MUSHROOM. 79 



house. Having marked out the space for the bed, throw out 

 the earth about six inches deep, laying it regularly at the side, 

 and if good, it will do for earthing the bed. In the trench, 

 lay four inches of good dung, not too short, for forming the 

 bottom of the bed ; then lay on the prepared dung, about six 

 inches thick, regularly over the surface, beating it down firmly 

 with the back of the fork. Put on other six inches, and so on 

 till eighteen or twenty-four inches thick. In that state it may 

 remain ten or fifteen days, during which time the heat should 

 be examined about the middle of the bed, by thrusting a small 

 stick in several places, and when found of a very mild heat, 

 the bed may be spawned. The spawn bricks for this purpose 

 should be broken regularly into pieces about an inch and a half 

 or two inches square. These pieces are best put in with tho 

 hand, raising the dung up a few inches with the one, while with 

 the other the spawn can be laid in and covered. This ought 

 to be done in every six inches of the surface of the bed. If 

 the sides of the bed are made of a sloping form, they can also 

 be spawned. After spawning, level the surface with the back 

 of the spade, beating it gently, after which it may be earthed. 

 Procure that of a sandy, loamy nature, if from a pasture, so 

 much the better. Break it up and make it fine, laying it on 

 two inches thick. Level it very neatly with the rake, and beat 

 it closely and evenly. When the whole is finished, the bed 

 must be covered, a foot thick, with good clean straw or natural 

 hay, over which lay mats or canvas in severe weather. Ex- 

 amine the bed every few days, and if the heat increases, di- 

 minish the covering of straw, which is better than to take it 

 off altogether. In about five weeks, if the bed be under proper 

 cultivation. Mushrooms will make their appearance, and in two 

 days more they will have grown to a sufficient size for use. 

 Some people cut them, but it is decidedly better to give them 

 a gentle twist in the ground and draw them out, filling up the 

 cavity with a little fine mould, gently pressed in level with the bed. 

 This method of gathering is much better than culling, as the 



