Growing Mushrooms. 235 



I swelled all over from head to foot^ and rolled over and over in 

 my agony. I have often thought since, if I had been nursed 

 for it I should have died ; but, being out of the sight of any body, 

 the agony causing me to roll about on the ground was the 

 means of keeping me alive. At the end of three hours I was at 

 the height of my misery, and after that I began to get better 

 gradually ; but, when I went home at night, I looked so ill that 

 my mother guessed what was the matter with me. I could not 

 taste, or scarcely look at, a mushroom, for a long time afterwards. 

 I remember well the time when I lived in Essex, I and my men 

 were moving some trees in a plantation, and one of the makers 

 of mushroom catchup came by us, just where there was a quan- 

 tity of this unwholesome variety of mushrooms, which he 

 thought great luck to meet with, and he eagerly collected them. 

 I addressed him, and asked him how he could make use of such 

 mushrooms. He told me they made the best of catchup, and, 

 by putting plenty of salt and spices to it, the cockneys did not 

 know the difference. I told him he had gathered a sufficient 

 quantity to kill a regiment of soldiers, and that it would be no 

 easy matter to persuade me to taste them. 



Before I proceed to describe my system, I must observe that 

 I do not desire any one else to follow it, as it may be an im- 

 perfect one, and I do not profess to be perfect in anything, 

 though I intend to try to be so. I do not profess to be a 

 scientific gardener, but I have followed the profession all my 

 life with the greatest pleasure and interest; I know nothing 

 of any other profession ; and it is not my intention to answer 

 any letter or questions put to me, on any subject, without the 

 writer puts his own name and address to it. 



Every body, after one moment's consideration, must know 

 that nature produces the greatest abundance of mushrooms in 

 parks, old pastures, and meadows, where the ground has not 

 been disturbed for some time. After a tolerably dry summer, 

 in the autumn season, when the weather is temperate and the 

 nights and days nearly of an equal length, get horse-dropi^ings 

 and cow-dung of equal quantities ; one barroAv of good maiden 

 loam to four of the above ; mix it well together backwards and 

 forwards, until it is regularly incorporated; then wet it the same as 

 you wotild mortar, and well chop and beat and tread it together, 

 just as a potter does his clay for making pots. Then spread it on 

 a smooth surface three inches in thickness to get steady ; if it 

 is fine dry weather, it will in two days be ready to cut into 

 pieces the size of a brickmaker's bricks. Leave it to dry, taking 

 care never to allow it to get washed by rain to any extent, or 

 the principal part of its virtue will be lost. When tolerably 

 dry take it to a shed, or some other darkish place. Procure, if 

 possible, some natural spawn from an old pasture or mill-track. 



