By Mr. Isaac Oldaker. 



341 



greatly their solidity. The proper vegetation of the spawn, 

 and the consequent crop of mushrooms, depend entirely upon 

 a moderate genial heat, and fermentation, neither too 

 strong nor too slight. As soon as the degree of heat in the 

 beds is a little more than that of milk from the cow (say from 

 eighty to ninety degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer), beat 

 the beds a second time, to render them more solid, if pos- 

 sible ; then make holes, with a dibble, three inches in dia- 

 meter, and nine inches asunder, through the compost in 

 every part of the beds : these holes will be a means of cool- 

 ing the beds, and preventing that excess of heat from taking 

 place, which would produce rottenness, and render them 

 unproductive. If the beds do not attain the heat required, 

 in four or five days after they are put together (which you 

 will know by plunging a thermometer into one of the holes), 

 add another layer of the compost, two inches thick, which 

 will probably increase the heat sufficiently ; if not, a part of 

 the bed should be taken away, and the remainder mixed 

 with fresh horse droppings, and wrought together in the same 

 way as before, in order to produce the proper degree of heat, 

 Beds made after this manner readily generate natural spawn 

 in summer, and frequently in the winter months. 



Of spawning the beds. In three or four days after the 

 holes have been made, by observing the thermometer, it will 

 be found that you have the desired degree of heat, and the 

 inside of the holes will also have become dry; the beds are 

 then in a good state for spawning, which should be done, 

 while the heat is on the decline. If this operation be de- 

 ferred until the heat is quite exhausted, the crop will be late, 

 and less plentiful. Fill every hole full of spawn, which must 



