16 
be on the decline, and when it falls to 90° F., break the bricks of spawn 
into pieces 2 inches square, and plant 12 inches apart, 3 inches below 
the surface. Then cover over to the depth of 3 inches with good gar¬ 
den soil and press down firmly. 
It is recommended that mushroom beds should not be finally earthed 
until the spawn is seen beginning to spread its white filaments through 
the mass; and should it fail to do this in eight or ten days after spawn¬ 
ing, the conditions being favorable, it is better to insert fresh spawn or 
to remake the bed, adding fresh materials if it be found to tail from 
being too cold. 
It is advisable not to put the spawn at any uniform depth, but so 
that while one piece of it may be at a depth of 6 inches, or nearly so, 
others may touch the surface. This allows the spawn to vegetate at a 
depth and temperature most congenial to it. Mushrooms may be cul¬ 
tivated in warm cellars, in boxes about I feet square by 18 inches in 
depth, for family use. 
