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21 



MUSHROOMS. 



Mushrooms can be readily grown in cellars, sta- 

 bles, sheds or pits. Many are successfully grown 

 on a shelf in an ordinary cellar, and yield sufficient 

 crops to compensate the grower for his effort. The 

 space under greenhouse benches or stagings will 

 suit them exactly, using materials in same manner 

 as described. 



CULTIVATION. 



The cultivation of the Mushroom is a very simple 

 matter, and requires only ordinary intelligence and 

 care. The materials needed are fresh horse ma- 

 nure, good soil and live spawn. The manure should 

 not be too short, as it does not combine the neces- 

 sary qualities. Long, strawy litter, plentifully 

 mixed with short manure, makes by far the best 

 beds, as it does not heat too violently, decomposes 



MUSHROOM CULTIVATION-Con^inued. 



slowly and retains its heat for a long period. Put in 

 a heap and turn every three or four days to permit 

 the escape of noxious gases and prevent burning. 

 When ready for use it should be as hot as can be 

 borne comfortably by the hand, and should also be 

 moist. Make the beds three feet wide at the base, 

 two and a half feet high, and of any desired length. 

 The manure, when in proper condition, should be 

 quickly handled to prevent the loss of heat and be 

 beaten down to make the heap firm and compact, 

 and cover with long litter. The bed should within 

 a few days warm to a temperature of 110 to 120 de- 

 grees. Never spawn a bed when the heat is rising, 

 but always on the decline and under 90 degrees. 

 Have a ground thermometer, and keep it plunged 

 in the bed; by pulling it out and looking at it you 

 can ascertain exactly the temperature of the bed; 

 should the temperature not exceed 100 or 110 de- 

 grees no alarm should be felt, for if the manure was 

 fresh it will likely produce a good crop. Where the 

 heat has decreased to 90 degrees the bed is ready to 

 receive the spawn, which is done by raising the ma- 

 nure with the hand and inserting pieces of spawn 

 two inches square and nine inches apart each way. 

 At the expiration of a few days the bed may be 

 covered with soil to the depth of about two inches. 

 If in closed cellar or mushroom house wait about 

 10 days, but if in open shed 5 days will do. If the 

 soil is poor add a liberal quantity of bone meal. 

 Best ESnglish Spawn, 12c. per lb. 10 lbs. for 

 $1.00. 100 lbs. for $8.00. 



MUSTARD SEED. 



Pkt. 5c. 1-4 lb. 10c. L.b. 25c. 



NASTURTIUM. 



Plant in May the climbing varieties to cover arbor 

 or fence, and the Dwarf for beds or hanging bas- 

 kets. The leaves are used for salad, and the seeds, 

 when soft enough to be penetrated by the nail, for 

 pickles. 



TALL.— .Pkt. 5c. Oz. 10c. 1-4 lb. 30c. Lb. 



$i.oo. 



DWARF.— Plit. 5c. Oz. 15c, 1-4 lb. 35c. Lb. 

 $1.25. 



ONIONS. 



TO GROW LARGE ONIONS FROM SEED.— The 

 seed should be sown as early as possible in the 

 spring, as they grow much better during the cool 

 weather, and should make most of their growth 

 before the hot weather sets in. Sow five pounds of 

 seed to the acre for large onions. 



THE NEW ONION CULTURE.— Sow 

 the seed in hotbed, and transplant as 

 early as possible to open ground; they 

 can be grown very successfully by this 

 plan. 



FOR SETS.— Have a clean and very 

 rich soil, which should be thoroughly 

 cultivated, or it will not do well enough 

 to pay for the trouble. The most suc- 

 cessful growers work their ground sev- 

 eral times in the fall to kill out the 

 weeds, and get ground in nice condition. 

 Use well rotted ma,nure freely, and be 

 sure to get the seeds in as early as possi- 

 ble in the spring, no matter if it is ever 

 so cold or unpleasant, and keep the soil 

 mellow and clear of weeds, and if seed 

 is good you will have a large crop of 

 onion sets. On no other condition can 

 you hope for success. Disturb the roots 

 of the Onion as little as possible, either 

 in thinning or hoeing, and never hoe 

 earth towards them to cover or hill, as 

 we do most other things. 



Sow the seed in drills about 12 inches 

 apart. It will require from 40 to 6U pounds to sow an acre. 



YELLOW GLOBE DANVERS.— A very hand- 

 some round yellow onion, a large yielder and splen- 

 did keeper, the preferred sort with market garden- 

 ers and large growers all over the country. We vm.- 



hesitatingly recommend it for growing either sets 

 or large onions. 



Pitt. 5c. Ox. lOc. 1-4 lb. 20c. Lb. 6Cc. 5 lbs. 



$2.75. 



YELLOW FLAT DANVERS.— Oz. 10c. 1-4 lb. 

 20c. Lb. 50c. 5 lbs. $2.25. 



WHITE SILVER SKIN. 



or PORTUGAL.— A good variety for family use; 

 skin and flesh pure white, mild flavor and flat 

 shape. The best white onion to grow largely for 

 sets. 



Pkts. 5c. and 10c. Osb. 20c. 1-4 lb. 40c. Lb. 

 $1.35. 



