The Irish Times gardening correspondent went in search of unusual Christmas presents for gardeners. She turned up a rather intriguing growing kit for oyster mushrooms. She described it thus – "one of the most eerily beautiful things I've seen this Christmas. The mushrooms erupt, like a crop of ghostly moon-plants, from a pre-incubated "log" contained in a clear plastic cylinder. It's a wonderful gift, combining science and horticulture – and gourmet eating too." Stalker wonders if this is the gift that growers would most like to see in their stockings this Christmas? 'Tis very unlikely, but you never know.... Kit for growing oyster mushrooms - £19.95 from Murphy and Wood, Johnstown Road, Cabinteely, Co Dublin.
