MAKING UP THE MUSHROOM BEDS. 77 



over rather freely with urine from the barnyard, then 

 forking the surface over two or three inches deep and 

 afterward compacting it slightly with the back of the 

 fork. Spread a layer of hay, straw, or strawy stable 

 litter a few inches deep over the bed till the lieat rises. 

 If the manure had been moist enough this sprinkling 

 should not be resorted to, but the fresh droppings 

 added instead. When it is applied, however, gi'eat care 

 should be taken to prevent overheating ; a lessening or 

 entire removal of the strawy covering, and again firmly 

 compacting the surface of the bed will reduce the tem- 

 perature. Some saltpeter, or nitrate of soda, an ounce 

 to three gallons of liquid, Avill encourage the spread of 

 the mycelium after the spawn is inserted ; a much 

 stronger solution of these salts can now be used than 

 would be safe to apply after the mycelium is running in 

 the bed. 



When loam and manure mixed together comprise the 

 materials of which the bed is made, the temperature is 

 not likely to rise so high as when manure alone is used, 

 but this matters not so long as the materials of which 

 the bed is composed are sweet and fresh and not over- 

 moist. But if the materials are cold and stale treat as 

 recommended for a manure bed, always bearing in mind 

 that it is better to have a cold bed that is fairly dry than 

 one that is wet, or, indeed, a warm one that is wet. 



Mr. Withington, of South Aniboy, has a good word to 

 say for beds of a low temperature. He writes me : 

 " Our beds kept in good bearing two months, thongh 

 they have borne in a desultory way a month longer. 

 Our best bed this season was one that was kept at an 

 even temperature. The manure never rose above 75° 

 when made up, and decreased to about 60° soon after 

 spawning. Kept the house at 55°." 



