418 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



If, again, theyare made up of much less substance, the 

 body will be too slight for affording that degree of 

 nourishment requisite for the maturity of the Mush- 

 room. When the beds appear a little more than milk 

 warm, which may be ascertained by thrusting watch 

 sticks in them, (or placing a thermometer in the dung,) 

 and when this indicates from 80 to 90 degrees, the 

 beds should be again beat, so that every part may be 

 made as compact and solid as it will admit ; it is 

 upon the solidity of the materials, and proper fermen- 

 tation, that our success of a crop depends. The beds 

 must not, therefore, be permitted to heat violently ; 

 but as soon as at the degrees above-mentioned, there 

 should be a number of holes, about three inches in 

 diameter and from seven to nine inches apart, made 

 all over the surface of the beds. These holes will 

 be the means of tempering the bed, and preventing 

 the too strong fermentation taking place, which 

 would render the beds unproductive ; they are like- 

 wise intended for depositing the spawn, which may 

 be put in three or four days after they are made, 

 providing the temperature does not exceed 80 or 

 90 degrees ; the spawning of the beds should be 

 performed when the heat is on the decline — as if 

 done when in a strong degree of fermentation, the 

 spawn would be injured, and rendered abortive. 

 This operation must likewise not be deferred until 

 the heat is too much subsided, otherwise there will 

 not be that congenial degree of temperature 

 necessary for the production of a crop. When the 

 beds appear in a proper state for spawning, the holes 

 previously made in them should be w T ell crammed 



