524 



THE PAKKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XXX. 



same iu height — are then formed in parallel lines at a distance of 

 twenty inches one from the other. The beds once made of a firm, 

 close-fitting texture, the manure soon begins to warm again, but 

 does not become dangerously hot for the spread of the spawn. 

 When the beds have been made some days, the cultivator spawns 

 them, having of course ascertained beforehand that the heat is 

 suitable. Generally the spawn is inserted within a few inches of 

 the base, and at about thirteen inches apart in the line. Some culti- 

 vators insert two lines, the second about seven inches above the 

 first. In doing so it would of course be well to make the holes for 

 the spawn in an alternate manner. The spawn is inserted in flakes 

 about the size of three fingers, and then the manure is closed in 



over and press- 

 ed firmly a- 

 round it. This 

 done, the beds 

 are covered 

 with about six 

 inches of clean 

 litter. Ten or 

 twelve days 

 afterwards the 

 growers visit 

 the beds, to see 

 if the spawn 

 has taken well. 



When they see the white filaments spreading in the bed they 

 know that the spawn has taken ; if not, they take away the 

 spawn they suppose to be bad and replace it with fresh. But 

 using good spawn, and being practised hands at the work, they 

 rarely fail in this particular ; and when the spawn is seen 

 spreading well through the bed, then, and not before, they cover 

 the beds with fresh sweet soil to the depth of about an inch or so. 

 For cover, the little pathway between the beds is simply loosened 

 up, and the rich soil of the market-garden applied equally, firmly, 

 and smoothly with a shovel. With these open-air beds they 

 succeed in getting fine Mushrooms in winter. A covering of 

 abundance of litter is put on immediately after the beds are 

 earthed, and kept there as a protection. 



{January^ 



