38 



MUSHROOMS. 



about the mixing being thorough, and it may be done m 

 this way : Spread the manure on the floor of a shed, and place 

 fine soil on the top of this, in order .to increase the bulk by 

 another one-fourth, and then turn and mix all up into a heap. 

 The beds should be made not more than 12in. in depth, and 

 duly spawned when it is found, by the aid of trial sticks 

 kept plunged in it, that the heat has declined so as to admit 

 of ihe heated end being comfortably borne in the palm 

 of the hand. In all other respects also treat similarly 

 in the nianner advised for other flat beds. "\¥lien fine, dry 



ilUSHKOOMS I.V A Box. 



Another simple method of gi-owing Jlnshrooms in a box or old packing caec. 

 Tlie dotted lines show the remainder of ihe lid used for exclnding light. 



soil is thus mixed with the manure there is no rapid fer- 

 mentation and very little smell noticeable, and owners of 

 cellars should therefore give the plan a trial. When manure, 

 or rather horse droppings, are scarce, and yet a fairly large 

 bed is wanted, these may well be supplemented with oak or 

 beech leaves. These should be thrown into a heap to heat, 

 being turned three or four times during the course of a fort- 

 night. They will be then decaying steadily, and may either 

 have horse droppings mixed with them, or, better still, be 

 made to form the foundation of a bed, a surfacing of pre- 

 pared horse droppings, or even a lay«r from -lin. to 6in. 



