106 



VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



The Rue Family (Rutaceae), rue. 

 The Borage Family (Boraginaceae), borage^ 

 THE FUNGI. 



The Fungi group includes a large number of flowerless 

 plants which, are propagated by division and by spores. Besides 

 the cultivated and wild mushrooms, which are below referred 

 to, this group includes some that are poisonous, although they 

 form but a small proportion of the whole number of species 

 that are liable to be taken for edible kinds. The wheat rusts, 

 mildews, grain smuts and other similar diseases also come in 

 under this head. The spores (seed bodies) are distributed in 

 various ways, but very commonly by their becoming light and 

 powdery and being blown about by the wind as in the case of 

 the c@mmon puff ball and com smut. There is no sure way of 

 telling the poisonous mushroom from the edible kinds but most 

 of the species have been studied and their value for food is well 

 known. 



MUSHROOMS. (Agaricus campestris.) 



There are many edible wild mushrooms, and they differ in 

 no particular from the so-called toadstools, but the species re- 

 ferred to above is the kind commonly cultivated. The part 

 eaten is really the fruit bearing portion and not, as many sup- 

 pose, the plant itself. The true plant is the whita network of 

 fibres which grow in the soil, and it Is this part that is used in 

 propagating them. 



Culture. — The cultivation of the mushroom is often attended 

 with uncertainty. It is, however, being grown on an increas- 

 ingly larger scale, and the demand for it constantly increases. 

 The conditions essential to success in growing it are a rich 

 soil and a steady temperature of from 50 to 75 degrees. It is for 

 \he purpose of securing this latter requisite that cellars and old 

 caves are often utilized in its culture, as light Is not necessary. 

 Horse manure is a practically indispensable material for the 

 growth of mushrooms. If possible, it should be from animals 

 Sed on rich, nitrogenous food and as free from straw or other 

 litter as it can be obtained. This should be thoroughly mixed 

 with a fourth or fifth part of good garden soil and is then ready 



