146 MUSHROOMS, HOW TO GROW THEM. 



It is asserted that from this active spawn crops of mush- 

 rooms appear in twenty days' less time than if dry spawn 

 were used. 



The French spawn is used. Somewhere hetween the 

 seventh and fourteenth day after making the bed it will 

 be in condition for spawning. Break the spawn into 

 pieces between two and three inches long, two inches 

 wide, and three-fourths of an inch thick, and insert 

 these pieces in two rows along the sides of the ridges ; 

 the first row eight inches above the ground, the second 

 row eight inches above the first, and the pieces put iu 

 quincunx fashion eight inches apart in the row. The 

 manure is firmly packed in upon the spawn, the surface 

 left smooth and even and without being further disturbed 

 until earthing time. 



Much stress is laid upon stratifying the spawn before 

 using, when dry spawn is employed. About eight days 

 before a bed is to be spawned the dry spawn is spread 

 out in a row on ttie floor of the cave or cellar so that it 

 may absorb moisture and the mycelium begin to run. 

 At spawning time these cakes or flakes are broken up 

 and used in the ordinary way, and, it is claimed, with a 

 week's difference in favor of the early appearing of the 

 mushrooms. But no more spawn than is necessary for 

 immediate use should be stratified, for it will not bear 

 being dried and damped again. 



The chips and powder of the stone which has been 

 taken out of the quarry and which can be had in abun- 

 dance on the floor of the quarry or on the surface of the 

 ground around the shaft, are sifted, and the finer part 

 saved and mixed with earth in the proportion of three 

 parts of stone dust to one of earth, and with this the beds 

 are molded over. The powdered stone is strongly im- 

 pregnated with salts, so advantageous to the mushrooms. 



In seven to nine days after spawning, the beds are 

 ready for earthing over. This depends upon the condi- 



