MUSHROOM BEDS. 139 



power was more common than even steam-power is now, and 

 these sweepings, which of course were composed of the drop- 

 pings of the horses employed, were certain to become mush- 

 room spawn. Dunghills Avhich have lain a long time T^dthout 

 turning, are frequently found full of spawn. In fact, the 

 dung of horses, cows, and sheep, may be considered to have 

 the seeds within it, and to want only the proper conditions to 

 set them gro^\ing. For the convenience of transporting, a 

 vast quantity of mushroom spa^vn is manufactured every 

 year, for it has the capacity of keeping unimpaired for years, 

 and of being set growing at any time. By mixing the various 

 droppings of sheep, cows, and horses, together with rotten 

 tan or rotten wood, that has become fine dust, into the con- 

 sistency of clay, and forcing it into square lumps to dry in 

 the sun, every brick or lump can be made into spawn. When 

 in a certain state of dryness to bear it, three or four holes are 

 made in the middle with a blunt dibble, and when they are 

 quite dry, a little spawn is put into these holes, and they are 

 built into a kind of stack, not quite close to each other, and 

 the temperature raised to sixty or seventy degrees, and the 

 whole mass will become spawn. Some build this stack in sheds, 

 and cover it with hot clung for a time. In three weeks, you 

 may uncover and try one of the bricks, which, on breaking, 

 should be fidly charged with whitish thready-looking stuff; 

 then they maybe thoroughly dried, and will keep good for years. 

 This spaMTi may be made twenty different ways, and lumps of 

 it put into a heap of horse droppings would change the whole 

 mass. Upon this principle, mushroom beds are made in every 

 possible form and place, and under any conceivable circum- 

 stances. It is scarce worth while, in a gentleman's place, to 

 attempt the working of spawn ; it is so cheap at the nurseries 

 that we can get all we want for a trifle, and thus avoid all 

 the mess and trouble. The formation of a mushroom bed is 

 a very simple affair. It may be made a sort of bank with 

 two sloping sides, or against a wall with only one sloping side, 

 at an angle of forty-five degrees, if out of doors, but anything 

 we please if under shelter. There must be a sujB&cient body 

 to generate a gentle heat; for an effective bed to last some 

 time, heated with horse droppings or any short dung, a bank 

 four feet wide at the bottom, and sloping to a point, say three 

 feet high in the middle. When all settled, thrust a stick into 

 the mass that you may know when there is a genial heat ; 



