MUSHROOM SPAWN 
55 
Photographed and Copyrighted hy J. C. Co. 
MUSHROOMS BY SIMPLE METHODS. 
7’re/iara/toii oj Material. — Tliis is the most essential point to be studied to ensiue success. I’rocure fresh 
stable manure, which should consist of half droppings and half short litter ; this must be thoroughly turned over 
every other day for about a fortnight. Care should be taken to obtain manure for the purpose from healthy 
cattle, and which has not been treated with chemical disinfectants. 
For Mahing Outdoor .fier*.— The material should he put into a heap, the measurements of which should be, 
when marie u]i,' 2 ft. 6 in. at bottom, 2 ft. 6 in. high, and 6 in. wide at the top, and to any length recpiired, the 
whole to be firmly put together (.Sec I Uiistration'). After making the bed, put stakes down the centre by which 
to gauge the heat, and cover all with long litter ; after three or four days pull out the slakes, and when the 
lemirerature is at about 8o° the her! is ready for spawning ; break the bricks of spawn into pieces about the size 
of a hen’s egg, and put it into the bed about 8 inches apart ; cover the whole with fresh fibrous loam, and beat 
it well, making the surface quite firm, lightly water and smooth the surface with the back of a spade, finally 
cover u]r with long litter and Russian mats to keep away light and excessive moisture. 
Mushrooms may also he grown in any shed or cellar where the temperature does not fall below 45*’ ; the best 
site for a bed is a hard dry floor. A moderate size bed would measure 5 fk 6 in. x 4 ft. 6 in. x i ft. When 
made up and well pressed down, in about six weeks Mushrooms should show, anti the bed should then have a 
light watering with tepid water about every ten days, as success depends upon maintaining an eveti temperature. 
Another and very easy mode of providing a stqiply of Mushrootns iti the auti.mn and early winter months is 
to insert lumps of spavt n, in August, in the beds that are devoted to Cucumbers and Melons. Hy that time the 
heat of the fermenting materials has declined to the proper temperature for the spawn to “ run ” Ircely ; and just 
when the Cucumbers, &c. , are ready for removal, large quantities of Mushrooms are often seen breaking through the 
soil, and with protection in the form of hay coverings, the sttpply is continued for a long titne. The spawn should 
be inserted rather deeply — 4 or 5 inches. 
CaRTKUS’ Sl'EClAI. MUSItUOOM Si’AWN. 
I 
brick 
os. fid. 
I Brick, Carriage and Backing free 
... 0:>. 
4 
Bricks ... 
IS. fid. 
4 Bricks, .. ., 
2S. 
S 
3s. od. 
8 .. 
4 :‘- 
16 
,, (l bushel) 
5s. fid. 
ifi ,, ,. ., 
... O.s, 
24 
7s. od. 
24 
ys. 
Russian 
Mats for Plant Protection. 
I. od. 
od. 
Rust Auciiancei size, 0 fk x 4 l fk, each 2s. od. ; per d„z. 21s. cd. 
SlliKRiAN ^ ^4 9^^' 5 per (loz. iSs. 6J. 
ilEAVY.ST. PRTKRSliUKctu size, 7 ft. X 4 ft., each is. gd. ; per doz. rfis. od. 
C1.OSK Woven ... .. sv.e, 7 It. x 3_i ft., each is. od. ; per doz. Ks. fid. 
Rot on Cargo Mats, for covering mushroom beds, packing, &c per doz. 7s. fid. 
& 97i Hk;ii Holboj{n, LoN»t).v. - igo8. 
