MUSHROOMS 



441 



trimmed and trodden down well, so as to reduce the height to 

 about 2 ft. 8 in. The heap is then left until the heat produced by 

 the fermentation threatens to become excessive, which is denoted 

 by the hottest parts commencing to turn white. This usually 

 occurs in from six to ten days after the making of the heap. The 

 whole heap must then be taken down and made up again exactly 

 as before, taking care to make the interior of it consist of the 

 manure which was previously on the outside, and which was con- 

 sequently less fermented. It generally happens that within a few 

 days after the heap has been thus re-made, the fermentation 

 becomes so violent that the heap has to be thrown down and 

 re-made a third time. 



Sometimes after the 

 second re-making, the 

 manure will be fit for 

 forming the beds. It 

 may be known when 

 this can be done with- 

 out any danger by the 

 manure having become 

 of a brown colour, the 

 straw having entirely 

 lost its usual consistence, 

 and the whole being 

 elastic and greasy to the 

 touch, and having no 

 longer the smell of fresh 

 horse-manure, but rather 

 that of the Mushroom. 

 It is difficult to obtain 

 a good preparation of 

 horse-manure unless a 



sufficient quantity is Small movable Mushroom-beds placed against a wall. 



operated upon at once. 



The heap should measure at least a yard, or a little more, every 

 way. This is^ a frequent cause of failure with amateurs, and 

 should be avoided. Even if a less quantity is required for the 

 beds, the manure should be prepared in a heap of at least the 

 dimensions we have just mentioned, and any of it that is not 

 required for the Mushroom-beds will be very useful for any other 

 kind of vegetables in the kitchen-garden. 



When the manure is in a proper condition, it is brought to the 

 place where the Mushrooms are to be grown and made into beds 

 at once. The beds may be of any shape or size desired, but 

 experience has shown that both the manure and the space at 

 disposal will be employed to the best advantage by making the 



