244 



heat that is unsuitable for the purpose. The method usually 

 employed is to mix the manure thoroughly, so as to make it of 

 even character throughout, place it in square heaps about 3 feet 

 high, and then beat or tread it down well. If it is a little dry 

 it should be moistened somewhat, and then left to ferment until 

 the heat has increased to such an extent that portions of the 

 manure in the center begin to turn white, which usually occurs 

 in about a week. It is then necessary to break the heaps up and 

 remake them as before, care being taken to place the material 

 that has been on the outside of the first heap in the center of 

 the second one, and so on. Within a few days fermentation 

 will again have increased so much that it will be necessary to 

 remake the heaps a second time. In a few days the manure will 

 have become a brown color, and somewhat greasy. It will be 

 found that, in order to obtain the necessary consistency, the 

 heaps must not be of less size than a cubic yard. 



When in the required condition, the manure should be made 

 into beds about 2 feet high and with a base of 2 feet, and should 

 have a flat surface, or, if made against a wall, it may slope from 

 the wall to the floor. Beds are sometimes made in old tubs or 

 h.alf-casks. The beds should be firmed, and allowed to remain 

 a fev/ days in that condition before spawning. 



The correct time for spawning is when the temperature is 

 about 78 degrees Fahr., and this must be determined by taking 

 the temperature. 



The spawn is sold in brick form by leading seedsmen. For 

 some days before spawning, the brick should be kept in a moder- 

 ately warm, moist place, so as to stimulate the mycelium of the 

 fungus. The bricks are sometimes moistened on each sid.e and 

 spread out between a couple of beds. Before use. the spawn 

 should be broken up into pieces about 6 or 7 inches long. 2 inches 

 wide, and 1 inch thick. Each piece is then inserted lengthwise in 

 the bed and flush with the surface, openings having been made 

 with the hands at distances of about a foot apart each way. 

 Usually in beds 20 to 24 inches there are two rows, the pieces 

 in one row being opposite the spaces in the other. The manure 

 must be carefully pressed round each piece, so that it is covered 

 to a depth of about 1 inch. 



If the conditions are satisfactory, the spawn should commence 

 to grow in about seven or eight clays. .\t the end of that time, 

 any pieces that have not commenced to ])roduce white threads 

 connecting with the surrounding manure should be replaced by 

 fresh ones. In a fortnight or three weeks aftet* sjiawning. the 

 spawn should have spread throughout the bed. and should begin 

 to show itself at the surface. At this stage the i)icccs of spawn 

 should be withdrawn, or they will become mouldy and soil the 

 mushrooms in their immediate vicinitv. The empty openings 

 should be carefully closed by pressing down the surrounding soil 



