MUSHROOM-SPAWN. 29 



inserted. This applies to the other kinds. In conse- 

 quence of the open porous nature of the French mushroom- 

 spawn, it is likely to be immediately affected by the heat 

 and moisture of the genially warm manure forming the 

 mushroom-bed, and on that account alone presents some 

 advantages. It has recently been introduced for the 

 first time, and "probably will soon be tested by many 

 growers. 



Spawn, in the common sense of the word, may be 

 dispensed with by well amalgamating manure,, loam, and 

 old mushroom -beds, or leaf-mould containing traces of 

 spawn, and these formed into beds about a foot thick in 

 the mushroom-house, and covered with earth, produce 

 without any further spawning; but the plan is not so 

 simple or advantageous as that more commonly pursued. 



There is no necessity for purchasing artificial spawn 

 at all where mushrooms are regularly grown. Nor 

 is there in any case except at the commencement, or 

 to guard against one's own spawn proving bad. To 

 secure good spawn, we have only to do as the French 

 growers do: take a portion of a bed where it is thoroughly 

 permeated by the spawn and before it begins to bear, and 

 preserve it for future use. 



Of the efficacy of this sort of spawn, if any proof were 

 needed in addition to the fine crops the Parisian growers 

 gather, it will be found in the following statement from 

 Mr. Ayres : 



