62 GARDENING 



as the excess of the heat is over, the heap must be 

 rammed down again. When the temperature is 

 uniformly about J'j", the spawn can be put 

 in. Either fresh or dry spawn can be put in. 

 Some days before introducing the dry spawn 

 into the beds it is good to expose it to the 

 influences of a tepid and moderate moisture, as it 

 makes the growth quicker and surer. To impregnate 

 the beds the cakes of spawn are broken into pieces 

 three inches square and half an inch thick, and should 

 be inserted in the face of the bed lengthwise, and 

 at intervals of nine inches to ten inches. 



In beds which are from fifteen inches to eighteen 

 inches high, and which are the most ordinary size, 

 two rows of spawn are placed. 



The pieces of spawn should be put in with the 

 right hand, whilst with the left the dung is raised 

 to make places for them. 



They ought to be pushed in till their outside 

 edge is level with the top of the bed, and then the 

 dung must be pressed firmly round them to keep 

 them fixed. 



If the bed is in a place where the temperature 

 is equal, it is not long before the spawn grows. If 

 the beds are in the open air, it is necessary to cover 

 them with some long straw dung. 



The spawn ought to begin to run in seven or 

 eight days after it has been put in, and it is well to 

 make sure of its growth at this period, so as to be 

 able to replace the pieces of spawn which should 

 not have grown. These are easily recognised by 

 the absence of white threads in the dung. In fifteen 

 to twenty-one days the spawn ought to have spread 

 all over the bed, and should begin to rise to the 

 surface ; the beds should then be smoothed down 



