MUSHKOOM SPAWN. 
95 
much whiter with mycelium than is the brick spawn, 
many believe that it is more potent and well worth the 
additional cost. In spawning the beds I use two pounds 
of flake spawn to plant the same space for which I would 
use five pounds of brick spawn, and this gives a capital 
crop, with number of mushrooms a little in favor of the 
flake spawn, but on account of the larger size of the 
mushrooms the weight of crop is considerably in favor of 
the brick spawn. And I find more certainty of a crop 
in the case of the brick spawn than in the other. 
Regarding the respective merits of brick and flake 
spawn, Mr. Barter, in response to my inquiry, writes 
me : “I have tried them both, and know brick spawn 
to be far the best. You see, I do nothing but this 
mushroom business for a living, so, of course, would 
use the best kind of spawn for my crop. Generally the 
French spawn produces one-third less mushrooms than 
does the brick spawn from the same length of bed, 
besides, those from the brick spawn are by far the heavi¬ 
est and fleshiest.” 
I would here observe that Mr. Barter’s remarks apply 
more to ridge beds out of doors than beds in the cellar 
or mushroom house. And it is odd, but true, that the 
flake spawn does not produce as good results in outdoor 
beds as it does in those under cover. 
