60 can be sustained 

 during winter, will suit. 



We have also grown them 

 under the stages of our 

 green-houses, but our " mod- 

 ern improvements " of late 

 years, allow us no longer 

 room for the operation there. The time of beginning 

 may be any time during winter ; we have usually begun 

 our preparations about December 1st, which brought our 

 beds into bearing about February 1st, at the season that 

 Mushrooms begin to be most wanted. 



Our method of growing Mushrooms is very simple, and 

 can be accomplished to a certainty by any one conforming 

 to the following directions. Let fresh horse droppings be 

 procured from the stables each day, in quantity not less, 

 perhaps, than a good barrow load ; to every barrow load 



Fig. 51. MUSHROOM. 



