650 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



be suflered to exceed to any considerable 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 tem- 

 perature than the one prescribed be permitted to prevail, the 

 mushrooms will advance slowly in their growth, and if watered 

 in that state, numbers of the small ones will be prevented from 

 attaining perfection. In watcj-ing them, extreme caution is 

 necessary, as well in the mode of application as in the tem- 

 perature 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 farther 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 must be taken not to 

 disturb the small ones, which invariably, with good management, 

 surround the stems of those that are more early matured. 

 The best method is to twist them up very gently, in all in- 

 stances, where you can, but where you are obliged to cut them, 

 great care should be taken to divest the beds of the stems of 

 those which are cut, as they would rot, to the great injury of 

 those that surround them. If the preceding directions be 

 properly attended to in the management of the beds, they 

 will continue to bear for several months, and a constant supply 

 may be kept up by earthing up one bed or more every two or 

 three months, according to the quantity of mushrooms required 

 at one season. AVhen the beds are in full bearing, if the 

 mushrooms become long in their stems and weak, it is certain 

 that the temperature is too high, consequently air must be 

 admitted in proportion to the heat. As the old beds decline 

 in bearing, and produce but few mushrooms, take the earth 

 clean off the dung, and if you find the litter decayed, destroy 

 the beds and replace them by new ones, being careful to select 

 any good spawn that may present itself; but if, on taking 

 away the earth, you find the beds dry, solid, and full of good 

 spawn, add a layer of fresh compost, as before recommended. 



