The Garden Mushroom/Chapter 1
OftheUTILITY ofthe
GARDEN MUSHROOM,
AND
ItsPreferencetotheField Sort.
THE Garden Mushroom, or that produced by the art of horticulture, or process of regular cultivation in gardens, is greatly superior in all respects to the wild chance Mushroom of the meadows and pastures. It is now universally admired as one of the delicacies of the kitchen garden; and is a requisite production of that department; being always in request, and highly acceptable, though seldom obtained in plenty and perfection. This difficulty has been owing to its singular mode of culture being little known to the far greater number of practitioners beyond the vicinity of London. Here it is raised by many of the kitchen-gardeners. Their successful method we have long practised, and now propose to explain to the reader.
It may be just observed, that although the Mushroom grows spontaneously in meadows and pasture fields, it is obtained there accidentally only, and at a particular season: but, by garden culture, we procure this plant at any time of the year, whenever it is wanted, and always of superior goodness, richness of flavour; and with a certainty of its being the true salutiferous, or wholesome kind: a matter of the utmost moment, since there are, in the fields, so many of a pernicious quality, bearing so great a similarity to the true sort, that, having been gathered by the unskilful, have proved fatal to thousands.