The Garden Mushroom

by John Abercrombie

THE

GARDEN MUSHROOM:

ITS

NATURE AND CULTIVATION.

A

TREATISE,

EXHIBITING

Full and plain Directions, for producing this desireable Plant in Perfection and Plenty, according to the true successful Practice of the London Gardners.

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BY

JOHN ABERCROMBIE,

Author of Mawe's Gardner's Kalender.

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LONDON,

Printed for LOCKYER DAVIS, in Holborn.
MDCCLXXIX.

Price One Shilling and Six—pence.

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CONTENTS.

1. Of the Utility of the Garden Mushroom, and its Preference to the Field Sort. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   9

2. Nature, Mode of Growth, and Specific Distinction of the wholesome Species from the pernicious Kinds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   11

3. Generation of the Plant, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   13

4. Of collecting the Spawn. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   16

5. Of preparing Dung for the Bed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   25

6. Of forming the Mushroom Bed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   28

7. Spawning the Bed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   36

8. Spawning in the Dung. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   40

9. Spawning on the Surface. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   45

10. Spawning in the Earth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    46

11. General Culture of the Beds; and Produce. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    47

12. Of gathering the Mushrooms. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    51

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ADVERTISEMENT.

IN the course of forty years practice and observation, I have generally remarked, that the culture of the Garden Mushroom has proved considerably more precarious and unsuccessful than that of any other kitchen-garden vegetable; or even of almost any other cultivated plant of our gardens; and that its true nature is little known among the generality of gardners. Some, even amongst experienced and ingenious professors, who raise all other plants in perfection, have been found often to fail in the article here described.

This plant is of so very singular a growth and temperature, that, unless a proper idea of its nature and habit is attained, and the peculiar methods and precautions pursued in the process of its propagation and culture, little success will ensue. The whole management of it remarkably differs from that of every other species of vegetable kingdom; and it is the most liable of any to fail, without a very strict observance and care in the different stages of its cultivation.

Directions respecting the culture of Mushrooms, are to be met with in various books of gardening, but they are defective and prove to be of small service, because they are not the result of real practical experience.