. Cassell's popular gardening. Gardening. 244 CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. tangible evidences of certainty of reproduction. The beginner must, therefore, place faith in the result of his buried efforts, whilst patiently waiting the issue. The Alj)ha and Omega of Mushroom culture is a good supply of horse-droppings, without which good productive beds are not easily obtained, though we shall show presently that Hmited numbers may be grown without the aid of this, or any other kindred manure. Along with such horse-droppings stable sweepings may be freely mixed, pro\aded all are mo- derately dry.


. Cassell's popular gardening. Gardening. 244 CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. tangible evidences of certainty of reproduction. The beginner must, therefore, place faith in the result of his buried efforts, whilst patiently waiting the issue. The Alj)ha and Omega of Mushroom culture is a good supply of horse-droppings, without which good productive beds are not easily obtained, though we shall show presently that Hmited numbers may be grown without the aid of this, or any other kindred manure. Along with such horse-droppings stable sweepings may be freely mixed, pro\aded all are mo- derately dry. It is objectionable to permit other ingredients in liquid form to be mixed with these. Not only is it neces- sary to select such diy materials, but it is always desirable to dry them somewhat beyond their primitive state of dampness, by exposing them to sun and air, or during the prevalence of Tainy weather by spread- ing them out, and occa- sionally turning them over, in a dry, airy shed. As these materials form the nucleus of the future bed, enough must be collected together to form a bed of the desired dimensions. This done, it can readily be seen whether they are moder- ately dry throughout. If not, another process will have to be undertaken, and it is a necessary one in connection with the preparation of all beds during the winter season, when it is aU but impossible to dry the materials sufficiently by any other means. Jf not dry enough the whole mass must be thrown up into a conical- shaped heap, and be induced to ferment. In process of fermenting steam is given off, which is so much moisture dissipated. The heap must not be per- mitted to ferment too much or too long, however, else the materials will be destroyed in process of decomposition. It will be necessary, therefore, if the heat is becoming great, with much steam, to turn the whole mass over, shaking it apart freely to cause steam to fly off, re-miLking the heap into another of conical shape, placing what was the


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectgardening, bookyear1884