MUSHROOM GROWING 91 



started in a small way by growing them on the same 

 principle as that adopted by market gardeners. At 

 first he attained to modest but encouraging success, 

 went on little by little until after a few years he became 

 one of the largest and best-known Mushroom growers 

 in the neighbourhood of London, supplying Covcnt 

 Garden with many tons of Mushrooms in the course 

 of a year, as well as having established a large and 

 lucrative business as a spawn manufacturer. This 

 illustration is given as showing that no special train- 

 ing is required to qualify for the work, and not with 

 the idea that the carpenter should forsake the bench 

 and turn Mushroom grower. The workman who may 

 decide to try his luck in this way should well study 

 the details given as to the treatment and preparation 

 of the manure, as on this operation hangs more than 

 on any other the success, or otherwise, of his labour. 

 He will find the out-of-door system on ridged beds 

 one of the best ways in which he can start, and this 

 he can practice in his small garden, and failing this in 

 his backyard. Another excellent position to make up 

 a bed is in a cellar, or any underground or unoccupied 

 room. The condition in any subterranean position 

 of this sort suits the requirements of the Mushroom 

 admirably. It is in the catacombs of Paris where most 

 of the city Mushrooms are grown. Failing any of 

 these conveniences a good way is to place manure in 

 any odd boxes there may be to spare, and place them 

 in any odd corners of rooms in the house, the cellar, 

 or the attic, or any other convenient space that can 



