==In gathering the crop,== only a small portion of the bed should be uncovered at a time.  This should be the rule at all seasons, and the strict observance of it will prevent a mistake in cold weather, for then, if the bed is carelessly uncovered and much chilled, the crop will come to an end, when perhaps it would, if properly handled, be at high tide and full of profit.  Another rule should be enforced, to this effect, that every Mushroom must be taken out complete, and if the root does not come with the stem, it must be dug out with a knife.  Any trifling with this rule will prove a costly mistake.  The stem of a Mushroom, if left in the ground, will produce nothing at all.  But it may attract flies, and it certainly will interfere with the movements of the mycelium at that particular spot, and actually prevent the production of any more Mushrooms.  The old practitioners were accustomed to leave the stem in the ground, and they were content with about one-third of the crop now produced on beds that are, perhaps, not better made than were theirs.  But they had a notion about the powers of the root which increased knowledge of the subject has shown to be fallacious.

==In Pastures.==—­As already indicated, Mushrooms are often to be found in abundance in well-stocked pastures during the late summer months, and where favourable conditions exist it is an excellent plan to insert pieces of spawn two inches deep in the turf in June and July.

==Turf Pits.==—­The facility with which Mushrooms may be raised under simple methods is illustrated by the practice of growing them inside the turf walls of cool pits.  In the country turf walls are common, and they offer the advantage of growing Mushrooms in addition to the purpose they usually serve.  After determining the size of the pit, and accurately marking it on the ground, cut the turf into narrow strips, say three or four inches wide, and of exactly eighteen inches length.  The strips should be closely laid, grass side downwards, across the width of the walls—­not longitudinally—­except at the corners, where the layers should cross each other.  The front and back walls to be rather above the required height, because the turf always scales down a little, and the two ends must gradually rise from front to back.  The top layer may be right side up, when it will keep green for a long time.  As the work proceeds insert lumps of spawn at intervals in every layer, about three or four inches from the inside edge.  A wooden frame will be requisite on the top to carry the glass lights.  This structure makes a useful cool pit and a Mushroom bed from which supplies may sometimes be gathered for years.  In the summer it will be necessary to keep the walls moist by means of the syringe, or they will cease bearing.