COMMON MUSHROOM. 571 



laid regularly at the side, and, if good, it will do for earthing 

 the bed hereafter : otherwise, if brought from a distance, that 

 of a more loamy than a sandy nature will be best. 



" Whether in the trench, or upon the surface, there should 

 be laid about four inches of good litter, not too short, for 

 forming the bottom of the bed ; then lay on the prepared 

 dung a few inches thick, regularly over the surface, beating 

 it as regularly down with the fork ; continue thus, gradually 

 drawing in the sides to the height of five feet, until it is nar- 

 row at the top, like the ridge of a house. In that state it 

 may remain for ten days or a fortnight, during which time 

 the heat should be examined towards the middle of the bed 

 by thrusting some small sharp sticks down in three or four 

 places, and, when found of a gentle heat (not hot), the bed 

 may be spawned ; for which purpose, the spawn-bricks should 

 be broken regularly into pieces about an inch and a half or 

 two inches square, beginning within six inches of the bottom 

 of the bed, and in lines about eight inches apart. The same 

 distance will also do for the pieces of spawn, which are best 

 put in by one hand, raising the manure up a few inches, 

 whilst with the other the spawn can be laid in and covered at 

 the same time. 



" After spawning the bed, if it is found to be in that regu- 

 lar state of heat before mentioned, it may be earthed. After 

 the surface is levelled with the back of the spade, there 

 should be laid on two inches of mould, that out of the 

 trench, if dry and good, will do ; otherwise make choice of 

 a rich loam, as before directed. After having been laid on, it 

 is to be beaten closely together ; and, when the whole is fin- 

 ished, the bed must be covered about a foot thick with good 

 oat or wheat straw ; over which should be laid mats, for the 

 double purpose of keeping the bed dry, and of securing the 

 covering from being blown off. In the course of two or 

 three days, the bed should be examined, and, if it is con- 



