FORCING MUSHROOMS. 115 



where they can dry gradually. When dry, lay dry horse 

 dung on a level floor, six or eight inches thick ; on this, pile 

 the bricks the spa\vn side uppermost. When the pile is 

 snuglv formed, cover it with a small portion of warm fresh 

 horse-dung, sufficient in quantity to diffuse a gentle glow 

 through the whole. When the spawn has spread itself 

 through every part of the bricks, the process is ended, and 

 they may be laid up into any dry place for use. Mushroom 

 spawn, made according to this receipt, will preserve its vege- 

 table powers for many years, if well dried before it is laid 

 up : if moist, it will grow, and soon exhaust itself. 



Mushroom beds are often formed in ridges in the open 

 air, covered with litter and mats, so as to prevent heavy 

 rains exciting a fermentation ; and sometimes in ridges of 

 the same sort under cover, as in the open sheds of hot- 

 houses. They are also made in close sheds behind hot- 

 houses, or in houses built on purpose, called Mushroom- 

 houses. A moderately warm light cellar is peculiarly 

 suited for the purpose in the Winter season, as no fire is 

 necessary, and but little water, the application of which 

 frequently proves injurious, when not judiciously managed. 

 Mushrooms may be also raised in pots, boxes, hampers, &c. 

 placed in warm situations, in old-beds, in pits with glazed 1 

 frames, and in dark frames or pit?. 



The general way of making Mushroom beds, is to prepare 

 a body of stable dunpf, moderately fermented, to the thick- 

 ness of about a yard, more or less, according to the size 

 and situation in which the bed is to be formed ; when the 

 strong heat has subsided, an inch of good mould may be 

 laid over, and the spawn planted therein in rows five or six 

 inches apart ; after this is done, another layer of mould, an 

 inch thick may be applied, and then a coat of straw. Beds 

 well constructed, will produce Mushrooms in five or six 

 week?, and will continue to produce for several months, if 

 oare be taken in gathering, not to destroy the young ones. 

 As Mushrooms are gathered, from time to time, the straw 

 should be spread carefully over the bed. 



Beds made in a convenient place where there is space aH 

 around, may be formed ?o I\E to make four sloping surfaces^ 



