8 On the Cultivation of Mushrooms. 



I, therefore, planted it in one light only, but the result con- 

 vinced me, that it did no injury, as, on the only plant in that 

 light, I grew a Melon, of the Black Rock kind, weighing 8| 

 pounds, for the first crop, and another, 6 \ pounds, for the 

 second crop : both of which ripened well. Since that time, I 

 have always placed the spawn over the whole of the bed, and 

 have never failed to produce a good crop of both Melons and 

 Mushrooms. Should it be thought advisable to have a sup- 

 ply of Mushrooms during the depth of winter, I am confi- 

 dent, (though I have not tried the experiment) that they 

 might be obtained, at a trifling expense, by lining the bed 

 with hot dung, and using other precautions to keep out the 

 cold air. 



The catsup extracted from Mushrooms raised by the above 

 method, is much superior to that commonly obtained from 

 mushrooms produced naturally : it is extremely high-coloured, 

 and of a much finer flavour. 



Should you think the above description of any consequence, 

 your laying it before the Horticultural Society will oblige, 

 Sir, 



your obedient humble Servant, 



William Williamson. 



Westbere, near Canterbury, 

 September 12, 1817. 



