INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Division of Microscopy, 
Washington , I). 0 ., December 1 , 1892 . 
Sir: The continued requests received in this division for information 
relating to edible mushrooms and their culture render desirable the 
reprint of that portion of my report for 1885 which treats of this sub¬ 
ject. The article in question, which has been carefully revised, together 
with an appendix on the Preparation of Mushroom beds, is therefore 
respectfully submitted for republication. 
Very respectfully, 
Thomas Taylor, 
Micros enlist. 
lion. J. M. Rusk, 
Secretary of Agriculture, 
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