128 MUSHROOM-GROWING. 
heat and smell has subsided. Each time it is turned, like good house¬ 
wives, we turn “ sides into middles,” and as the turning proceeds, 
shake in a little rubbish, such as weeds, or long grass from the bottom 
of an untidy fence, together with a slight sprinkling of good rich loam. 
This tends much to sweeten the compost, which after the turnings I 
have enumerated will have become what gardeners term quite “ short.” 
It is then in a fit state to form a bed, and we proceed thus : mark out 
a space in a good open situation (by no means under trees) four feet 
wide, and in length according to the quantity of manure ; shake it 
thoroughly as you go on, so that the ingredients may be well incor¬ 
porated, treading it firmly and beating it well with the back of the 
fork, so that it may be perfectly solid by the time it is finished. The 
best form for the bed is that of an equilateral triangle for out-door 
cultivation, and under cover I prefer a slight slope to a level surface. 
I then insert pointed sticks at intervals all over the bed, and leave it 
for three or four days, by which time the heat will probably be at its 
strongest. It is desirable that the manure during its preparation 
should not be exposed to much rain, as any excess of moisture is fatal 
to the spawn. After this we withdraw the sticks daily to feel the 
temperature, and as soon as it begins to decline and becomes about 
equal to that of milk fresh from the cow, say 70° to 80° Fahr., we insert 
lumps of spawn about double the size of a walnut six or eight 
inches apart all over the bed, “ tucking ” it in about three inches under 
the surface. The bed is then left for a few days, and if the heat still 
continues to decline gradually, it may be moulded over with good 
loamy garden soil, free from stones, to the depth of some three or four 
inches, and the work is done. I need not tell you that the beds must 
be kept dark, or in other words, covered with straw or dried bracken, 
which will protect them from cold winds and rain, as well as from 
being scorched by the sun, either of which would be prejudicial to 
success. Beds of this description may be made at any time of the 
year; but for a main crop and for length of bearing we find September 
one of the best months, and in ordinary seasons mushrooms will 
appear about the beginning or middle of March following, continuing 
till the end of June or beginning of July. One word of caution about 
gathering the mushrooms. I use the word advisedly. They should 
be always gathered (giving them a slight twist), but never on any 
account should they be cut; the old stems thus left in the bed only 
breed insects, which prey upon the young mushrooms, and will often 
destroy a whole crop. Care, too, should be taken in gathering the crop 
not to loosen or disturb adjacent ones, as they never take root again, 
and only wither away. I think if you follow these simple directions 
you may almost insure a crop, more or less; but some seasons are 
undoubtedly more favourable than others to the growth of all Fungi. 
I have observed them closely now for some years, and not only are 
they influenced by the seasons, but you will invariably find that they 
grow quicker and more luxuriantly when the moon is increasing than 
when it is decreasing. I know that frequent complaints are made of 
