FRENCH MODE OF CULTIVATING THE MUSHROOM. 
263 
have been very unlucky. When they bloom, 
you must go round and examine them, making 
your remarks upon such as appear worthy of 
extra care, and describing them exactly upon 
your books or labels. The best way is to 
have a number on the label, and let the corre- 
sponding number in a book have the descrip- 
tion attached, so that, by referring, you may tell 
what every remarkable one may be. There 
will be many like the old ones, scarcely to 
be distinguished or particularized from one 
another. The sorts that are numbered and 
described as good, should be removed from 
the bed to the places they are in future to 
flower in, directly the bloom has gone, and 
all that are not worthy should be given away, 
thrown away, or destroyed. The selected seed- 
ling Irises should be named, and not one, nor 
a bit of one should be parted with, unless the 
name by which it is to go, goes with it. The 
bulbous Iris has been cultivated some time by 
many persons, and Mr. Salter, of Shepherd's 
Bush, used to grow a splendid collection ; but 
raising from seed applies to all alike, tube- 
rous, fibrous, and bulbous. 
FRENCH MODE OF CULTIVATING THE 
MUSHROOM. 
This subject is by no means new. We 
cannot, therefore, say much that is not al- 
ready well known, but can only state that 
which many people are ignorant of. Our ob- 
ject is simply that of rendering the culture of 
mushrooms popular. In doing this, we shall 
be as lucid as possible, keeping in mind the 
most successful and complete practice. 
Choice of the Dung for the Mushroom 
Bed. — Horse-dung, particularly from hotels 
or livery stables, is preferable to any other, 
as being more strongly impregnated with 
urine. Some people believe that the dung of 
mules yields the finest productions and the 
greatest quantity. Everything in the shape 
of hay, moss, leaves, or cloth-cuttings, must 
be carefully excluded from the dung about to 
be used. This precaution is very necessary 
if we would avoid failures. The beds may be 
made either in the autumn or the spring. 
Preparation of the Dung. — After being 
freed from everything likely to form an im- 
pediment to success, the dung is properly 
turned with a fork, leaving it in a heap of an 
oblong form : then the heap is tramped with 
the feet, and watered more or less, according 
to its condition and temperature, and finished 
by being beaten with a wooden shovel. Eight 
or ten days afterwards, according to the fer- 
mentation, the same process must be gone 
through, carefully mixing the clung as it is 
turned. After lying a few days more, it must 
have a third turning, in which the same care 
must be observed ; and at every turning, the 
heap ought to have a fresh place. When the 
dung has become sweet, and is soft to the 
touch, neither too dry nor too moist, it is in u 
fit condition to form the bed. 
Construction of the Bed for the open air. 
— The dung having all the qualities necessary 
to success, may be removed to the place al- 
lotted for the bed, and lifting it with the fork, 
must be placed so that the bed may have the 
form of a span-roof, the sides sloping con- 
siderably. If it is required to make several 
beside each other, a space must be left be- 
tween as working room. The length of the 
bed can be determined by the produce re- 
quired. The dung must be laid on, and placed 
so that there may be no cavities thi'oughout 
the whole ; and when the bed has been so far 
made, it must be finished by being combed 
with the fork or the hand, both sides beaten 
with the shovel to make them even, and the 
whole left in this state during from five to 
eight days. A stick is thrust into the centre, 
so that when drawn out, the heat may be as- 
certained, and when a proper, that is to say, 
a gentle heat, is obtained, the operation of 
spawning may be proceeded with. 
Construction of the Mushroom Bed in 
vaults or cellars. — The dung is prepared out- 
side, as in erecting the beds in the open air, 
and the turning and mixing being finished, it 
is removed to the cellars. The bed must be 
carefully constructed along the wall, and so 
as to have only one of the sides previously 
described, unless it is preferred to build it in 
the centre of the vault, when it must have 
two sides ; however,, the situation is optional. 
But, as in the case of the first, the same rela- 
tive form should be observed. Beds may also 
be made on shelves. All outlets from the 
vault must be carefully closed up, and the ab- 
sence of light and air will make up for any 
want of rough litter, which material is neces- 
sary for the beds outside. These beds are 
longer productive than those constructed in 
the open air • of the latter, however, we are 
chiefly about to speak *at present. 
Choice of Mushroom-sparon. — Of all things 
essential to success in growing mushrooms, 
the most important is, without doubt, the 
choice of the spawn. The pieces of cake 
coming from old beds, or those which have 
not been entirely exhausted by production, 
ought to be employed. Mushroom spawn can 
be kept for more than ten years in a healthy 
place — that is, one which is neither too dry 
nor too damp. The cakes, to be good, ought 
to be ramified and covered with little white 
fibres, and have a particular smell, which, 
with a little practice,* will be very easily 
known. 
