CHAPTER XVIII. 



EE-INVIGORATIKG OLD BEDS. 



There is a wide-spread impression among horticultur- 

 ists that worn out beds which have ceased to bear may, 

 by means of watering and certain stimulants and warm- 

 ing up again, be so re-invigorated as to start into full 

 bearing, and yield a second and a good crop. I have 

 given this question much painstaking and practical con- 

 sideration, and have absolutely failed to revive a "dead" 

 bed. I have not been able to do it myself, and any 

 instance of its having been done has never come under 

 my observation. This may appear heresy anent the 

 multitudinous writings to the contrary, 



A mushroom bed may keep on bearing in a desultory 

 way for many months, and now and again show spurts 

 of increased fertility ; but this is no second crop ; it is 

 merely a prolonged dribbling of the first crop, A bed, 

 by reason of cold or dryness, may, as it were, stand 

 still or partially stop bearing, and soon after it is re- 

 moistened, warmed, and otherwise submitted to congen- 

 ial conditions, will display renewed energy ; but this is 

 no second crop ; it is merely a spurt of the first crop 

 caused by extra favorable cultural conditions. But to 

 show how vaguely this question which is so much writ- 

 ten about is regarded, let me quote from a letter to me 

 by Mr. J. Barter, who grows 21,000 lbs of mushrooms a 

 year for the London market: "You ask me, 'Do you 

 ever get a second crop?' My beds last in bearing, on 

 an average, each three months, and that I reckon to be 

 three crops. But whether it be three or six months, the 



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