MUSHROOM GROWING 



the right hand, so that it may be covered 

 fully I inch with manure, the compost being 

 then pressed firmly over it with the left 

 hand. When the right hand is removed an 

 aerating passage will be left to one side 

 of the piece of spawn inserted. With the 

 compost firm about it the spawn will begin 

 growth in a week or lo days. It is not well 

 to "case" or cover the bed with soil until it 

 may be seen that the spawn is running well, 

 unless conditions in the house make casing 

 necessary in order to maintain satisfactorily 

 the moisture of the beds. Casing consists 

 in covering the bed throughout with a layer 

 of earth from i to i^ inches deep. Any 

 fairly rich loam is good for this purpose. 

 It should be secured some time in advance, 

 and will require screening only if it contains 

 numerous sticks and stones. French growers 

 use considerable calcareous soil mixed with 

 the loam, and if for no other reason, this is 

 certainly desirable from the standpoint of 

 sanitation. Neither a pure sand nor a heavy 

 clay is desirable; the former loses moisture 



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