88 GARDENING FOR ALL. 
pressing the manure down again firmly, but not covering the 
spawn more than half-an-inch deep. Each piece of spawn 
should be two inches square, and be inserted irom four to six 
inches apart. 
Soiling or “‘ casing ’’ may be done as soon as the spawn 
is inserted. Moderately strong loam should be used if 
obtainable, if not, use the next heaviest. Apply sufficient to 
leave the soil one inch in depth after it has been beaten down 
with the spade or other tool used for the purpose. Make it 
quite firm and smooth, and for this purpose the soil must be 
moist at the time of application. Dry soil cannot be rendered 
firm and smooth. 
Cover the bed with hay or litter after soiling; the depth 
of covering having to vary with the surroundings of each case, 
whether in the open air, in dry and draughty sheds, or moist 
and close mushroom house. The greater the liability to 
atmospheric changes the thicker must be the covering of 
protective material. Do all that is possible to keep the bed 
in an atmosphere that is uniformly warm, moist, and dark. 
Gather the mushrooms carefully, and be sure to remove 
the entire stem along with the mushroom, because, when cut 
off, the portion of the stalk that is left decays, and that decay 
passes on to the spawn which would otherwise have remained 
sound and productive. Should the bed become very dry 
water it very carefully with warm water. 
For a continuous supply, a fair-sized bed should be made 
every month, commencing at the end of August. A cart-load 
of manure will make a bed about five feet square ; or a ridge 
thirty inches high, thirty inches broad at the base, and nearly 
five feet long. 
Given attention to the details here plainly set forth, there 
is no reason why all who can obtain suitable manure should 
not grow mushrooms for their own use and to increase a 
possibly scanty income. 
HERBS. 
Just as a coat is incomplete when minus one sleeve, so is 
a kitchen garden incomplete without its row of parsley and 
herb bed. 
