264 



STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



through which the spawn has run, is better to plant in a bed of such 

 low temperature. Or, a bed of such low temperature, after spawn- 

 ing, might be ** warmed up," by piling fresh horse manure over it 

 loosely for a week or ten days, sufficient to raise the temperature to 

 80 or 90. 



When the brick spawn is used, the method of planting varies, of 

 course, with the methods of different operators. Some break the 

 bricks into the desired size and plant the pieces directly in the bed, 

 without any special preparation. The brick is broken into pieces 

 about two or three inches in diameter. Some recommend breaking 

 the brick of the ordinary size into about twelve pieces, some into 

 nine pieces, so the custom varies with different operators. These 

 pieces are planted from seven to nine inches apart in the bed. For 



Figure 235. Pieces of brick spawn ready to plant. 



example, if they are to be planted nine inches apart in 'the bed, holes 

 are made, either with the hand or with some instrument, by press- 

 ing the material to one side sufficiently to admit of the piece of spawn 

 being pressed in tightly. These openings are made, say, the first 

 row on one side of the bed, about four and one-half inches from the 

 side, and nine inches apart in the row. The second row is made 

 nine inches from the first row, and so on. The pieces of spawn are 

 inserted in the opening in the bed, and at a slight distance, two to 

 three inches, below the surface. Some, however, insert the piece 

 of spawn just at the level of the bed, the opening being such that 

 the piece of spawn pressed into the opening is crowded below in 

 place, and the surrounding material fits snugly on the sides. Thus, 

 when the bed is spawned, the pieces may be a slight distance below 

 the top of the bed when they can be covered by some material, or in 



