116 THE CULINARY GARDEN. [SEPT. 



means at once) as will fairly reach to the bottom of 

 all the materials, and afterwards keep the bed in a 

 state neither wet nor dry, but rather inclining to the 

 latter ; this being the safe side to err on ; as it is 

 more easy to make it damp, than to dry it. If the 

 bed be placed in a flued shed, the temperature, in 

 winter, should be kept steadily to about 55 degrees, 

 as noticed above. 



When a bed has been, as it were tired of pro- 

 ducing, I have sometimes desisted from watering for 

 several months ; then, by examination as above 

 hinted, have found a new net of spawn formed all 

 over the surface, the threads being deep-rooted, even 

 to the bottom. By a hearty watering, as above, a 

 most plentiful and lasting supply has been obtained. 

 The idea of treating my beds so, arose by observa- 

 tion of the manner in which field mushrooms are 

 often produced. We frequently see the crop sudden- 

 ly disappear, and as suddenly appear again, accord- 

 ing to the state of the weather, with respect to wet 

 or drought ; and that too, in the same field. 



Of gathering Mushrooms. 



In gathering mushrooms, they should always be 

 cut, and never be pulled ; as by pulling, many 

 young ones might be destroyed. There are always 

 a number of these forming or clustering about the 

 roots of the old ones, which should not be disturb- 

 ed. ' If the spawn be deeply situated in these beds, 

 mushrooms will often form and come to full matu- 

 rity, entirely under ground. They may easily be 

 recognised, however, as they are generally large, and 



