GARDENING FOR ALL. 87 
The best site for the bed isa hard dry floor, in any of the 
before-mentioned structures, or a similar site in a sheltered 
position out of doors, if the ridge system is to be adopted. 
The best moderate size for a bed is one, six feet by four, but 
almost any size may be made, the size only being limited by 
the supply of material at command. An uniform depth of 
twelve inches is very favourable for flat beds, and ridges ought 
to be about thirty inches high and three feet broad at the base 
when it is intended to make beds in that way, whether under 
shelter or out of doors. 
Commence to form the beds by forming a layer of 
manure about eighteen inches thick, tread or beat this down 
quite firmly, then add more manure and treat it in the same 
way until the requisite depth has been obtained. A stick 
should then be inserted in the bed to test its temperature. 
When the heat has fallen to 85° or go® it may be spawned 
with safety. 
Spawning requires more care than is usually bestowed 
upon it. A dibber should not be used, because that makes 
a round hole which the piece of cake containing the spawn 
seldom fills, steam or vapour generates around the sides, and 
the spawn perishes before it can penetrate the manure in 
which it is intended to grow. 
The spawn should be inserted by raising a little of the 
manure with the hand and placing the spawn underneath, 
