ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE MUSHROOM. ~ 
323 
But in whatever manner the bed be made very much depends on the 
temperament of the dung employed in the construction. It should 
have a thorough preparation of at least three weeks before it is used ; 
this is for getting it all of uniform consistence and of similar quality as 
to dampness. If it be, when used, too damp, it heats at first too vio¬ 
lently, and afterwards loses heat too soon ; and if too dry it never heats 
sufficiently, and sometimes not at all: but it had better be rather dry 
than otherwise, because a moderate heat is most lasting and most suit¬ 
able for the crop. 
The size of beds is regulated by the space allowed for them. If made 
against the back wall of a lean-to shed, four feet may be taken for a 
base, and a foot in height of this may be any kind of loose straw or dry 
rubbish of any kind which happens to be near at hand; over this the 
prepared dung is built, and beaten pretty firmly with the fork, and 
carried slopingly upward, finishing about four feet from the ground. 
The bed may be immediately covered with mats to encourage fermenta¬ 
tion, because the first heat must rise and be declining before any spawn 
can be planted, except the bottom row, which may be inserted on the 
third or fourth day after the bed is made. 
The watch-sticks will indicate when the first heat begins to decline, 
and as soon as this is perceived the bed may be spawned half way up, 
leaving the upper half to be spawned about a week or ten days after¬ 
ward. Too much caution cannot be used in spawning and earthing 
the bed, for it not unfrequently happens that the compact body of 
earth creates a new and excessive degree of heat, which will assuredly 
injure the spawn: better it is to spawn and earth up a few days too 
late than one day too soon. 
The spawn should be inserted in morsels of about an inch or so 
square, and just put within the surface of the dung, about six inches 
apart, pressing the dung smoothly over them ; and if the heat has suffi¬ 
ciently subsided begin to earth the bed as high as it is spawned. 
Strong, rich, loamy soil is proper, and neither too moist, which would 
cause it to knead too firmly, nor so dry as to prevent its necessary 
adhesion. From one to two inches is the requisite depth of the cover¬ 
ing of earth. 
The next thing is protecting the bed by coverings. If in a shed, or 
under any roof, the coverings may be at first but slight; or if in the 
open air, and the weather fair and mild, very partial covering will 
suffice, single mats may do; but if the weather be cold and stormy a 
covering of clean wheat-straw next the bed, with mats over, will be 
required, and the colder the weather becomes the thicker the covering 
must be. In these cases the indications of a thermometer laid on the 
