74 POPULAR VEGETABLES 



In the homes of the rich there are for the most 

 part the necessary materials for producing satisfactory 

 crops in every season of the year, and managed as 

 these gardens are by highly trained and experienced 

 gardeners, it would seem superfluous to offer any 

 remarks for their guidance on the growing of Mush- 

 rooms. Simple as it may seem to the inexperienced, 

 the Mushroom is an erratic crop. The young horti- 

 cultural student, earnestly endeavouring to qualify 

 himself at some future time, not too remote, let us 

 hope, for a responsible head gardener's position, will 

 find a knowledge of Mushroom growing among the 

 most useful of his acquisitions, as in good and well- 

 equipped gardens Mushrooms are in urgent demand 

 and expected almost every day in the year, and failure 

 in the supply often makes matters very unpleasant for 

 the gardener. Our first consideration must be the 



Manure and its Preparation^ the two funda- 

 mental principles on which success or failure rests. 

 With regard to the most suitable material, horse manure 

 is the best, and if good results are to be obtained the 

 manure from corn-fed animals when little or no drugs 

 are given should be chosen. Manure from heavily 

 drugged horses is absolutely of no use for successful 

 Mushroom growing, and this is one of the important 

 points to notice. With regard to stables in private 

 establishments this precaution is not so necessary, but 

 where London or any other city's stable manure is 

 the medium the grower cannot be too careful as to the 

 quality of the manure he has to deal with. 



