MUSHROOM. 



77 



scientific gardeners in this vicinity, within these few years past, 

 and basketsful have been bronght before the Pennsylvania 

 Horticultural Society in our Winter and Spring exhibitions. 

 The genuine Mushroom is found in Autumn, on rich, old pas- 

 tures. It has a small, round, brownish-white head, of a deli- 

 cate pink color underneath : the stem is generally from two to 

 three inches high. There are frequent accounts of deaths 

 caused by this vegetable, attributable either to excess in eating, 

 or to a want of care in selecting the pure article, which grows 

 invariably in open fields — such as are overtopped by trees, or 

 growing in the shade, must be avoided ; also those that grow 

 rapidly, five or six inches high, bladder-like, or have a bright- 

 red, fine-wrought net-work underneath, and of a disagreeable 

 scent ; those possessing such characters, are bad and even 

 poisonous. 



Mushroom Spawn. — We copy from the transactions of the 

 London Horticultural Society, the following approved method 

 of making Mushroom Spawn : 



" In June or July, take any quantity of fresh horse-drop- 

 pings (the higher fed the better) mixed with short litter, one- 

 third of cow's dung, and a good portion of mould, of a loamy 

 nature : cement them well together, and mash the whole into 

 a compost. Spread it on the floor of an open shed, to remain 

 till it becomes firm enough to be formed into square flat bricks ; 

 which done, set them on edge, and frequently turn them till 

 half dry ; then with a dibble make two or three holes in each 

 brick, and insert in each hole a piece of good old spawn, about 

 the size of a walnut," or the spawn which consists of fine white 

 threads that may be found where mushrooms are growing in 

 pastures. " The bricks should then be left till they are dry. 

 This being completed, level the surface of a piece of ground, 

 under cover, three feet wide, and of sufficient length to re- 

 ceive the bricks : on which lay a bottom of dry horse-dung, 

 six inches thick : then form a pile, by placing the bricks in 

 rows, one upon another, with the spawn side uppermost, till 



