MUSHROOM 77 



sides sloping to a ridge like the roof of a house, with this difference 

 the narrow part of the ridge is useless, and the top should, there- 

 fore, be rounded off when about a foot across. Some growers prefer 

 a circular bed of six or eight feet diameter at the bottom and tapering 

 towards a point after the shape of a military tent ; but here again 

 the point will be worthless, and the bed may terminate abruptly. 

 Either the long bed or the round heap answers admirably. Tread 

 the manure down compactly, and for the sake of appearances 

 endeavour to finish it off in a workmanlike manner. During the first 

 few days there will be a considerable rise in the temperature, which 

 will gradually subside, and when the plunging thermometer shows 

 that it has settled down to a comfortable condition of about 80 the 

 'bed must be spawned. Experienced men can determine by the sense 

 of touch when the temperature is right, but the inexperienced should 

 rely entirely on the thermometer. Break the spawn into pieces as 

 large as a turkey's egg, and force them gently a little way into the 

 manure at regular intervals of nine or ten inches all over the bed, 

 closing the manure over and round each piece of spawn. The 

 practice of inserting spawn by means of the dibber is to be strongly 

 condemned, for it leaves smooth, hollow places which arrest the 

 mycelium ; and very small pieces of spawn should be avoided because 

 they generally result in small Mushrooms. Immediately the spawning 

 is completed, a thick and even covering of clean straw or litter of 

 some kind should be laid over the bed, secured from wind by 

 canvas, mats, hurdles, or in some other way. Within a week the 

 films of mycelium will begin to extend if the spawn be good. In the 

 contrary case an examination of the pieces will show that they have 

 become darker than when put into the bed, which means that they 

 have perished. Then the question will arise as to whether the bed 

 or the spawn is at fault, and the former must either be spawned again 

 or broken up. Supposing the spawn to show signs of vitality, the 

 time has come for covering the bed with a layer of rather moist 

 soil, pressed lightly but firmly on to the manure with the spade 

 or fork, so that the earth will not slip down. At once restore the 

 covering of litter &c. and wait patiently for about seven or eight 

 weeks for the crop. Meanwhile the plunging thermometer ought to 

 be consulted daily. Until the Mushrooms appear the instrument 

 should not indicate less than 60, and while in bearing not less 

 than 55. Experience proves that the most violent alternations of 

 temperature may be combated by regulating the thickness of the 

 covering. Although it may possibly be necessary to resort to 



