MUSHROOM GROWING 87 



taken in preparing these beds as directed for those in 

 houses. In that case the grower need not trouble to 

 examine the bed again at least for a month, unless he 

 apprehends ravages from rats, mice or other pests, 

 against which, of course, the beds must be protected. 

 In about a month or five weeks at the latest, the straw 

 covering may be removed, and the bed given a good 

 watering with warm water, as recommended before, 

 when the covering should again be placed on the bed. 

 In about ten days or a fortnight after this, the grower 

 should be rewarded with the appearance of what should 

 prove a heavy and remunerative crop. When these 

 beds are in full bearing the Mushrooms should be 

 picked about three times a week. It is not desirable 

 to uncover the beds oftener than is absolutely neces- 

 sary, as the fact of having to remove the straw too 

 often, however carefully the work may be carried out, 

 is attended with more or less damage to the crop. 

 The treatment for the second crop must be the same 

 as that advised for beds in houses. 



Out-of-door Beds. This is the system most fav- 

 oured, and almost exclusively practised by our market 

 gardeners in the suburbs of large cities where manure 

 is plentiful, especially round London, and where fabu- 

 lous sums are said to reward the growers for their skill 

 and labour. 



By this method of growth it is possible to have 

 Mushrooms every day in the year, and that without 

 the protection of a building of any kind, and where 

 the cultivator is well up to the business, and especially 



