Mrs ii rooms 1548 



70 to 75 degrees, the beds are ready for planting with the pre- 

 pared spawn. This process is known as " spawning." 



The spawn (described later in this article) commonly comes in 

 dried cakes, called bricks. Break these bricks into pieces from one 

 and one-half to two inches square, and place on edge in the com- 

 post, spacing them about twelve inches apart each way, and cover- 

 ing them to a depth of tw T o inches. 



Give the beds a light sprinkling, sufficient to maintain a proper 

 degree of moisture, which experts set at 40 per cent., but which 

 may for all practical purposes be determined by the " squeezing " 

 test. 



CARE WHILE GROWING 



In about ten days the spawn should be running, which will be 

 indicated by fine white threads spreading outw r ard from each 

 piece. In case any plantings have failed to start, remove them 

 and insert fresh ones. The beds should then be covered evenly, 

 about one-inch thick, with fine, moist garden loam, pressed 

 down firmly. This should be watered lightly from time to time 

 as needed to maintain a damp surface. Use lukewarm water 

 and apply with a fine spray, preferably from a watering pot. 

 If the beds are conveniently located, moisture may also be con- 

 trolled by spraying the walls and floors. Burlaps hung along 

 the fronts of the beds may likewise be sprayed, and this will 

 assist in keeping both air and beds moist. 



BEARING SEASON 



Bearing should begin within from six to eight weeks from the 

 time of spawning and continue for two or three months. Esti- 

 mates of yields vary from one-half pound to two pounds per 

 square foot of area and market values run from twenty to sixty 

 cents a pound wholesale and twice that at retail. 



The picking should be done as fast as the mushrooms attain 

 the proper size, usually every other day ; although daily gather- 

 ings are sometimes necessary. They are the best size for picking 

 when the " veil " or tissue on the under side of the cap has be- 

 gun to break. 



The method of picking recommended by experts is to take hold 

 of the cap and remove by twisting, which brings the stem away 



