Mushrooms. 237 



months, the bricks should be put to soak in tepid water for an 

 hour or so before being broken. As soon as spawning is 

 completed, cover outside beds again with litter. 



Casing or Soiling. In about a week after spawning the films 

 of the mycelium will begin to run if the spawn is good and the 

 work has been properly done, and the time has arrived when 

 the bed must be covered with a layer of soil, which should be 

 in a rather moist condition but not wet. The covering of flat 

 beds presents no difficulty. The soil should be put on evenly 

 about lin. thick and beaten lightly with the back of a spade so 

 as to present a smooth even surface. In the case of ridge beds 

 the operation is not so easily done, especially for beginners, but 

 like most other things it becomes easy with practice. A good 

 plan is to lay a plank flat on the ground with the edge 2in. from 

 the bed. This serves as a guage for the thickness of the casing 

 besides helping to keep the first layer of soil in position. The 

 soil should be 2in. thick at the bottom of the bed, gradually 

 reducing in thickness 'until it is only fin. thick over the top. 

 The reason for the reduction in thickness is to provide for the 

 shrinkage of the bed, which always takes place to some extent, 

 and if the casing was very stiff and solid it might be left 

 standing independent of the bed. The soil is thrown into 

 place and by a quick turn of the wrist the operator catches it 

 with the back of the spade and fixes it. It is then lightly 

 beaten, and after a section is put on the beating is repeated so 

 as to ensure all being firm and even. Care must be taken that 

 the soil is in the right condition. When so wet as to be pasty 

 it cracks badly as the heat from the bed drives off the excess 

 of moisture, and the cracking breaks the threads of mycelium 

 and so impairs the crop. On the other hand, when the soil is 

 too dry it is not only difficult to make a satisfactory job of the 

 casing, because being crumbly it will not adhere properly to 

 the sides of the bed, but the mycelium does not run freely 

 through it. It greatly facilitates the work if the spade used is 

 kept clean and bright. 



Covering the Beds. As soon as soiling is finished, beds in the 

 open-air should be at once covered with litter to keep in the 

 heat and to prevent the surface from becoming too dry. When 

 the weather is warm this covering need not be more than 6in. 



