S42 On growing Mushrooms in Houses. 



be well beaten into them, and then make the surface of the 

 beds solid and level ; it is of no consequence whether the 

 spawn put into the holes, be in one lump or in several small 

 pieces, it is only necessary that the holes should be well 

 filled. About a fortnight after the spawn has been intro- 

 duced, examine the holes, and if the spawn has suffered any 

 damage from over heat, or too much moisture, in the beds, 

 introduce fresh spawn in the same way as before. On the 

 contrary, if the spawn be found good, and vegetating freely 

 into the compost, such beds (if required for immediate pro- 

 duction) may be covered with mould agreeable to the rules 

 hereafter laid down, and the beds intended for succession 

 should remain unearthed in the summer, three weeks, or a 

 month, before you wish them to produce, and in the winter a 

 month, or five weeks. Tf the spawn be introduced in hot 

 weather, air must be admitted as freely as possible into the 

 shed, till the spawn has spread itself through the beds ; for 

 if the place be kept too close the beds will become soft and 

 spungy, and then the crop will neither be abundant nor of 

 good quality. 



Of earthing the beds. Such beds as are intended to be put 

 into work, must be covered with a coat of rich maiden earth, 

 wherein its turf is well reduced. Then spread it regularly 

 over the surface of each bed, two inches thick ; and beat it as 

 solid and level as possible. The earth used should be neither 

 too dry nor yet wet, but so as to become compact together, 

 and take, when beaten, a smooth face. If too moist, it will 

 chill the beds, and injure the spawn. On the contrary, if too 

 dry, it will remain loose, and in a state by no means favour- 

 able to the growth of mushrooms ; but when solid, it produces 



