SPAWN-MAKING 



conditions are to be avoided. Moreover, 

 for the last stages of grow^th it may be neces- 

 sary to place the bricks on edge, and so 

 spaced as to allow free circulation of air. 

 Sometimes it is necessary to shield the stacks 

 v^ith good clean straw or cheese cloth. 

 Above everything else the spawn maker 

 should realize that vigorous spawn, free 

 from insects and disease, is required. Any 

 practical method of manure fumigation 

 which can be employed would be a step in 

 advance. 



If the spawn runs well, it will show 

 throughout the brick as a mold-like growth. 

 Even in good spawn there may be some 

 coarser thread-like elements, but an abun- 

 dance of these heavier threads alone is 

 usually indicative of undesirable quality. 

 Furthermore, evidences that the bricks have 

 begun to produce a quantity of small mush- 

 rooms are not favorable. Spawn of this 

 character when planted in the beds will fre- 

 quently produce mushrooms directly, with- 

 out spreading throughout the beds. 



Ill 



