MUSHROOM SPAWN. 217 



can be given, the surface of the bed should be covered 

 ivith three or four inches of dry straw, as the moisture 

 arising from the bed would be condensed upon the sur- 

 face, and render it cold and wet. 



A thermometer should now be inserted, that the 

 temperature of the interior of the bed may be noted. 

 If properly prepared, it will rise at first to 115 or 125 

 degrees, but it should not go much above this. Should 

 the temperature reach 130 degrees, it is well to cool 

 down the surface in some way, either by forking it over 

 to the depth of three or four inches, or by ventilating, 

 by making holes with a dibble. As soon as the excess 

 of the heat has passed off, the bed should be again com- 

 pacted, and the holes carefully filled. Should it happen 

 that, owing to the use of partially rotten manure, the 

 temperature does not get above 80 degrees, it will be well 

 to strengthen the bed by adding a couple of inches of 

 fresh droppings, which should be well worked in. A 

 temperature of 75 or even 70 degrees, if proper material 

 was used in the bed, will, however, suffice, and the bed 

 will last longer than if a high temperature was secured. 

 When the bed has cooled down to 85 degrees, the spawn 

 may be inserted. 



MUSHROOM SPAWN. 



The term spawn is given to the white, threadlike 

 network that makes up the real body of the fungus, 

 while the mushroom, or edible portion, is merely the 

 fruit stalk. The spawn, or mycelium, spreads through 

 the soil and after gathering a sufficient amount of food, 

 the fruit stalk is sent up, on which the spores or seeds 

 of the fungus are developed. While the spores, under 

 proper conditions, will develop the fungus, this method 

 is not resorted to in practice, as the spawn used in start- 

 ing new beds is secured by a process of division similar 

 to the growing of flowering plants from cuttings. If 



