244 



CASSELL'S POPUIiAR GAEDENING. 



tangible evidences of certainty of reproduction, 

 i'lie beginner must, therefore, place faith in the 

 result of his buried efforts, whilst patiently waiting 

 the issue. 



The Alpha and Omega of Mushroom culture is a 

 good supply of horse-droppings, without which good 

 productive beds are not easily obtained, though we 

 shall show presently that limited numbers may be 

 grown without the aid of this, or any other kindred 

 manure. Along with such horse-droppings stable 

 sweepings may be freely mixed, provided all are mo- 

 derately dry. It is objectionable to permit other 

 ingredients in liquid form 

 to be mixed with these. 



Not only is it neces- 

 sary to select such dry 

 materials, but it is 

 always desirable to dry 

 them somewhat beyond 

 their primitive state of 

 dampness, by exposing 

 them to sun and air, or 

 during the prevalence of 

 rainy weather by spread- 

 ing them out, and occa- 

 sionally turning them 

 over, in a dry, airy shed. 

 As these materials form 

 the nucleus of the future 

 bed, enough must be 

 collected together to 

 form a bed of the desired 

 dimensions. This done, 

 it can readily be seen 

 whether they are moder- 

 ately dry throughout. If 

 not, another process wiU 

 have to be undertaken, 



and it is a necessary one in connection with the 

 preparation of all beds during the winter season, 

 when it is all but impossible to dry the materials 

 sufficiently by any other means. If not dry enough 

 the whole mass must be thrown up into a conical- 

 shaped heap, and be induced to ferment. In process 

 of fermenting steam is given off, which is so much 

 moisture dissipated. The heap must not be per- 

 mitted to ferment too much or too long, however, 

 else the materials will be destroyed in process of 

 decomposition. It will be necessary, therefore, if 

 the heat is becoming great, with much steam, to turn 

 the whole mass over, shaking it apart freely to cause 

 steam to fly off, re-mtking the heap into another of 

 conical shape, placing what was the centre of it 

 before on the outside now, and vice versd. 



Even in mid- winter, when materials are damp, and 

 the air around highly surcharged with moisture, this 



Fig. 1. — In-door Mushrooin-bed 



second turning of the mass should suffice, and, fol- 

 lowing the succeeding ferment, the material should 

 be quite ready for bed-making. 



Having turned aside to explain how to dry such 

 materials, we will revert to their general use in 

 the cultivation of the Mushroom. Supposing that 

 these needful materials are ready to hand, our atten- 

 tion must next be called to the formation or making 

 of the Mushroom bed, and aU the needful additional 

 materials requisite. 



Before we proceed with the bed-formation, however, 

 we must first fix upon a site whereon to make it. 

 We will, therefore, turn 

 our attention for a short 

 time to this matter of 

 convenient or proper 

 places for Mushroom 

 beds. And here occur.'* 

 one .important fact, 

 which must rule and 

 determine every decision 

 in regard to them. . The 

 bed must rest on a diy 

 bottom, else the spawn 

 will be injured or 

 checked during its pre- 

 liminary stages of growth 

 by damp arising from 

 the base. 



It is quite immaterial 

 whether the site be an 

 elevated one or upon the 

 floor, whether in a light 

 or dark place, moderately 

 warm or somewhat cool 

 and airy, provided it be 

 dry, and in winter one 

 where the thermometer 

 wiU not fall below a temperature of from 60° to 

 56°- Any situation in total darkness will suffice, 

 though air should have access to the bed; but 

 even this may be dispensed with, with impunity. 

 Thus an elevated shelf, so boarded as to contain 

 about one foot in depth of these materials, will 

 do admirably. 



Where proper Mushroom-houses are constructed 

 this elevated-bed fashion is often had resort to, to 

 economise space. One bed is made upon the floor, 

 up against the back wall of the shed, of the average 

 width of three or four feet ; a tier-bed is then built 

 above it, of equal width, and, if room permit, yet 

 another bed above (Fig. 1). 



To insure the gi'eatest possible amount of success 

 in connection with such Mushroom houses proper, it 

 is essential that the roof be plastered, and the whole 

 made as air-tight as possible, with the object of 



