Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
Cu,sure Of muehreems.


That mushrooms are not more gener-
ally grown and eaten can only be &C
counted for by the fact that few va
rieties are poisonous, hence people are
afraid to eat them. While 1t is true
that some of them are poisonous, and 1t
4 sometimes difficult for the unprac-
ticed to distinguish between the edible
and harmful, a little effort and observa-
tion would enable any one to tell the
Good from the bad. Indeed, the danger
from eating the cultivated one is ex-
tremelv slight, for the spawn obtained
of the dealers is OF but one kind, the
Aoer;cus cospestis. which is perfectly
harmless. and is the variety most COM
monly met with.
That mushrooms form cheap, pdla-
table and nutritious food is beyond ques-
ZION. Chemically they more nearly
resemble meat than do any other veget-
ables. The spontaneity with which
they come up in certain localities and
seasons indicates how easily they can
be grown. During the fall bed can be
made under the shade of tree. where
they will yield supply for weeks, while
= little preparation in the cellar or root
house will enable family to have them
all winter.
The best material to use in making
mushroom beds is horse manure. This
taken fresh from the stable should be
thrown in heap and let stand for few
days, until it becomes heated; then fors,
over and mix. Continue this a few
times, or until the mass is evenly Ter
mented and rotted, and the excessive
heat and moisture is thrown OFT. Make
the bed four or fiveftet wide and as long
as necessary or convenient, and pile the
manure up in rounded ridge three feet
high. Care should be taken to have
the manure evenly placed and the least
dec4yed portions at the bottom, and it
should be packed firmly, SO as to produce
an even and mild heat. The tempera.
ture should not be allowed 10 rise above
50 degrees, and if it seems likely to do
60 make holes into the manure in various
parts CT the bed by thrusting sharpened
sticks into it and then Withdrawing
them. When the heat is about 70
degrees the bed is ready for the spawn.
This can be got of any scotsman at
cost of twenty cents pound. 1t is
broken into pieces about the size OF
walnuts and these put in six inches
apart and about two inches below the
surface. The bed is then covered to o
depth Of two inches with firm, rich soil,
pressed down firmly and evenly. Ii the
temperature is right the mushrooms will
appear in from four to six weeks, and
will continue bearing for two months if
the interior heat is kept up. 10 prevent
the soil cracking and to conserve the
heat light covering of straw may be
put on the bed. But little moisture is
needed, and do not water unless dry,
and always use luke-warm water (cold
water destroys both spawn ndcrop) just
enough to moisten the surface, and apply
through fine hose. If the bed is GOV.
cred with fine straw, let that remain
while the water is applied. When the
n,Ea.s .ss are cold and some Of the heat
has heen exhausted, the covering should
be increased. When the bed seems to
have done bearing take oil the soil, then
add ten inches of fresh dung, replace
the soil and fresh straw. The fresh heat
will revive the spawn and produce
another crop.
For indoor culture the beds can be
made ON shelves one above the other,
and thus small space made to produce
q large amount. With proper manage
ment succession can be had all winter
long, and in fact all the year around.
The expense of time and labor is so
slight there is not much excuse for not
trying small bed, and little familiar
itv will enable one to keen the family
supplied with this article of food.
1t is advised that mushrooms which
are gathered in the fields be soaked'in
vinegar, this having the effect OF remoy-
ing the poisonous matter which may be
in them. In eating they should be well
masticated, and if poisoning should
occur vomiting should be induced, and
then vegetable acids, such as vinegar,
lemon juice, or that of sour apples be
given, after which give anti-spasmodic
remedies to check the vcmiting.-LRural
World.