THE MUSHROOM BED. 



185 



dibber. First, make holes two inches deep and one 

 foot apart all over the bed ; then thrust in each hole 

 a piece of spawn the size of hole, and press it in tight. 

 Having spawned the bed, place a handful of fine half- 

 dry soil over each hole, and beat it in with a mallet. 

 This being done cover the bed over, first with dry old 

 hay or straw, and then with straw mats, to keep off 

 excessive wet. 



.A 



FIG. 35. SECTION OP STRAW MAT MAKING. 



References. A, the door frame, in which the nails are driven to hold the cords, B ; 

 c, the first handful of straw tied in ; D, bundle of reed, or straw. 



Here I may as well, for the convenience of the 

 inquirer and those who have never made, or seen straw 

 mats, just describe them. First, get some straw, called 

 ' reed ' in some places straw that has not been machine 

 thrashed, and then some rope yarn or tar twine, and 

 fasten two long pieces of the twine on strong nails, 

 each two feet apart, driven into the head of a door 

 frame. Then take a moderate handful of the straight 

 straw, keeping the base ends of it quite even, and, 



