Sc2)t.] THE CULINARY GARDEN. 225 



cicr of the fermented dung, and cover the whole pile with it ; 

 it will dilhisc a gentle heat through the whole. The spawn 

 will soon run through the bricks, and when this is observed, 

 let the bricks be laid by in a dry place till used. They will 

 keep fit for use for a number of years. It is of much import- 

 ance that the bricks should not be left in a situation which 

 would cause the spawn to work; an effect, which would be 

 produced by m(/isture, combined with warmth. The spawn 

 must not be sutlered to advance towards the rudiments of the 

 mushroom, which consists of little threads or fibres, for in this 

 state, it ceases to be of use in spawning a bed. A piece of 

 spawn, which ai)pears in filaments or fibres, is no longer of 

 use to put in a umshroom-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 so far advanced, but should only have the appear- 

 ance of white mould. 



MAKING MUSHROOM BEDS. 



The spawn being procured, the next consideration is, to 

 make ready a bed on which to plant it. Many plans have 

 been adopted for the cultivation of mushrooms on beds, which 

 have been attended with gi'eater or less success ; the general 

 methods practised by gardeners, who grow a considerable 

 quantity for the London market, are perhaps the oldest, and 

 at the same time the best. These beds are made in the open 

 air, in some convenient spot, and are in the form of a ridge, 

 or triangle, the base of which is generally the longest side. In 

 gardens, where neatness and regularity are attended to, the 

 melon-ground will be found the best situation. 



For winter-crops, beds may be made in any spare shed, or 

 old building; and it may here be observed, that, although 

 September is the month generally chosen for putting up nuish- 

 loom-bcds, they may be made with success almost at any 

 other time of the year. When beds are made in 'sheds, they 

 are apt to get too dry in summer ; in the open ground, the 

 humidity of the air keeps them in a state sufficiently damp, 

 without the necessity of often giving them water, which is a 



2 G 



