MUSHROOM SPAWK. 
87 
spawn; it is a distinct branch of the business, and car¬ 
ried on by specialists who grow mushrooms for sale in 
winter, and spawn in summer. 
The time and attention required to produce a small 
quantity of first-class spawn are worth more than the 
cost of the spawn at the seed store. In order to make 
spawn profitably we must make it in large quantity, and 
we need not attempt to make it unless we have good 
materials and conditions for its proper preparation, 
and will give it every attention possible for its best 
development. 
Because spawn may be made in America is no reason 
whatever why the American people will buy it. We 
must produce, at least, as good an article as the best in 
Europe before we can find countenance in our home 
market. It is not the shape of the manure brick, its 
size, fine finish, hardness, softness, or freshness, that 
counts in this case; it is the fullness and vitality of the 
mass of mycelium or mushroom plant that is contained 
within it. 
HOW TO MAKE BRICK SPAWK. 
As the making of brick spawn for sale is not yet an 
American industry, but almost entirely confined to Eng¬ 
land, I think it best to restrict myself to describing how 
it is made in England. Mr. John F. Barter, of Lance- 
field street, London, is one of the most successful mush¬ 
room growers and spawn makers in Great Britain. He 
writes me that he confines himself entirely to the mush¬ 
room business; he makes his living by it. He grows 
mushrooms in the winter months and makes spawn in 
the summer months; he employs men for mushroom 
bed making from August until March, then, to keep on 
the same hands during summer, he makes spawn for sale. 
He grows for and sells in the London market about 
21,000 pounds of mushrooms a year, and in summer 
