94 POPULAR VEGETABLES 



depending on the temperature and dryness of the 

 atmosphere in which it is kept. The mycelium 

 of the Mushroom is of so sensitive a nature that 

 once it is exposed to over moist or too warm an 

 atmosphere, it commences to grow and spread after 

 which its power for producing satisfactory crops is 

 all but destroyed. Spawn therefore to be satisfac- 

 tory should not be more than a year old, and be kept 

 in a dry storeroom, where the temperature in winter 

 ranges from 45 to 50 and in summer it should be 

 kept as cool as possible. To find out the quality 

 of the spawn, break up the brick into four or five 

 pieces, and if it is permeated with a network of the 

 most minute, threadlike veins, nearly of the colour of 

 flour, you may be satisfied that your spawn is all right, 

 if, on the contrary, these threadlike veins are swollen 

 and spreading more or less about, you may conclude 

 that fermentation has taken place at some time to the 

 detriment of the spawn. Sometimes only a part of 

 the brick may be affected, the other portion being all 

 right. In any case doubtful spawn must not be used 

 in impregnating the new bricks. Shallow holes having 

 been made in the bricks as advised, a lump of spawn 

 must now be placed in the holes about two inches 

 wide by one deep, well pressed in and sealed over with 

 some of the soft material left from forming the bricks. 

 As soon as this sealing material is sufficiently dry, 

 which will be in the course of three or four days, the 

 bricks should be turned out of the mould, and built 

 up on the top of one another, sideways and crossways, 



