484 



MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



As on an average 2500 yards of beds are made every 

 monthj simple mecbanical contrivances to facilitate tbe 

 operation will prove of tbe greatest advantage to tbe 

 cultivator. 



In addition to tbe caves in tbe localities above alluded to 

 tbere are otber places near Paris where the culture is carried 

 on — notably at Moulin de la Eoche^ Sous Bicetre^ near St. 

 Germain, and also at Bagneux. Tbe equability of temperature 

 in the caves renders the culture of the ]Mushroom possible at 

 aU seasons; but the best crops are gathered in winter^ and con- 

 sequently that is the best time to see them. however^ saw 

 abundant crops in the hottest part of the past very hot season. 

 These jNIushroom caves are under government supervision^ and 

 are regularly inspected like any other mines in which work 

 is going on. As regards the depth at which this culture is 

 carried on^ it varies from twenty to one hundi'ed feet, some- 

 times reaching one hundi'ed and fifty and one hundred and 

 sixty feet from the surface of the earth. They are so large 

 that sometimes people are lost in them. In one instance 

 the proprietor of a large cave went astray^ and it was three 

 days before he. was discovered,, although soldiers and volun- 

 teers in abundance were sent down. Is it possible that in 

 a great mining and excavating country like ours we cannot 

 establish the same kind of industry ? 



Culture in Cellars and in the Open Air. 



Of course they are only professional Mushroom growers 

 that carry on such extensive operations as those just de- 

 scribed^ but the IMushroom is 

 Fig. 287. grown extensively in cellars 



/ifj i'^^ and like places. As an analo- 

 /^1V "^ll^ ^'^^^ mode of culture is more 

 I'J '^''''^^^ likely to meet general wants, the 



\h\/ \ \Wi foUovdng observations on the 



Newly-made Murhr7om^Bed7' subject may prove acceptable. 



They are by M. Laizier^ the Pre- 

 sident of the IMutual Aid Society formed among the Paris 

 market gardeners. 



