224 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Sepl, 



this means excellent spawn is procured. Spawn, procured in 

 this manner, should be used soon after making, as it will lose 

 its strength by long keeping. 



Artificial spawn may also be procured by collecting the 

 droppings of horses fresh from the stable,, and after being 

 partly dried, may be put up in any dry corner of a shed, 

 mixed with a small portion of light sandy earth, that is quite 

 dry. If this remain undisturbed for two or three months, the 

 whole mass will be full of spawn. 



In this case, also, fermentation must not be allowed to 

 exceed the points noticed in the before-mentioned method. 



Spawn, once obtained in small quantities, may be propa- 

 gated or preserved at pleasure. The general method of pre- 

 serving and propagating spawn is to transplant it, if we may 

 so express ourselves, into bricks composed of certain mate- 

 rials, of which the dung of horses constitutes the principal 

 part. Take any quantity of horse-droppings fresh from the 

 stables, to which add about one-third cows'-dung, and a small 

 portion of light sandy earth, or road-scrapings. Mix the 

 whole together by adding such a portion of water, as will 

 allow the whole to be formed into a thick sort of mortar. 

 This being done, spread the mixture on the floor of a shed 

 about four inches thick, let it remain in that state for a day or 

 two, according to circumstances, to dry, and when it is suffi- 

 ciently dry, let it be cut into pieces about the size of common 

 building bricks. When these bricks are sufficiently dry to 

 remove without breaking, carry them to an airy place, where 

 they may diy sooner. For this purpose, place them on thin 

 boards, they can then be moved about with greater ease. 

 When the bricks are about half dry, perforate each in two or 

 three places about half-way through, in which holes, place a 

 small piece of spawn in each. Turn them frequently over to 

 promote their drying. When perfectly dry, prepare a quan- 

 tity of well-fermented dung ; place a layer of it, six inches 

 thick, on any part of the shed-floor ; upon this dung, pile all 

 the spawn-bricks in regular order, keeping the sides perforated 

 uppermost, to prevent the pieces of spawn from falling out. 

 Build the pile as open as possible, and let the whole termi- 

 nate in a point, or single course of bricks. Take the remain- 



