86 GARDENING FOR ALL. 
The best varieties are :—Early Chemin, Laxton’s Open 
Air, Sutton’s Earliest of All, Orangefield Dwarf, Greengage, 
Ham Green Favourite, Hackwood Park, Dedham Favourite, 
Carter’s Early Ruby, Early Evesham, and one raised by 
Mr. Gilman at Alton Towers. 
MUSHROOM.— (Agaricus campestris). 
The common mushroom, so well known in this country, 
is considered among the most savoury of the genus, and is in 
much request for the table. The St. George’s mushroom 
(A. Georgii), and the Fairy-ring mushroom (A. Oreades), are 
also edible. 
Mushrooms are cultivated in sheds or houses specially 
constructed for them, and in other sheds and out-houses; on 
ridges in the open air; on hot-beds, and in fields. 
‘“Though belonging to a low order of vegetation (says 
Mr. J. Wright), mushrooms contain more nitrogenous matter, 
and in that respect more nearly approach animal food than 
does any other vegetable.” 
Few things grown out of doors are so profitable as full 
crops of mushrooms. Mushrooms can easily be grown during 
autumn, winter, and spring in any ordinary shed, cellar, or 
out-house where the temperature does not fall below 45°, and 
is tolerably uniform. Having had considerable success in 
mushroom culture, I will briefly describe my method. 
Collect the fresh horse-droppings from the stable every 
morning. Do not have any from other but well and hard-fed 
horses; never use that from horses fed on grass or other 
green food. Separate only the long litter from the droppings, 
and allow the short to remain mixed with them. 
Spread the manure about nine inches thick over a floor 
in any shed from which rain is excluded. When sufficient 
material is collected to make a bed of the required size, throw 
the whole into a heap to ferment. In two or three days the 
manure will be quite warm, if not hot, it should then be 
thoroughly turned over to allow the foul gases to escape. 
After another day or two the material will either be ina 
suitable condition to at once be made into a bed, or it will 
require another turning, each heap of manure has to be dealt 
with on its merits, but usually it is ready after the first or 
second turning. 
