THOSE WHO SHOULD GROW MUSHROOMS. H 



cellars may be found on Long Island between Jamaica 

 and Woodhaven. 



Florists. — In midwinter the cut flower season is at 

 its height and the florist endeavors to make all the 

 money out of his greenhouses that he possibly can ; 

 every available inch of space exposed to the light is 

 occupied by growing plants, and under the benches 

 alongside of the pathways dahlias, cannas, caladiums, 

 and other tubers and bulbs are stored, also ivies, palms, 

 succulents and the like. In order that the plants may 

 be more fully exposed to the sunlight, they are grown 

 on benches raised above the ground so as to bring them 

 near to the glass ; and the greenhouse seems to be full 

 to overflowing. But right here we have the best kind 

 of a mushroom house. The space under the benches, 

 which is nearly useless for other purposes, is admirably 

 adapted for mushroom beds, and the warmth and moist- 

 ure of the greenhouse are exceptionally congenial condi- 

 tions for the cultivation of mushrooms, florists need 

 the loam and manure anyway, and these are just as good 

 for potting purposes — ^better for young stock — after hav- 

 ing been used in the mushroom beds than tbey were 

 ■before, so that the additional expense in connection with 

 the crop is the labor in making the beds and the price 

 of the spawn. Mushrooms are not a bulky crop ; they 

 require no space or care in summer, are easily grown, 

 handled, and marketed, and there is always a demand 

 for them at a good price. If the crop turns out well it 

 is nearly all profit ; if it is a complete failure very little 

 IS lost, and it must be a bad failure that will not yield 

 enough to pay for its cost. Why should the florist con- 

 fine himself to one crop at a time in the greenhouse when 

 he may equally well have two crops in it at the same 

 time, and both of them profitable ? He can have his 

 roses on the benches and mnshrooms under the benches, 

 and neither interferes with the other. Let us take a 



