474 Account of the Cultivation of Mushrooms. 



of germination. The spawn must not be suffered to advance 

 towards the rudiments of the mushroom, which consist in 

 little threads or fibres, for in this state it ceases to be useful 

 in spawning a bed. As soon as those rudiments are formed, 

 they must be left undisturbed, or they perish. They will 

 grow into a mushroom on the spot where they are developed ; 

 but when removed or torn up, they are destroyed. A piece 

 of spawn which appears in filaments or fibres, is no longer 

 applicable to a mushroom-bed ; it may produce a mushroom 

 in itself, but can serve no other purpose. The spawn that is 

 to be inserted in a bed, and to receive its development 

 there, must not be gone so far ; but should only have the ap- 

 pearance of indistinct white mould. 



The spawn being duly prepared, the beds are next to be 

 considered. I have generally made them in a shed, against 

 the wall, sloping from the wall, downwards ; about two feet 

 high at the back, and perhaps a little less than one foot in 

 front. The materials for the bed are horse-dung mixed with 

 litter, such as is commonly used for hot beds ; dry leaves 

 may be added, or the greater part, if not the entire bed, 

 may consist of leaves. I do not employ the dung fresh, 

 but after it has lain on a dung hill, and has been fre- 

 quently turned and well worked. There must be no rank 

 heat in it, for the spawn would be killed by an excess of 

 warmth. The temperature of the bed should be between 50° 

 and 60°. From 52° to 55° may be quite sufficient. When the 

 temperature is reduced to a proper state, the spawn is in- 

 serted. If the bed happens to be dry, I put a layer of moist 

 manure, of the same quality from the dung-hill, upon the 

 spawn ; or if, on the other hand, the bed be too moist, I 

 put a layer of drier manure over it ; these layers I make 



