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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS musheoom 



until the heat has receded to 80° Fahr;, 

 and shows an inclination to decline some 

 degrees lower. 



' 8pa/wnmg ' Mushroom Beds. — The 

 Mushroom spawn or ' mycelium ' referred 

 to above could not be inserted conveniently 

 by itself. It is therefore obtained in a 

 state of suspended animation in ' cakes ' 

 or ' bricks,' 16 of which are usually sold 

 to make a 'bushel.' These cakes or 

 bricks usually measure 6 in. by 4 in. and 

 are about 1 in. thick. Each one may be 

 broken into eight more or less equal 

 pieces, and these are inserted at regular 

 intervals — about 6 to 8 in. — all over the 

 bed. Each piece is pressed in firmly so 

 that it is flush with the outline of the bed 

 and will not fall out of the hole into which 

 it is pressed. 



' Lamding ' or ' Soiling ' Mushroom 

 Beds. — Having ascertained that there is 

 no inclination for the temperature to rise 

 above 75° or 80° the beds may be covered 

 with 1-2 in. of soU. Where the beds have 

 sloping sides some little skill is required 

 to cover them properly. Good garden 

 soil will do, but rich loam is best. It 

 should be fine and powdery and yet moist 

 enough to adhere well. It is placed on 

 the beds, beginning at the base and work- 

 ing upwards, and is beaten with the back 

 of the spade untU it is smooth and level. 

 So that the upper layers of soU may not 

 fall oflf or scale down, the edge of the last 

 placed layer should always be kept ragged 

 and not patted close to the bed with the 

 spade. The ragged edges serve as a base 

 for the following layers of soil until the 

 top is reached. 



Covering the Mushroom, Beds. — After 

 the bed has been covered all over with 

 soil and the surface made smooth by 

 rubbing over with the back of the spade— 

 the latter may be frequently dipped in 

 water to faciUtate the process of smooth- 

 ing — the bed is then covered with a layer 

 1-3 ft. thick of the long straw or litter 

 which had been forked out of the manure 

 when the latter was being prepared for 

 the bed. This is to keep the heat in the 

 bed, and during severe frosty weather the 

 covering should be thick and closely 

 packed. 



Some growers before covering the beds 

 with litter place thin canvas over them 

 next the soil. This has the great advan- 

 tage of preventing the radiation of heat, 

 but it also keeps the Mushrooms much 

 cleaner than when they come in direct 



contact with the litter. Also, when the 

 beds are being uncovered, the Mushrooms 

 are not torn off and lost among the htter, 

 as is Kkely to happen when removing the 

 latter. 



Mush/room,s in sheds, cellars, boxes 

 Sc. — Although the preceding remarks 

 apply to Mushrooms as cultivated out of 

 doors in market gardens, any cottager 

 may grow Mushrooms if he has only a 

 square yard of space to spare for the 

 purpose. The comer of a cellar, an old 

 washing- tub, or even a large flower-pot or 

 old egg box may be utilised for the pur- 

 pose. The fresh horse - droppings and 

 sweepings from the road may be collected 

 and mixed with leaves, straw &c. until the 

 whole has been thoroughly leavened and 

 brought to the proper state for inserting 

 the cakes of spawn. Wherever Mush- 

 rooms are grown even on a small scale, it 

 is essential that the temperature of the 

 sxirrounding atmosphere should not sink 

 below 55° Fahr. If it can be maintained 

 between 60° and 65° it will be much more 

 agreeable, and experience proves that this 

 is about the best temperature for securing 

 a heavy crop of Mushrooms — always 

 provided of course that the ' spawn ' used 

 is good. 



In many large gardens special struc- 

 tures called Mushroom-houses are fitted 

 up more or less elaborately, and heated 

 with hot-water pipes. The beds are made 

 flat in tiers or shelves one above the other, 

 or arranged in any other convenient way, 

 but should be at least 1 ft. in depth. 

 The process of making them is the sa,me 

 as described above for outdoor beds ex- 

 cept that it is not necessary to cover the 

 soil with Utter or canvas. The surface of 

 the soil must be kept damp, but not sodden 

 however, by watering occasionally with a 

 fine-rosed water-pot, using tepid water. 

 The atmosphere also should be fairly 

 charged with moisture and kept at a 

 temperature of 60° to 65°, while as a rule 

 light is rigidly excluded. Where light 

 cannot be excluded an old mat or a piece 

 of canvas may be placed over the beds. 

 Darkness, however, is not really essential, 

 and a perpetual night for Mushrooms 

 seems to be opposed to natural laws, 

 especially where the temperature can be 

 maintained at the proper point and where 

 cold draughts can be avoided. 



Oathering Mushroom,s. — In the case 

 of outdoor beds, about 6 to 10 weeks after 

 ' spawning ' Mushrooms may be gathered. 



