28 



MUSHROOMS. 



or, to avoid repetition, when in much the same state as ad- 

 vised in tlie case of ridge-shaped beds. If from any cause 

 the manure becomes too dry to ferment properly, it may 

 become necessary to break up the bed and re-form it after the 

 manure has had a gentle \vatering. An expert would not 

 use very dry manure in the first place, but would give a 

 gentle watering according as it is put together. If, on the 

 otiier hand, the manure be in a wet state, moisture oozing 

 out when a handful is squeezed, then some dry soil— or, 

 better still, some peat moss litter— ought to be mixed with it. 



Spawning: the Bed — Test the temperature of the 

 manure by thrusting sticks in here and there in the beds 



Section op Indoor Bed. 



The bed in this case is made against the wall. A, Shows the manure ; 

 B, The "Spawn" ; C, Covering of soil; D, Surfacing of litter. 



and withdrawing them occasionally to ascertain the progress 

 of the heat. If the sticks feel very hot the temperature is 

 too high ; if comfortably warm it is right, and then the spawn 

 should be inserted at once. A far safer way of ascertaining 

 the temperature is to use a plunge thermometer. This, in- 

 serted in the bed, will give the exact temperature, which 

 should be 80 deg. tor the safe insertion of the spawn. Now 

 obtain the bricks of spawn, divide each one into eight parts, 



