146 
MUSHROOMS, HOW TO GROW THEM. 
It is asserted that from this active spawn crops of mush¬ 
rooms appear in twenty days 5 less time than if dry spawn 
were used. 
The French spawn is used. Somewhere between the 
seventh and fourteenth day after making the bed it will 
be in condition for spawning. Break the spawn into 
pieces between two and three inches long, two inches 
wide, and three-fourths of an inch thick, and insert 
these pieces in two rows along the sides of the ridges ; 
the first row eight inches above the ground, the second 
row eight inches above the first, and the pieces put in 
quincunx fashion eight inches apart in the row. The 
manure is firmly packed in upon the spawn, the surface 
left smooth and even and without being further disturbed 
until earthing time. 
Much stress is laid upon stratifying the spawn before 
using, when dry spawn is employed. About eight days 
before a bed is to be spawned the dry spawn is spread 
out in a row on the floor of the cave or cellar so that it 
may absorb moisture and the mycelium begin to run. 
At spawning time these cakes or flakes are broken up 
and used in the ordinary way, and, it is claimed, with a 
week’s difference in favor of the early appearing of the 
mushrooms. But no more spawn than is necessary for 
immediate use should be stratified, for it will not bear 
being dried and damped again. 
The chips and powder of the stone which has been 
taken out of the quarry and which can be had in abun¬ 
dance on the floor of the quarry or on the surface of the 
ground around the shaft, are sifted, and the finer part 
saved and mixed with earth in the proportion of three 
parts of stone dust to one of earth, and with this the beds 
are molded over. The powdered stone is strongly im¬ 
pregnated with salts, so advantageous to the mushrooms. 
In seven to nine days after spawning, the beds are 
ready for earthing over. This depends upon the condi- 
