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38 MUSHROOM GROWINO AND SPAWN MAKING. 



SPAWNING AND CASING THE BEDS. 



From what has been said concerning the temperature requirements, 

 it will be evident that spawn should not be inserted in the beds until 

 the temperature has fallen low enough to insure suc.cessful competi- 

 tion on the i^art of the mycelium with other organisms. In many 

 articles on mushroom growing it has been suggested that beds may be 

 s])awned when the temperature has fallen to about i)0° F. From 

 experience and observation, the writer can only conclude that such a 

 temperature is frequently fatal, and it is believed that the tempera- 

 ture of the beds should be permitted to fall to 70° F. before being 

 spawned. In fact, the most successful results have been obtained at 

 temperatures from 65° to 70° F. It was formerly believed that if 

 the spawn were inserted at 90° F. this higher temperature incited the 

 rather dormant mycelium to rapid and vigorous growth. It is clear, 

 however, that the rapid development of new^ mycelium from the pieces 

 of spawn brick inserted is not so important a factor as suitable 

 conditions for continued growth. If the temperature falls rapidly 

 from 90° F. after spawning, however, no injury may result. Never- 

 theless, it is to be considered an unfortunate condition. 



The bricks of spawn may be broken into from ten to twelve pieces, 

 from 1^ to 2 inches square. These pieces may be inserted about 1 

 inch beneath the surface of the manure. In flat beds they may be 

 placed from 10 to 1'2 inches apart throughout the bed. and in ridge 

 beds the pieces should be inserted on each side alternately, one near the 

 top and the next near the bottom. It is well to insert the pieces 

 vertically, as the mycelium does not then seem so readily to suffer 

 damping otf. After spawning, the beds should again be firmed, and 

 they are then ready to be cased or loamed whenever this process may 

 seem most desirable. At the time of spawning the beds should be in 

 the best condition possible for the growth of the mycelium. Delay 

 in growth at this time is one of the surest indications of a light yield. 

 If the bed contains the proper amount of moisture, and if the walls 

 and floors of the house or cellar are sprinkled occasionally, so as to 

 maintain a moist condition of the atmosphere, it is possible to avoid 

 wholly the use of water upon the beds inunediately after spawning. 

 In no case should a bed recently sjiawned be heavily watered. The 

 surface may be sprinkled, if there is a tendency toward (h-ying out. 

 The same test for moisture content as has been outlined previously 

 in these pages in the chapter on i)reparinii- the manure should be 

 followed. The beds should become gradually somewhat drier, how- 

 ever, during the growth of the spawn. 



■ The absolute water content for the bed at the time of spawning 

 should be about 40 i)er cent, although this will vary considerably, 

 according to the conditions, and especially with relation to the 

 quantity of straw in the manure. 



