By Mr. Isaac Oldaker. 



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. 



Of the subsequent treatmen t 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 consi- 

 derable degree, it will cause the beds to ferment a second 

 time, and weaken, if not totally destroy, the spawn; but 

 should a much lower degree of temperature, than the one 

 prescribed, be permitted to prevail, the mushrooms will ad- 

 vance slowly in their growth ; and if watered in that state, 

 numbers of the small ones will be prevented from attaining 

 perfection. In watering them, extreme 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 manage- 

 ment 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 



