MUSHROOM GROWING 85 



the number of pipes it is desirable to fix in order to 

 obtain the maximum of heat in severe weather. A 

 strong fire heat is at all times inimical to the well- 

 being of the Mushroom. Two rows of four-inch 

 pipes fixed each side the pathway not too near the 

 beds will be ample. Should the weather prove very 

 cold in the depth of winter, rather let the temperature 

 fall to 53 or 56 than force the fire unduly with the 

 object of keeping the house up to a normal tempera- 

 ture of 60. The roof must be a sealed one on the 

 inside, with lath and plaster, with ventilators in the 

 apex at distances of twelve feet apart. Little or no 

 ventilation is ever required, and the ventilators are 

 fixed more for the purpose of letting out steam than 

 for admitting the circulation of air. 



Reason of Failures. Failure, from whatever cause 

 it may arise, will not be discovered until the bed has 

 been made and the time has arrived when a crop of 

 Mushrooms should be forthcoming. If a crop does 

 not appear, say, within two months after spawning, 

 the best thing to do would be to dig a hole in the bed 

 to see whether it is wet or dry or whether the spawn 

 has run or not. If it is dry and the spawn has partly 

 run, the bed will be all right, and after a good soaking 

 of warm water, at the temperature previously recom- 

 mended, a good crop may confidently be expected. 

 On the other hand, should the manure turn out to be 

 wet, and no appearance of the spawn permeating the 

 manure then the grower had better make up his mind 

 to turn out the bed at once, as it is useless expecting a 



