408 Coal Ashes as a Manure. 



will be understood at once by a glance at the accompanying 

 sketch {Jig. 1 1 6.), where the mushrooms are represented rising- 

 through a stratum of earth (a), which, with a substratum of 

 dung (b), occupies the entire floor of the house. The path- 

 way (c) is supported from the floor by the posts which are 

 rendered necessary at any rate for supporting the front shelf 

 (d), and the shelves of the stage (e e e) . Vines may be trained 

 up the rafters, and there may or may not be a small shelf, or 

 a bracket here and there for drooping plants (/*). About 

 Vienna, houses in which mushrooms are grown in this way 

 are chiefly employed for prolonging the bloom of forced 

 flowers and shrubs, such as roses, lilacs, bulbs, &c. The pots 

 are set in saucers, to prevent any water from dropping on the 

 mushrooms, and six inches of hay are spread over the latter, 

 to keep them clean, and prevent the escape of heat. There 

 is no flue, but at each end is a small brick German stove, 

 which is lighted as often as may be necessary, to maintain a 

 temperature during the night of from 45° to 50°. The glass 

 is covered by shutters every night, and the floor of the house 

 is from three to four feet under the external surface, which, 

 with the covering of hay, is a great protection to the bed in 

 which the mushrooms are grown. 



This bed is made of fresh horse-droppings, strongly pressed, 

 and, after it has lain eight days, it is covered with an inch of 

 good earth, beaten to a firm state, and the spawn planted 

 in it in little bits, about nine inches apart every way. 



I have some other matters to communicate to you before I 

 return home ; and when I am there I hope to continue your 

 constant reader, and occasional correspondent, 



Napoleon Bauman. 

 Kew, November 24. 1826. 



Aut. X. Account of some Experiments with Coal- Ashes and 

 Salt as Manures. By Alfred. 



Sir, 

 I observe (Gard. Mag. vol. i. p. 224.) that coal-ashes are 

 considered injurious to fruit trees, and also to vegetables. I 

 beg leave to say that I sowed, on the 15th of May last, three 

 rows of Swedish turnips; No. 1. was manured with well 

 rotted dung from an old melon bed, No. 2. with the tops of 

 cabbage just coming into bloom, and No. 3. with coal-ashes. 

 They vegetated about the same time, but the row manured 



