FORCING THE MUSHROOM IN BRITISH GARDENS. 525 



let the bed be first beaten all over, then make holes with an iron-shod dibber, 

 nine inches apart, and deep enough to reach the stratum of loam : these will 

 soon cool the bed ; and when the heat is declined to about 80, the holes may 

 be bored by a conical block of wood, to about two inches in diameter, at two 

 inches deep, in order to receive the spawn. These holes must be filled up, 

 to about three inches from the surface, with loam and horse-droppings mixed ; 

 then insert a bit of spawn, about the size of a hen's egg in each, and fill the 

 holes up level with the surface, with the loam and droppings. The holes 

 being closed, the heat will increase, and must be attended to : if violent, a 

 few deep narrow holes may be made to let it escape ; and, if too slight, it 

 may be aided by a covering of dry hay, or a layer of warm dung ; and when 

 all danger of violent heat is gone by, and the spawn beginning to run, put on 

 the upper stratum of loam, mixed with a little cut hay or dry horse- 

 droppings to make a tough firm crust, about one inch deep. A tempe- 

 rature of from 55 to 60 is found best for the atmosphere in the house, 

 and about 90 of bottom heat will set' the spawn actively to work. The 

 beds must not be allowed to get too dry a layer of moist hay will pre- 

 vent this ; and, if too wet, a dry atmosphere can be got by gentle fires and 

 open ventilators, which will aid them a little. But a bed once allowed to 

 get thoroughly wet after spawning is hopeless, and should certainly be- 

 removed without loss of time. (G. M. for 1839, p. 335.) 



1115. Growing the mushroom in a cellar may be readily accomplished 

 where the temperature does not fall below 45, or rise above 70. Take 

 a quantity of fresh manure, with short litter intermixed, from a stable 

 where the horses are fed on hay and corn, but not on green food. Spread 

 the manure on the floor of the cellar about four inches deep, and beat it 

 firmly down with a mallet. After a few days repeat this operation, and 

 again do so at intervals, till the bed becomes about fourteen inches deep, and of 

 such a breadth as may be most convenient. To ascertain the degree of 

 heat, put two or three sharp pointed sticks into the bed, and when, upon 

 being drawn out the next day, they feel about milk- warm, or between 80 

 or 90, it is time to put in the mushroom spawn. Observe, however, that 

 when this operation is performed, the heat should be rather on the decline 

 than on the increase. 



Having purchased, or otherwise procured the spawn, break it into pieces 

 about the size of a hen's egg. Place the pieces all over the bed, about a foot 

 apart, and two inches below the surface. Beat the whole down hard. Be 

 careful not to let the heat increase above the degree mentioned above, other- 

 wise the spawn will be destroyed, and the bed must be stocked again with 

 fresh spawn. Indeed, for security's sake, it is always best to repeat the 

 spawning when the heat is on the decline. After all danger of increased 

 heat is passed, cover the bed with light soil about two inches deep, then 

 beat it down hard. Mushrooms always do best in a firm hard soil : however 

 hard, they will find their way through it. They have even been known to 

 raise the pavement of a cellar floor. 



1116. Management of the bed. Examine the sticks which were originally 

 placed in the bed, if they are lukewarm all is right. A few days afterwards 

 cover the bed with hay or straw ; but if it increases the heat, remove it for 

 a time. If the place is warm and dark this covering may be dispensed with. 

 In five or six weeks the mushrooms ought to appear. A gentle watering 

 now and then will hasten their growth ; but too much will cause the spawn 



MM 



