MUSHROOM GROWING 



be well moistened by repeated sprinkling, 

 and not by a sudden drenching, as soon as 

 the beds are cased. The amount of water 

 to be given the beds subsequently should be 

 as little as possible in order to keep the bed 

 merely moist. Usually it is best to water 

 frequently, rather than heavily, applying 

 sufficient water each time to slightly more 

 than counterbalance evaporation, for if the 

 casing soil is kept moist, there will be little 

 danger of drying out. It is not well to tear 

 a hole in the bed every day to see if it is 

 moist, or to ascertain if the spawn is grow- 

 ing; but an occasional thorough examination 

 may be made. When the mushrooms be- 

 gin to appear, more water may be given. It 

 is not possible to say how much water should 

 be applied per square foot or per square 

 yard of bed, since the conditions of evapora- 

 tion are so different. A dry room may re- 

 quire sprinkling twice a day; a favorable 

 cellar no oftener than once a week. Sur- 

 face indications are generally satisfactory 

 criteria, if followed closely. 



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