118 VEGECULTURE 



In making the bed, the ridge usually measures about three 

 feet wide at the base, tapering to about a width of six inches at 

 the top, with a somewhat steep slope. The long and compara- 

 tively clean straw in the manure is forked out, dried, and placed 

 on one side for covering the bed later on. The remainder is 

 formed into a heap as for making a hotbed ; this heap being 

 pulled to pieces every four or five days, and rebuilt, with 

 thorough mixing. A further turning is given after this on 

 alternate days. 



For both indoor and outdoor situations, the material should 

 be made into a compact bed, by treading or beating it heavily ; 

 and while this process will consolidate the bed vertically, the 

 sides will have to be well beaten, and combed down with a fork 

 to give a thatched effect which throws off rain. To prevent 

 violent heating or drying in the centre, deep holes should be 

 made in the bed with an iron bar six to twelve inches apart 

 along the ridge ; the excess heat will thus pass off. There are 

 different methods of testing the temperature to ascertain when 

 the correct degree of heat is in evidence. Large growers use 

 " test-sticks," inserted a foot or so into the lower portion of 

 the bed, and withdrawn daily. If the hand cannot then grasp 

 the stick, when removed, without inconvenience, the bed is 

 too hot, and spawning must be deferred until the end of the 

 stick can be held without discomfort. Experienced growers 

 also rely upon testing the heat with the naked hand only ; 

 but the amateur should always use a thermometer, for safety's 

 sake. Eighty degrees is the correct temperature for spawning ; 

 and this figure must be on the decrease, for if the heat rises the 

 spawn will be killed. 



Mushroom spawn bricks, if containing good spawn, will, when 

 broken, present the appearance of a mass of silvery cobwebs 

 and smell strongly of Mushrooms. A mouldy or spotted brick 

 should be rejected, also any permeated by large white, cotton- 

 like threads and miniature tubercles here and there. The brick 

 is usually divided into about eight pieces. The operator simply 

 thrusts one hand into the bed, making a hole in the manure, 

 and forcibly presses in the piece of spawn brick with the other 

 hand, then readjusts the material. The rain cannot thus soak 

 into the holes, but is thrown off. The spawn is thus planted 

 all over the bed at intervals of about nine inches. When, after 

 about three or four days, the spawn has commenced to run, 

 the bed may be earthed. If necessary, the surface is covered 

 with litter previous to earthing to maintain the essential warmth* 



