MANURES FOR BEDS. 21 



leaves for mushioom beds, either in the late autumn oi' spring 

 months. We have not tried them in, nor do we think them 

 suitable for ridge-shaped beds, but have experimented with 

 them at different times in cold sheds, mushroom-houses, and 

 early vineries. In the autumn we rarely get sufficient 

 manure to form as many beds as are required, and that first 

 led to the use of leaves. We have tried them mixed in about 

 equal quantities of droppings, also with two parts of leaves 

 to one of manure, and beds have been formed principally of 

 leaves, only about five inches of droppings being spread on 

 the surface, and in each instance the crops obtained were 

 fully as heavy and good as those grown with the aid of liorse- 

 manure only. 



In Januarj' hotbeds of leaves and manure are frequently 

 formed in early vineries, principally for the purpose of start- 

 ing the vines, a few pot plants perhaps also being plunged 

 in them. If these beds are duly spawned and soiled they 

 quickly produce a quantity of mushrooms, not very heavy 

 or succulent, it is true, but fully appreciated by those who 

 purchase or eat them, all the same. Even the hotbeds in 

 forcing houses on which melon and cucumber plants are 

 growing may be spawned, the mushrooms later on coming 

 up thickly among a vaiiety of pot plants that may be set 

 on treUissing, either resting on or supported over the bed. 



In all cases where leaves are used these must be prepared 

 much as advised in the case of horse droppings before being 

 made into a bed. Fermentation sweetens them, and also 

 insures the requisite forwardness of decay, nothing but sweet, 

 slow-decaying matter being a favourable medium for the 

 spread of spawn. Oak leaves are the best, but we have at 

 times been obliged to use these in mixture with beech and 

 less durable kinds. 



When leaves are used the beds ought to be made rather 

 deeper, or say 18in. deep at the back and 15in. at the front; 

 but, as regards firmness, the time and method of spawning, 

 and other details, the other treatment is exactly the sa;me 

 as advised for the orthodox horse-manure beds. 



