488 



PRODUCTION OF 



Sect. XVIL 2. 5. 



The roots, or fpawn, or embryons, of the common mufhroom are 



faid by Mr. Kenedy and others to be certainly procured from horfe- 

 dung laid unbroken in fmall heaps under cover. It is aflerted, that 

 in a few weeks during the fummer months thefe roots will appear 



like white thread 



which on breaking the lumps h 



th 



e 



Oi 



room fmell, Thefe horfe-droppings are di reded to be as little broken 



poffible, and to be laid abo 



th 



moderate warmth. conftru(5ted of 



inches thick or 

 ■Hate layers of 



h 



bed of 

 5 bark 



d horfe-dung, and whofe uppermoO: ftratum confifts of 



y 



bark about two inches thick. The bed is then to be covered with a 

 little manure, and about three inches of good foil, and finally with 

 a thick coat of flraw. The fhed behind moft hot-houfes is found 

 to afford a convenient place for a mufhroom bed ; as no light is re- 

 quired, but only warmth, and occafional moiflure. See Kenedy on 

 Gardening, Vol. II. for a particular account of this procefs; 



In the tanyards of Derby, I am well informed, that a produdion of 

 mulhroom fpawn always occurs in the path, where the horfe walks, 

 "which draws the rolling {tone to grind the bark, which path confifts 

 of powdered oak-bark and horfe-dung trampled together. Of this I 





was 



ftance an eye-witnefs, but wheth 



the 



mbry 



of 



muflirooms were derived from the oak-bark or horfe-dung was 



eafy to determine. 



Mr. Ferber, in his Travels through Italy, tranflated 



mentions the mufhroom-flone 



He fay 



(( 



th 



Rafpe, 



pietra fungaia is a 

 the limeftone hills 



white calcareous ftaladlite, or tuph-flone, dug in 

 iDordering on Romagna, and endowed with the quality to prod 

 any feafon of the year efculent mufhrooms, if kept in a moift ( 

 and now and then fprinkled with water. This quality is owin 



o 



many 



setable fibres, together with the mufhroom 



C) 



feeds enclofed in its fubftance. They are ufed in fome great houfes in 



Naples and Rome. I faw an indurated mould from the fame place 



that 



r 



i 



