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dimensions : of course, when the last end of the 

 bed is covered, proceed with the first, when in a 

 proper state, a second time, covering it with 

 mould as it adx'ances. 



Spanning the /W«. — ^The beds being brought 

 to a suitable state of heat for the reception of the 

 spawn, proceed to plantinn it. having previously 

 seen that it is somewhat dry. The. spawn, and 

 lumps or pieces of dvuig in which it is con- 

 tained, are to be planted tosrcthcr, after break- 

 ing and dividing the large cakes, or lumps, into 

 moderately small pieces, in the sloping sides and 

 ends of the beds, in some of the following me- 

 thods : as cither bv putting them into the dung 

 just within the surface, and earthing them over 

 an inch or two thick ; on the surface of the dung, 

 and earthed over; orbv first earthing the bed an 

 inch or two in thickness, and then spawning in the 

 earth, adding an inch depth more over the whole. 



In the first method, or that of tpatniiitg in (lie 

 <li(iiq i the spawn, after being divided as above, 

 is deposited jujt within the dung, at small di- 

 stances, in rows the whole length of the bed ; be- 

 ginning thefirst rowwithin half a foot of thebot- 

 tom, and making a small aperture for each piece, 

 bv gentlv raising the dung with one hand, whilst 

 with the other the piece of spawn is inserted ; 

 tuminsr the dung down upon it close afterwards : 

 proceeding in the same manner with the rest, at 

 five or six inches distance in the rows, and the 

 row s six or eight inches apart, a little more or 

 lesSj according to the supply of spawn : w hen 

 anv pieces of spawn are vers- small, two, three, 

 or more mav be planted together in a place : thus 

 advance in spawnimi both sides, and each end ; 

 after which, let the small crumbs remaining at last 

 be laid even! v along upon the top ; which finishes 

 the business. Immediately smooth both sides 

 and the ends of the bed with the back of a spade 

 evenlv, in order to fix and close the surface of 

 the dung upon the spawn. The bed is then ready 

 for earthing. 



In beds of considerable extent, which retain 

 the heat lonsrerthan those of smaller dimensions, 

 it mav be sometimes necessar\- to delay the earth- 

 ing several davs, or a week, or more, after being 

 spawned, if doubtful of their renewing too violent 

 a heat bv immediately covering them closely. 



The most ))roper earth for this purpose is 

 good, rich, mellow garden earth, moderately 

 light and drv ; or where that of a light, mellow, 

 loamy nature can be procured, ei'fher alone or 

 mixed with other rich good earth, it will prove 

 of still greater advantage in promoting the pro- 

 duction of the mushrooms in size and substance. 

 The earth being well broken down with the spade, 

 and made free from clods and stones , apply the 

 casing, or coat of earth, first along the bo£tx)m of 



the bed, about an inch and a half totwoinche* 

 thick, continuing it the same thickness regularly 

 up the sides quite to the top of the bed, beating it 

 lightly down with the back of the spade m laying 

 it on ; proceeding regularlv over each side, the 

 ends, and the toj), smoothinsi the whole in a 

 neat manner. After this the beds are ready for 

 the straw coveriag. 



The second mode, or that of spanning on the 

 surface, often proves very successful in ob- 

 taining a forvvard and plentihil production, as 

 the spawn, if in plenty, mav be laid tolerably 

 close together, over the surface of the dung, 

 and earthed over two inches in thickness. The 

 spawning should be bejun close down along 

 the bottom, in a row longitudinally; placing 

 the pieces of spawn flat-ways upon the dung, 

 closer or wider asunder according to the sup- 

 ply. This is to be earthed over two inches 

 thick, and about six or eight inches up the 

 bed the same thickness : then proceeding with 

 another layer upwards, deposit the spawn, in 

 the same manner as before, upon the dung, 

 close along the upper edge of the first coverinor 

 of earth, which sujiports it from slippinoj down; 

 earthing this row over as the preceding, and then 

 another course of spawn in the same manner 

 earthed as the other; proceeding thus upwards 

 along both sides and ends to the top of tlie bed. 



1 he practice oi spawning in the earth is efiected 

 by havinc: the bed first earthed over, and the 

 spawn afterwards inserted into it. In this case the 

 pieces of spawn are inserted into the earth close 

 down to tlie dung, at small distances, in a re- 

 gular manner, equally over the bed, on both 

 sides and ends from the bottom to the top, as in 

 the two foregoing methods; and when thus 

 finished, directly add a thin coat of fine earth 

 about an inch thick, over the whole, smoothing 

 it down light and evenly w ith a spade. 



Protecting the iedi, C^c. — Alter. the beds have 

 been thus spawned, tliev must be covered with 

 straw or littur to a considerable thickness, in oriler 

 to defend them from tlie external air, and the 

 effects of rain, snow, .and cold, for wliich the same 

 method of covering is applicable, and mav be appli- 

 ed, eitherdirectly, or soon alt('r the bed is spawned 

 and finally eartlied o\cr, if the heat is. then mo- 

 derate; or if it be tlu)Ui:ht that inunediate cover- 

 ing may renew too fierce a heat, it may be de- 

 ferred a few days whea the w cather is dry and 

 mild, hut should alw ays be done as soon as the 

 heat of the beds w ill admit. 



Clean straw, or long dry stable litter, are the 



proper materials for this use, either of which may 



•be applied about half a foot thick at first, anil 



gradually increased to double that thickness, so as 



to defend the beds ellectuallv and preserve a kindly 



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