FORCING MUSHROOMS. 129 



course is quite dry, and judged to be past a state of fermen- 

 tation, cover it to the thickness of two inches with light, dry 

 earth ; if sandy, so much the better. It is immaterial whe- 

 ther it be rich or not, the only use of earth here being for 

 spawn to run and mass in. Now lay another course of drop- 

 pings, and earth them over as above, when past a state of 

 fermentation : then a third course, which, in like manner, 

 earth all over. This finishes the bed, which will be a very 

 strong and productive one, if properly managed afterward. 



" Observe, that in forming the bed, it should be a little 

 rounded, in order that the centre may not be more wet or 

 moist than the sides. This may be done in forming the sole 

 or floor at first, and the bed would then be of equal strength 

 in all parts. If it be made up against a wall in a cellar, 

 stable, or shed, it may have a slope of a few inches from the 

 back to the front, less or more, according to its breadth. I 

 have sometimes been contented with two courses as above, 

 instead of three ; and often, when materials were scarce, 

 have made them up slighter, thus : three four-inch courses 

 of droppings, with one inch of earth between each, and a 

 two-inch covering at top. Such a bed as this, I have had 

 produce for ten or .twelve months together ; but very much 

 depends on the state of the materials, and on the care taken 

 in making it up, also on the after management. 



" The droppings of hard-fed horses only are useful. Those 

 of horses kept on green food will, of themselves, produce 

 few or no mushrooms. I have made up beds from farm 

 horses, fed partly on hard and partly on green food, and 

 from carriage or saddle horses, fed entirely on corn and hay; 

 treated them in the same way in every respect ; and have 

 found, not once, but always, those made from the latter most 

 productive. Droppings from hard-fed horses may be pro- 

 cured at the public stables in towns, or at inns in the coun- 

 try, any time of the year ; and if the supply be plentiful, a 

 bed of considerable dimensions may be made and finished 

 within five or six weeks. In as many more weeks, if in a 



