9 o POPULAR VEGETABLES 



work by placing the turf over the hole, and treading 

 the same with the feet as hard as possible. Should hot 

 weather soon follow after this work is completed it 

 is most likely the turf might be killed, and as it is 

 not desirable that water should reach the spawn or 

 the manure at this stage, cover each turf over with 

 half a spadeful of mould or earth of some sort. This 

 will keep it moist and fresh until it has had time to 

 strike fresh roots and begin to grow again, which it 

 soon will do when it feels the influence of the manure. 

 As regards the season of the year in which the spawn 

 should be inserted any time during the month of May 

 will answer well. Before this time the earth is too cold 

 and would have an injurious effect on the spawn, and 

 should the season be a late and cold one, defer the 

 work until the last week in May. Should the summer 

 prove dry and hot give a good soaking of water towards 

 the end of July, and with this and warm showers after- 

 wards abundance of Mushrooms should result towards 

 the end of August, through September, and well into 

 October, and in due season for years afterwards. 



How a Cottager can grow his own Mushrooms. 

 The artisan, or labourer, can grow his own Mushrooms. 

 To show it is possible for the ordinary working man to 

 become proficient in the work one may instance a man 

 well known by repute to the present writer. He was 

 a carpenter by trade, always having a fondness for 

 gardening. His health failed and he was advised to 

 follow an out-of-door occupation, and his fancy turned 

 in the way of growing Mushrooms for market. He 



