132 
THF  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[August  x,  1892. 
food,  both  bread  and  meat.  4 — That  fruit  is  itself 
easily  assimilated  by  the  system.  5 — That  it  keeps 
the  system  free  and  in  good  working  condition.  6 — 
That  from  its  acids,  salts  and  essential  oils  the  blood 
is  purified  and  disease  germs  destroyed.  7 — That  from 
its  saccharine  matter  the  body  is  nourished  and  the 
animal  heat  kept  up. 
It  would  seem  like  a paradox  to  say  that  fruit  both 
warms  and  cools  the  body,  but  such  is  the  case.  In 
summer  its  acids  temper  and  equalize  the  heat,  in 
winter  its  sugars  warm.  Sugar  and  acid,  in  fact,  are 
so  equally  balanced  in  this  food,  formed  in  the  great 
laboratory  of  nature,  that  neither  preponderates  unduly 
or  to  the  detriment  of  the  other. 
We  may  take  the  testimony  of  birds  as  to  the 
healthfulness  of  fruit.*  And  who  so  bright,  cheerful 
and  happy  as  they  ? The  blackbird  knows  well 
what  to  treat  himself  to  in  sweet  summer  time,  and 
flutes  all  day  in  the  groves  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  night  as  well ; yet  in  winter,  cowering  for  shelter 
under  the  dwarf  pine  trees,  he  does  not  let  down  his 
heart.  On  the  contrary,  he  is  content  if  he  can 
scrape  up  a few  grub  worms  from  among  the  withered 
leaves  and  obtain  a hip  or  a haw  to  assist  in  digesting 
that  worm. 
The  Arabs  form  a good  example  of  a nation  that 
to  a large  extent  lives  on  fruit.  We  are  apt  to  claim 
courage  as  characteristic  only  of  the  British  soldier. 
This  is  simply  our  insular  ignorance  and  arrogance. 
Who  can  be  more  brave  than  the  Arab,  or  who 
possess  more  elan  or  dash? — Rural  Californian. 
FUNGI. 
This  delicious  fungus  will  often  come  without  being 
asked,  as  on  old  rubbish  heap?,  aui  amongst 
cucumbers  and  melons  ; but  when  formally  invited,  it 
iB  capricious,  and,  at  times,  somewhat  unpolite. 
The  Mushroom,  Agarieus  campestris,  may  be  studied 
to  advautago  as  it  appears  from  time  to  time  in  the 
fields.  For  seversl  years  in  succession  we  may  search 
for  them  in  vain,  but  at  last  there  comes  a hot,  dry 
summer,  and  instantly,  on  the  occurrence  of  showers 
the  pastures  will  be  covered  with  mushrooms.  Heat 
promotes  the  ‘ running,”  that  is,  the  diffusion  of 
the  spawn,  and  a very  moderate  amount  of  moisture 
suffices  to  bring  up  the  plant.  The  cultivation  con- 
sists in  imitating  as  nearly'  as  possible  the  conditions 
that  promote  the  growth  of  mushrooms  in  the  meadow 
and  by  the  roadside.  The  soil  must  contain  a suf- 
ficiency of  nitrates  and  phosphates,  hence  fresh  short 
stable  dung  and  good  turfy  loam  are  important  aids. 
Darkness  is  regarded  as  essential,  but  the  outdoor 
mushrooms  proclaim  that  it  is  not.  However,  darkness 
promotes  the  kind  of  atmosphere  that  su  ts  mush- 
rooms, and  hence  the  abundance  aud  fine  quality 
usually  of  mushrooms  grown  in  dark  houses. 
Formation  of  Beds. — To  prevent  any  misunderstand- 
ing, it  may  be  well  to  intimate  that  all  indoor  beds 
whether  in  an  old  outhouse  or  in  a first-class  mush- 
room house,  are  made  in  precisely  the  same  m inner. 
Usually  tho  beds  are  made  exclusively  with  horse- 
droppings  ; but,  apart  from  economical  considera- 
tions, a mixture  consisting  of  horse-droppings,  short 
litter,  and  dry  friable  loam  cau  be  strongly  recom- 
mended. By  adding  loam  less  manure  is  of  necessity 
required,  and  the  beds  continue  in  bearing  longer; 
and  if  there  is  any  difference  the  mu  hrooins  are  of 
finer  quality.  Maiden  loam  rather  rich  in  decayed 
fibrous  matter  is  alone  suitablo  for  this  purpose,  and 
it  should  be  employed  in  the  proportion  of  abou  t 
one-fourth  of  the  entire  bulk. 
When  the  droppings  are  procured  from  a stable  oa 
the  place,  they  should  lie  collected  from  the  manure- 
heap  about  twice  a week  and  spread  out  under  cover, 
to  keep  them  rather  dry  aud  prevent  their  exhaus 
* Not  always:  for  instance  the  fruit  of  Strychnos 
nux  vomica  so  common  in  the  jungles  of  the  North- 
Western  and  North-Central  Provinces  in  Ceylon  is 
eaten  by  birds  ; but  if  human  beings  followed  the  ex- 
ample they  would  find  it  a deadly  poison.— Ed.  T.  A. 
tion  by  fermentation,  shake  ont  all  the  short  stuff 
and  spread  it  out  to  dry;  for  when  thrown  into  a 
heap  in  a moist  state  the  fermtutation  quickly 
becomes  so  violent  as  to  rapidly  exhaust  the  mauure. 
It  must  not,  of  course,  be  du-t-dry  or  it  will  not 
ferment  at  ail ; bat  in  practice  it  is  found  that  a 
very  small  amount  of  moisture  is  sufficient  to  ensure 
a mild  and  steady  fermentation.  A week  or  so  be- 
fore it  is  intended  to  make  up  the  bed  throw  the 
manure  into  a heap  to  set  it  fermenting,  and  by  the 
end  of  the  week  it  will  be  quite  warm  enough  for 
use.  Frequent  turning  at  this  stage  are  quite  unne- 
cessary, but  it  is  well  to  turn  it  over  once,  and  as 
far  as  possible  to  plaoe  the  outside  portion  in  the 
middle  of  the  heap. 
In  the  formation  of  the  beds  place  an  inch  layer 
of  learn  over  the  bottom,  and  then  proceed  to  fill  in 
with  the  manure  and  loam  ; the  latter  must  he  per- 
fectly dry  and  a liitle  spread  over  each  layer  of 
mmute  as  the  w rK  of  filliug  proceeds,  to  ensure  its 
being  equally  di-tiibuied  throughout  the  entire  depth. 
As  each  layer  of  three  or  four  iuches  is  plaoed  on 
the  bed  let  it  be  beaten  thoroughly  firm,  for  the 
spawn  then  runs  more  freely  and  excessive  fermen- 
tation is  prevented.  Twelve  inches  is  a good  thick- 
ness for  the  bed,  independent  of  a two-inoh  layer 
of  Lam,  which  should  be  applied  after  it  has  been 
spawned.  The  heat  will,  in  all  probability,  increase 
rapidly  during  the  first  few  days,  and  if  it  becomes 
excessively  hot  a lew  holes  may  be  bored  to  allow 
the  heat  to  escape  ; but  it  is  much  better  to  have 
the  materials  in  proper  eoudition,  so  that  there  may 
bo  no  overheat,  for  with  the  escape  of  heat  by  means 
of  holes  referred  to  much  of  the  ammonia,  so  essen- 
tial in  the  production  of  mushrooms,  will  be  lost.  A 
oare  ul  watch  must  be  kept  upon  the  temperature, 
whioh  ought  not  to  exceed  80°.  Immediately  the 
heat  commences  to  decline,  and  is  about  75°,  spawn 
the  bed.  Break  the  “bricks”  up  into  pieces  of  about 
the  size  of  a small  hen’s  egg,  and  by  means  of  a 
dibber  insert  them  about  twelve  inches  apart  and 
regularly  over  the  bed  to  a depth  of  three  inches  or 
so.  Immediately  after  a bed  has  been  spawned  apply 
a half-inoh  covering  of  loam,  or  of  perfectly  dry 
cow-manure  broken  up  to  a powder  and  loam  in  equal 
proportions.  In  eignt  or  ten  days  afterwards  the 
spawn  will  commence  to  run,  and  an  inch  and  a-half 
of  either  loam  or  a mixture  as  above  advised  should 
be  spread  over  the  surface.  This  should  be  rather 
dry  and  of  the  fame  temperature  as  the  bed,  if  net 
a little  warmer,  as  anything  like  a chill  must  be 
oaretully  guarded  against; 
Management  of  Beds — lathe  after  management  of 
the  neds  the  main  points  are  to  maintain  them  just 
moist  enough  for  the  development  of  the  spawn  and 
no  more,  and  the  house  at  a suitable  temperature. 
Before  a bed  comes  into  bearing  the  temperature  may 
range  from  (10°  to  65°,  but  afterwards  the  mean  should 
be  60°,  as  that  temperature  is  the  most  conducive  to 
the  production  of  mushrooms  of  first-class  quality ; 
moreover,  the  beds  remain  in  bearing  much  longer. 
As  the  house  wkl  contain  beds  in  different  stage — one 
only  r ewly  made  up,  a second  just  coming,  a third 
in  full  bearing,  and  a fourth  in  all  probability  on  the 
point  of  exhaustion  — the  temperature  last  mentioned 
will  be  found  generally  the  most  suitable.  The  beds 
will  come  into  bearing  in  about  five  or  six  weeks 
from  the  time  of  spawning  and  if  made  up  as  advised 
they  will  containue  iu  bearing  about  three  months. 
Outdoor  Beds. — For  these  a sheltered  and  out-of- 
the-way  place  should  be  selected.  They  are  formed 
with  the  manure  in  a fresher  state  than  has  been 
recommended  for  the  indoor  beds,  and  precisely  the 
same  as  it  comes  from  the  stable.  The  sweetening  so 
necessary  when  intended  for  hotbeds  is  not  required 
but  to  well  mix  it  together  aud  ensure  its  fermenting 
steadily,  throw  it  into  a heap  and  turn  it  over  twioe. 
The  outdoor  beds  should  he  made  in  the  form  of 
ridges,  three  feet  in  width  across  the  base  and  brought 
to  a poiut  at  the  top,  with  sides  as  sharp  as  they  can 
be  conveniently  formed.  The  manure  must  be  beaten 
firm,  and  when  the  heat  begins  to  decline  and  the 
temperature  of  the  mass  is  about  80°,  spawn  the 
