484 "^HE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Sep^ 
genus, and is eaten fresh, either stewed or boiled; and preserved 
either as a pickle or in powder. The sauce commonly called 
catchup is made from its juice with salt and spices. Dr. Withering 
asserts that those gathered from fresh undunged pastures are more 
delicate than those which are raised in artificial beds. Mr. Miller 
is of a different opinion, probably because the cultivated ones are 
more sightly, and may be collected more easily in a proper state 
for eating. 
It will be necessary in the early part of this month to provide a 
quantity of fresh horse dung, and to throw it up in a heap to fer- 
ment; when it has lain two or three weeks turn it again, that all 
the parts may be equally fermented, and the violent heat passed 
away. In this state it should remain till about the first week of 
Octoberj when the bed is to be made as directed in that month, or 
the preparation may commence in August, and the beds be made 
any time this month at pleasure. 
The reason for the previous preparation of the dung, is to pre- 
vent a too violent fermentation when the bed is made, which would 
totally destroy the spawn; and moreover, by this management it 
will preserve a slow temperate warmth much longer than if put 
together when quite fresh. 
You must likewise provide a sufficiency of good mushroom spawn; 
this is frequently to be found in rich pasture fields, old mushroom 
beds, old cucumber beds, dung-hills or dungy composts, but that 
of the true kind from the pastures or old mushroom beds is to be 
preferred; it may also be found where horses are employed under 
sheds in turning mills, riding-houses, livery-stable yards, &c. 
The spawn is a white fibrous substance, running and spreading 
itself in the rich pasture-grounds and in lumps of dryish rotten 
dung, and if of the true sort, has the exact smell of the cultivated 
kind. 
Take up the earth or dung in which you find it in lumps, ob- 
serving to preserve these entire, and lay them in a dry shady place 
till wanted; you may cover them with straw or garden mats, for 
much wet would totally destroy the spawn. But if the pieces are 
wet or very damp when collected, they must be spread to dry 
gradually; the spawn is seldom, if ever, destroyed by drought, 
especially when mixed with earth or dung. For the method of 
making and spawning the bed, &c., see the Kitchen Garden for 
October. 
Gather Seeds. 
Gather all kinds of seeds as they ripen, which may be necessary 
in the ensuing season, and spread theni to dry on mats or cloths; 
when sufficiently hardened beat them out clean and put them up 
carefully till wanted for sowing. 
Perennial Herjb§. 
Towards the latter end of this month you may safely transplant 
