602 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



PjlRT III. 



of both, to the extent prescribed, cements the materials together, which, in addition'to beating, increases 

 greatly their solidity. The proper vegetation of the spawn, and the consequent crop of mushrooms, de- 

 pend entirely upon a moderate genial heat and fermentation, neither too strong nor too slight. As soon 

 as the degree of heat in the beds is a little more than that of milk from the cow, (say from eighty to ninety 

 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer,) beat the beds a second time, to render them more solid, if possible ; 

 then make holes with a dibble, three inches in diameter, and nine inches asunder, through the compost in 

 every part of the beds : these holes will be a means of coohng the beds, and preventing that excess of heat 

 from taking place, which would produce rottenness, and render them unproductive. If the beds do not 

 attain the heat required, in four or five days after they are put together, (which you will know by plunging 

 a thermometer into one of the holes,) add another layer of the compost, two inches thick, which will pro- 

 bably increase the heat sufficiently ; if not, a part of the bed should be taken away, and the remainder 

 mixed with fresh horse-droppings, and wrought together in the same way as before, in order to pro- 

 duce the proper degree of heat. Beds made after this manner readily generate natural spawn in summer, 

 and frequently in the winter months. 



3437. Of spawning the beds. In three or four days after the holes have been made, by observing the 

 thermometer, it will be found that you have the desired degree of heat, and the inside of the holes will also 

 have become dry ; the beds are then in a good state for spawning, which should be done while the heat is 

 on the decline. If this operation be deferred until the heat is quite exhausted, the crop will be late, and 

 less plentiful. Fill every hole full of spawn, which must be well beaten into them, and then make the 

 surface of the beds solid and level ; it is of no consequence whether the spawn put into the holes be in one 

 lump or in several small pieces, it is only necessary that the holes should be well filled. About a fortnight 

 after the spawn has been introduced, examine the holes, and if the spawn has suflfered any damage from 

 over-heat, or too much moisture, in the beds, introduce fresh spawn in the same way as before. On the 

 contrary, if the spawn be found good, and vegetating freely into the compost, such beds (if required for 

 immediate production,) may be covered with mould agreeable to the rules hereafter laid down ; and the 

 beds intended for succession should remain unearthed, in the summer, three weeks or a month before you 

 wish them to produce, and in the winter a month or five weeks. If the spawn be introduced in hot wea- 

 ther, air must be admitted as freely as possible into the shed, till the spawn has spread itself through the 

 beds ; for if the place be kept too close, the beds will become soft and spongy, and then the crop will nei- 

 ther be abundant, nor of good quality. 



3438. Of earthing the beds. Such beds as are intended to be put into work, must be covered with a 

 coat of rich maiden earth, wherein its turf is well reduced. Then spread it regularly over the surface of 

 each bed, two inches thick ; and beat it as solid and level as possible. The earth used should be neither 

 too dry, nor yet wet, but so as to become compact together, and take, when beaten, a smooth face. If too 

 moist, it will chill the beds, and injure the spawn. On the contrary, if too dry, it will remain loose, and in 

 a state by no means favorable to the growth of the mushrooms : but when sohd, it produces not only finer 

 mushrooms, but in greater quantities, as the earth from soils of lighter texture invariably grows them 

 weaker, and of inferior quality, and such beds cease bearing much earlier. 



3439. Of the subsequent treatment. From the time of covering with earth, the room or shed should be 

 kept at fifty to fifty-five degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, and the light must be excluded. If the heat 

 be suffered to exceed, to any considerable degree, it will cause the beds to ferment a second time, and 

 weaken, if not totally destroy, the spawn ; but should a much lowor degree of temperature than the one 

 prescribed be permitted to prevail, the mushrooms will advance slowly in their growth ; and if watered ia 

 that state, numbers of the small ones will be prevented from attaining perfection. In watering them, ex- 

 treme caution is necessary, as well in the mode of application, as in the temperature of the water, which 

 should be nearly as warm as new milk, and very lightly sprinkled with a syringe, or a small watering-pot ; 

 otherwise the mushrooms are sure to sustain damage. If cold water be used, and given plentifully at one 

 time, it will not only destroy the existing crop, but the spawn also, and render the beds so treated of no 

 further utility. If the beds have been suffered to become very dry, it is better to give them several light 

 waterings than one heavy supply. In gathering the mushrooms, great care should be taken not to disturb 

 the small ones that invariably, with good management, surround the stems of those which are more early 

 matured. The best method is to twist them up, very gently, in all instances where you can. But where 

 you are obliged to cut them, great care should be taken to divest the beds of the stems of those that are 

 cut, as they would rot, to the great injury of those that surround them. If the preceding directions are 

 properly attended to, in the management of the beds, they will continue to bear several months, and a 

 constant supply may be kept by earthing one bed or more, every two or three months, according to the 

 quantity of mushrooms required at one season. When the beds are in full bearing, if the mushrooms 

 become long in thpir stems, and weak, it is certain the temperature of the building is too high ; conse- 

 quently, air must be admitted in proportion to the heat. 



3440. Of renovating the old beds. As your beds begin to decHne in bearing, and produce but few mush- 

 rooms, take off the earth clean from the dung, and if you find the latter decayed, destroy the beds and re- 

 place them by new ones, being careful to select any good spawn that may present itself; but if, on taking 

 away the earth, you find the beds dry, soUd, and full of good spawn, add a layer of fresh compost, as be- 

 fore recommended, three or four inches thick, mixing it a little with the old, and beat it as before. By ad- 

 hering to this mode of renovating the old beds, a continual supply may be kept up. {Oldacre, in Hart. 

 Trans, vol. ii.) 



3441. Estimate of the tnerits of the German viode of cultivating nmshrooms. Neill ob- 

 serves, In what particulars the advantage of Oldacre's plan over former modes chiefly 

 consists, does not very clearly appear. Beds made up in the usual way are much less 

 compact, and are more damp ; compactness and dryness may therefore be considered as 

 important." (Ed. Encyc. art. Hort.) Rogers remarks that " the quantity of mush- 

 rooms depends upon the manner in which they are nourished : if they are meagerly fed, 

 tlieir flavor and substance will be poor in proportion. Hence artificial mushrooms are, 

 generally, richer and higher flavored than those which grow naturally ; and again, 

 among the artificial produce, those will surpass which are reared on large and deep 

 beds." It is a fact, that in Covent Garden market, mushrooms grown on ridges are 

 greatly preferred to those grown on shelves, or in boxes, in the German manner : 

 they are considered heavier and more juicy. (Hort. Trans, iv. 475.) 



3442. Growing mushrooms, in jmts, boxes, ^c. with dung, by Wales. " Having given an 

 account how to procure the spawn, which is the principal point, I shall next proceed to 

 state how mushrooms are to be raised from the spawn with dung. I raise the mushrooms 

 in boxes, hampers, or, in short, in any thing which will hold the dung and the soil toge- 

 ther. These boxes or vessels are placed in the back sheds of the hot-houses, or in any 

 house whatever, where no damp nor frost can enter. There should be several boxes, a 

 part only being filled at a time, so as to keep a rotation of them, and have mushrooms 



