340 On growing Mushrooms in Houses. 



turf mould, or other maiden earth, and mix it well with the 

 dung beforementioned : the advantage derived from the mould 

 or maiden earth, is the union of the whole into one compact 

 solid substance, so congenial to the growth of mushrooms. If 

 dung from the rides of a livery stable, or the round of a 

 horse mill can be procured, and mixed with a fourth part of 

 short litter, and added to as many fresh horse droppings as 

 will cause a gentle warmth, when made into beds, it will be 

 found superior for the production of mushrooms, to horse 

 dung that is gathered from the stables. 



The method of making the beds. Form the beds on the 

 shelves and ground floor, by placing a layer about three 

 inches thick of the prepared mixture. Then, with a flat 

 mallet, beat it as close together as possible, next add another 

 layer of the compost, repeating the same process as before, 

 and so on until the beds are formed into a solid body, seven 

 inches thick, making the surface of the beds as smooth and 

 as even as possible. The reducing the beds into a very 

 solid body is a most essential point; for without it, you 

 cannot expect success : and the thickness of them must 

 also be particularly attended to ; for where there is a much 

 greater body, the beds will be subjected to a strong fer- 

 mentation, and will be prevented, by evaporation, from 

 retaining that consistency in the dung, which is absolutely 

 necessary for the production of a good and plentiful crop. 

 On the contrary, if a much less quantity be laid together, 

 the heat and fermentation will be insufficient to prepare 

 the beds for the nourishment of the spawn; but the as- 

 sistance of both, to the extent prescribed, cements the 

 materials together, which, in addition to beating, increases 



