3&* MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



were spawned at the same time and in the same mannei 

 with native spawn. Owing to the large size of the stable, 

 and the unusually cold, piercing weather at the end of the 

 year (1869), the beds lost so much heat that I had some 

 misgivings whether they would not prove a failure ; but 

 finding, subsequently, that the spawn was working, I 

 gave each bed (the surface being rather dry) a good 

 syringing with water at the temperature of 80 deg., 

 covered it with clean dry mats, and then returned the hay. 

 The beds are now a sheet of the 'pearl of the fields/ some 

 of the patches as large as a cheese-plate, and the whole 

 in most promising condition so promising that, with 

 proper attention, I have no doubt they will yield a good 

 supply of mushrooms for many months To secure 

 this continuous bearing, farmyard manure- water and 

 salt, at proper times, should not be spared; while, 

 as soon as the flush of the first crop is over, the beds 

 may receive a thorough soaking of manure-water at a, 

 temperature of not less than 80 deg., be re- earthed 

 with fresh soil, and covered down with mats and hav. 

 In this manner we always get a second crop little i^i- 

 feiior to the first one, and sometimes much superior/' 



