38 MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



with which the bed was covered, though finer crops than 

 these little beds yield it would be impossible to find. I 

 notice this subject so that failures may be traced to 

 their true causes, and not attributed to matters which 

 really have but slight influence. The final covering of 

 from one to two inches of loam or other soil should not 

 be applied till the spawn has begun to spread through 

 the bed, but a very thin layer of dryish loam may be 

 placed on with advantage just after spawning has taken 

 place, as it will serve to make the surface of a more 

 equable temperature. It is a mistake to suppose that a 

 deep covering is of any advantage. The final earthing 

 should be of soil sufficiently moist or moistened to permit 

 of its being pressed into a firm surface. However, unless 

 it is exceptionally dry, a mere sprinkling of water will 



suffice. 



Watering. 



As the materials of mushroom-beds are generally moist, 

 and as but little evaporation can take place in the 

 structures in which they are usually grown, water is rarely 

 necessary, and should not be applied until the surface of 

 bed and soil are really dry. It should then be given 

 copiously, enough to well moisten the bed, and it should 

 be soft water heated to a temperature of 80 degrees given 

 with a fine rose, and steadily and patiently applied equably 

 over the whole surface of the bed. Waterings that 

 merely wet the surface and saturate the crevices or 



