By Mr. Thomas Rogers. 



475 



about two inches thick. The mode of spawning is the 

 usual one ; namely, the bricks are broken into small pieces, 

 which are inserted at three or four inches distance from one 

 another. The beds are earthed over about one inch and 

 a half thick, and ultimately covered with hay of different 

 thickness, according to the state of the season. I have 

 never made use of fire-heat ; but always succeeded in regu- 

 lating the temperature of my beds by means of covering. I 

 scarcely ever have occasion to water the beds, owing to the 

 materials of which they are composed. 



The produce from beds of this description has been ample, 

 and the quality of the Mushrooms excellent, rich, and well- 

 flavoured ; they are of great size and thickness, when suf- 

 fered to grow ; one, for example, weighed eighteen ounces. 

 They yield abundance of juice when dressed, or prepared 

 for catchup. There is no doubt that their quality depends 

 upon the manner in which they are nourished : if they are 

 meagerly fed, their flavour and substance will be poor in 

 proportion. Thence artificial Mushrooms are, generally, 

 richer and higher flavoured than those which grow naturally ; 

 and again, among the artificial produce, those will surpass 

 which are reared on large and deep beds. 



