WATERING MUSHROOM BEDS. 43 



by way of an aid to soaking the bed, and its removal after- 

 wards because it is apt to cling too closely to the soil, thereby 

 conducting warmth and moisture from the bed (which dry litter 

 will not do), also favouring the spread of mould or destruc- 

 tive fungoid growths. When at any time, later on, the litter 

 next the soil is found wet and cold, carefully remove it at 

 once, for similar reasons to those just given, replacing with 

 fresh dry litter. Never be chary of using strawy litter by 

 way of a covering, a thickness of 12in. being nope too much 

 during the cold autumn and winter months. 



In many cases the beds will commence producing mush- 

 rooms in quantity in about six weeks from the date of spa\^n- 

 ing without being watered; but if watering be necessary the 

 crops will be a little later, though probably, if all goes on 

 well, somewhat heavier. Only one person ought to attend 

 to the gathering of the crops, constantly exposing all parts 

 of the beds unnecessarily being a great mistake. 



Indoor Beds. — In all other cases — that is to say, 

 whether the beds are covered with frames or are in sheds, 

 stables, cellars, and such like, or are on a small scale in 

 boxes and hampers — there must be a period of not less than 

 a month for the spawn to spread through the manure and 

 soil, the best results being obtained when the beds are con- 

 stantly warm, consequent upon the very steady decay of the 

 manure, and only just moist. It will have been observed 

 that extraordinary crops of mushrooms are obtained from 

 the open fields after a fairly long period of dry, hot weather. 

 While the latter lasts the mycelium is spreading, and it only 

 needs a heavy downfall of rain to bring up the mushrooms. 

 Too much moisture is, then, fatal to the spawn, as well as 

 to the crops, after these have commenced forming; while 

 diyness, though favourable to the spread of the mycelium, 

 or very fine cottony threads that should be found spreading 

 in all directions within a week or so of spawning, must be 

 corrected before full crops will be obtained. Wait, there- 

 fore, for a month — or, better still, five weeks — before prob- 

 ing the beds very lightly at two or three places with a view 



