374 FORCING GARDEN. 



trodden by the horses 1 feet. Beds may then be formed 

 two or three feet broad, and of any length. A layer of the 

 droppings about eight or ten inches thick is first deposited, 

 and covered with loamy earth to the depth of two or three 

 inches ; then another layer of droppings of the same thick- 

 ness, covered like the former ; and, lastly, a third layer, 

 with its covering. The whole should grow narrower as it 

 advances in height. "When the bed is finished it is covered 

 with straw, to protect it from rain and from the parching 

 influences of the sun and wind. In ten days the bed will 

 be ready for planting or spawning. Pieces of spawn bricks 

 are then inserted in the sloping sides of the bed, about four 

 or five inches asunder. A layer of loam is next placed 

 over the bed, and the whole is covered with a thick coat 

 of straw. When the weather is temperate, mushrooms 

 will appear in about a month after the bed has been made ; 

 but at other times a much longer period may elapse. The 

 principal thing to be attended to are to preserve a mode- 

 rate state of moisture and a proper degree of warmth ; 

 and the treatment at different seasons must vary ac- 

 cordingly. 



Of several other methods of raising mushrooms, Mr. 

 Oldacre's, already referred to, may deserve to be particu- 

 larized. In forming the compost, he procures fresh short 

 dung from a stable, or from the path of a horse mill. To 

 this is added about a fifth part of sheep-droppings, or of 

 the cleanings of a cow-house, or of a mixture of both. The 

 whole ingredients are thoroughly mixed and incorporated. 

 A stratum of the prepared mixture, about three inches 

 thick, being deposited in the boxes already described, is 

 beat together with a flat wooden mallet. Another layer is 

 added, and beat as before ; and this is repeated till the 

 beds be rather more than half a foot thick, and very com 



