The times., 1897-04-25
At Last the Folk of Fashion Have
Reached the Conclusion That the
Ancicnt Dame Acts With Under.
standing-A Real Home Industry
Easily Pructiced.

|
cerned. Heretofore the cellars have been
| supposed 10 be tloored with cement, and
the temperature kept at a comfortable le-
| gree when the wea ther outside was of
that nature which calls for heavy over
! coats. Now, however, all tins is changed
| Mushrooms must be grown in cold cellars
and hence all cellars must be cold This
new departure is not the result of mere
theory, or the faddist notion oe some one
who seeks to be odd, and thus conspicuous,
| but is fathered by no less Il parsonage than
| Mr.. David Fraser, of Mahwah, n. j., an
authority on gardening, whose word is
| not TO be disputed.
Mr. Fraser says there is absolutely moth
ing to hinder the growth of mushrooms in
cellars and that for his part he thinks it
is very excellent idea indeed. The air
must be dry in the cellar, and the tclnpera-
ture ON no account allowed to fall below
twenty-four degrees II grew a fine crop
of mushrooms in my cellar last wnler,'
says Mr. Fraser '.0ut of a bed twenty
three feet long by four feet wide picked
between ninety and 100 pounds of the
finest mushrooms, weighing them after
the stems were cut off The bed was made
up on the 27 tn of November. The mouse
was kept very dry-that is TO say, no
water was allowed to spill on the floor
while we were watering the bed.
Beds in the cellar do not need a great
deal OF water only watcred mine after
each top dressing but when did water it
l gaveit "A good dose, using fine spray for
the purpose. If the'cellar is large good
way to dois to put load OF hot fertilizer
on the floor, for this raises nice moist
heat. Next winter l mean to keep a load
of it on the floor OF my cellar all the time,
renewing it as the heat declines. In cold
cellars very little air is needed before
the warm days of spring come. Then |
give plenty of il.
III the fertilizer becomes too dry for
makugthe bedsin the cellar, don I be afraid
to put the hose CA it, as fertilizer is not
nearly as good dry as moist. l always
give each baIrclful OF fertilizer a pail Of
water and this seems to make it right.
Be sure when you pick crop to pick it
clean. Ii there are any dead mushrooms,
pick them out by the roots, then top dress
the bed. "
This advice that the fashionable person
with a cellar may take TO heart and know
that he or she has the knowledge necessary
to become thoroughly in keeping with the
latest st vie For the days when style was
confined to garments and house furnishings
are gone There is style TO everything,
even TO sidewalks Style long ago pene-
trated:he garret. but now ithas reached the
cellar and the mushroom is its representa-
tive.
From time immemorial il has been con-
sidcred very proper to deride anybody and
everybody whom custom dubbed of the
mushroom aristoCracy. The new fad has
put an end to all this. In the future to lie
a mushroom aristOCrat will he considered
as equivalent to a position on the crest OF
the wave of social fitness.
OF course. everybody has had vegetables
ia their cellars these many years, but to
grow them there is such an exceeding nov
city that its popularity is insured. To be
sure, the fertilizer was at first considered
Il drawback. but as fashion eXacts many
sacrifices from her devotees, this was a
matter hardly worthy OF consideration.
While everybody who knows anything
at all about eating is thoroughly familiar
with the delicious addition to various
things that tile mushroom makes. compara-
lively few of us realize what an art there
is in growing mushrooms, in bringing them
TO the right condition and thoroughly
ready for the sEillful hands of the chef
In the first place, to raise mushrooms it
is necessary to secure what is known as
spawn. Mushrooms bear no relation what
ever to fish, but in a virgin state they have
the same name as the tiny fellows that
fill the tanks at the fish hatcheries.
A host OF people over in England and
France make their living by producing the
mushroom spawn, and large quantities
are imported to the United States every
year 1t is just as necessary to procure
good spawn, If it is intended to raise
mushrooms. as it is to procure Il pug dog
puppy of good blood, If 1t is desired that
he present the best appearance when ne
arrives at the age of maturity
Think ofthe change this cellar plan makes
for the mushroom The web-fringe va
riety is mostly found in the woods, where
it grows from or about stllmps or decay-
ing roots in the ground. Frequently great
clusters protrude from around the base
of posts. There are several species of the
web fringe Their caps are from / to 6
inches across. They are snowy and easily
recognized In substance they are solid
and white or yellowish in color. People
who 90 not know them do not like them
and that is d case where ignorance is
not bliss.
The wise man or woman will cut the
caps to pieces after. washing, and stew
or bake with hreadcrumbs for half an
hour. When this is done and the result |
thereof is seasoned and q little lemon
Juice is added or sherry or madeira, there |
is feast fit for the gods. This is one Of
the sort of mushrooms that will flourish
in the cold cellar of the follower of
fashion.
Then there is the variety with a long
name the coprinarii They are as tender |
and toothsome as a tenderloin steak. An |
other variety is the little brown-capped, |
slender stem, coprinus micaceus that is !
all the name it has whose tops fire.
quently glisten as il sprinkled with fine |
mica. This is gem, too 1t makes o |
rich black dish after ten minutes stew /
ing. When once the person of fashion is |
inoculated with the virus of this sort |
Of mushroom eating all gratitude friend |
ship, even family ties vanish, and he or |
she will race for an edible mushroom If |
but seen through telescope.
The named mushroom is often eaten |
under the name Of truffle, andit, too, can |
be made product of the cold cellar, down |
in the depths OF the society mansion. Those !
who have eaten them most say that no |
cheaper or more effectual spree is by ma |
ture provided. Other varieties than can
be grown in the cellars are the mushrooms |
of the order ofhydnei, as the producers call |
them. They have teeth-lke protuberances, |
upon which the mushroom caps are born. /
Then tSere are the polyporei, those GOOD |