322 
ON TIIE CULTIVATION OF THE MUSHROOM. 
These incidents, no doubt, first suggested the idea of the artificial 
cultivation of the mushroom, which is now brought to very great per¬ 
fection ; and though the propcigines or seeds are neither collected nor 
used by the grower, he is at no loss in obtaining what is called spawn, 
that is, parts of the plant itself, which, when planted on or in a 
properly prepared bed of due temperature, will be increased and 
quickly extended over a considerable surface, followed in due time by 
the fruit. 
Spawn may be collected in pastures where mushrooms naturally 
grow, in horse-mill tracts, in cattle sheds, old hot-beds, or in old dung¬ 
hills, particularly along the sides which have been shielded from rain ; 
or spawn may be made by art, and which is done as follows :—Collect a 
heap of pure horse droppings in the spring, either from the fields or 
stables, lay them in a shed till pretty dry ; of these make a conical 
heap, mixing therewith road-sand or other dry soil. Tread dowrn and 
beat the sides as tightly as possible ; mind that the heap does not heat 
too much, which may be judged of from time to time by keeping a 
watch-stick thrust into the middle, which being withdrawn and felt by 
the hand will indicate whether or not it be of the right temperature, 
viz., about 58 degrees, a little more or less. If the heat be deemed too 
low a covering of soft hay or mats may be kept constantly or occasion¬ 
ally over, and if a due fermentation has taken place the whole heap will 
be a mass of spawn in five or six weeks. 
An easier way of breeding spawn is by employing boxes about three 
feet long, abcut a foot wide, and deep filled firmly with horse-droppings, 
sandy earth, and some short rubbish hay got from under the mangers 
of cattle sheds. These boxes, set in a dry and moderately warm place, 
will soon have active spawn generated in them, and even bear good 
crops of mushrooms. Spawn may also be purchased at seed-shops. 
Beds are made of different forms; some, which are under roofs, 
whether light or dark, are built up square, others built sloping up 
against a wall, but the most general form is triangular, like the ridge 
of a house. The last shape is preferred for the open air, because rain 
or snow cannot penetrate through the covering so readily. Some make 
their beds against a paling, which has this advantage—if the heat 
declines too soon, which beds in the open air are liable to, the heat may 
be renewed by a lining of fresh dung applied to the back. In sheds, 
and sometimes in the open air, the bed is made over a flue, built for 
the purpose of renewing the heat when necessary. Some make very 
slight beds on the floor of a vinery or other forcing-house, or even in 
an old melon frame, in which places very fine mushrooms are pro¬ 
duced. 
