at Stoke Place. 555 



again heat quite strong : the beds must then immediately be 

 bored. To accomplish this, you must be prepared with a sharp- 

 pointed dibber, about l^in. in diameter, to mark out the holes, 

 which ought to be 8 in. or 9 in. apart. This first dibber is only to 

 make way for a second, which must be 3 in. in diameter. The 

 holes should be pierced with this at least 6 in. deep ; and left 

 open to carry off the steam, and bring the dung into a proper 

 temperature to receive the spawn, which, in the winter season 

 or spring, will generally happen in about a week after boring. 

 In the winter season, I always spawn when the heat is a little 

 lively ; but, in the summer season, it is immaterial if the beds 

 are nearly cold. Having the beds thus ready to receive the 

 spawn, I break it into pieces about lj in. or 2 in. square. If the 

 spawn is good, that size will be quite sufficient ; for it is my 

 opinion that a bed may be overdone with spawn, as well as any 

 other crop may be overdone with seeding. Wrap each piece of 

 spawn in a little clean dry litter, such as was shaken out of the 

 dung when first turned : this, in my opinion, is very essential in 

 insuring a productive crop ; for, if the beds should be a little 

 too warm or too wet, in either case it is the means of preserving 

 the spawn. In this litter the spawn will quickly begin to work, 

 as may be seen by pulling out one of the lumps a short time 

 after having spawned it. One of these lumps is to be put into 

 each hole ; and, when the whole is completed, the beds are to 

 be beaten down level with the back of a spade, the whole to be 

 earthed and finished off as expeditiously as possible. 



It is customary with many gardeners to make, perhaps, one, 

 two, or more beds in a house, in succession : but this is a plan 

 I would by no means recommend ; for, making new beds in the 

 same house, when others are in full bearing, without due cau- 

 tion, is very often prejudicial to the crop. Where a regular 

 succession of mushrooms is ripened for a moderate or large 

 family, two or more houses, the size of the plan I have given, 

 would be necessary. I would recommend this size as nearly as 

 possible, as I have often observed that mushrooms generally 

 succeed in small houses better than in very large ones : and out 

 of these same houses, when in full bearing, 1 have frequently 

 gathered three bushels per week. But to return to the earthing 

 of the beds. A proper quantity of strong loam, if it can be had, 

 is to be preferred to any other mould : I generally take the loam 

 of the second spit, to avoid wormcasts, which are very often hurt- 

 ful to the beds. Break this well to pieces, and run it through 

 a coarse sieve ; cover the beds all over with it, and beat it down 

 as firmly as possible ; so as, when finished, the covering of loam 

 may, on every part of the bed, be 2 in. thick. The quality of 

 the mushroom very much depends upon the solidity of the 

 earth ; for, if that is not firm, they will often form themselves 



