128 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
straw, and an external coating of mats, pegged down at each 
side of the bed. 
As the mushroom is subject to the attacks of insects, during 
the summer months, it is necessary here to add, that the only 
means of keeping away the enemy is by putting a layer of coal- 
ashes beneath the bed, and mixing a little soot with the cover¬ 
ing of earth. In watering, make holes one foot apart in the 
bed, and fill each hole as the bed becomes dry. 
To keep up a succession throughout the season, take this as 
a rule :—-As soon as mushrooms appear on one bed, make the 
preparations for another. The temperature of the mushroom- 
house may be kept from 40° to 60°. In a month or six weeks 
after spawning, if the bed works kindly, it will produce mush¬ 
rooms ; and if kept in good order, it will continue in bearing for 
several months. 
In examining the beds out of doors, or when gathering the 
produce, turn off the straw covering very carefully; and as the 
advancing mushrooms will generally appear in several different 
stages of growth, gather those only that are of a proper age, 
that is, before they become large and expanded, and generally 
while they remain compact and firm ; detach them by a gentle 
twist close to the root, but do not cut them out, or leave the 
stumps in the bed, for they bring on the rot, and become 
maggoty and infectious to the succeeding young crop, which 
are advancing in successional growth. Always, as soon as the 
gathering is finished, cover the bed again directly with the 
straw litter, especially in cold, wet weather ; at any rate it 
should never remain long uncovered ; but only occasionally on 
dry warm days. If the earth has, by any means, become very 
damp, the covering may remain off two or three hours, sufficient 
to dry the surface; but it should be covered again as soon as 
possible. 
The above being the general practical directions for making 
and spawning mushroom beds, I shall only add some essential 
particulars very necessary to be observed. As the spawn of 
the mushroom is of a peculiarly delicate nature, so much so 
that either too violent a degree of heat in the bed, or excessive 
wet and cold, would.inevitably destroy its vegetative powers, it 
is necessary to make the bed in the form of a ridge, which 
experience has proved to be the most eligible, in order to have 
it the more readily attain and maintain the requisite mild 
