126 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
yards, &c. It is of whitish fibrous nature, interspersed through 
the dung, and produced probably from the seed of former mush¬ 
rooms ; this seed, however, if it really does exist, is very 
minute (probably as the finest dust), and is prodigiously nu¬ 
merous, and most widely disseminated: it is scattered over 
various substances, so as to be always ready to germinate when 
the peculiar circumstances essential to its growth may occur; 
and then, in the exercise of its vegetative function, produces 
the substance called spawn. A quantity of the spawny lumps 
containing the spawn should be procured, and laid up in store 
in some dry airy situation, for it will keep for some time. The 
making of artificial spawn is another matter of importance to 
the grower. The following method I have practised with good 
success : — Take any quantity of horse’s droppings, fresh from 
the stable, and add to it about one-third of cow’s dung, and a 
small portion of light sandy earth; mix these together by 
adding such a portion of water as will allow the whole to be 
formed into a thick mortar-like substance : this being done, take 
a mould, about the size of a common building brick, and fill it 
with the prepared substance: remove the bricks to a dry airy 
place, where they will dry quickly ; and when about half dry, 
pierce a small hole in the centre of each, and place a small 
piece of spawn in each hole; move them frequently to promote 
their drying. When dry, take a quantity of well fermented 
dung, and spread a layer of it a foot thick upon this dung. Pile 
up the spawn bricks in regular order, keeping the pierced sides 
uppermost to prevent the pieces of spawn from falling out, and 
building the pile as open as possible, terminating in a point. 
After this is done, take a little fermented dung, and cover the 
pile with it so as to impart a gentle heat throughout the whole. 
The spawn will soon run through the bricks, and when this is 
observed, let them be stored as already stated. 
The spawn being thus provided, the next consideration is the 
preparation of the dung, and the making of the bed. 
The bed should be made with fresh warm stable dung, mixed 
with, at least, one-fourth of vegetable mould from decayed tree 
leaves, or with the same quantity of well-rotted cow dung. 
Then throw it up into a heap, well mixing it in the process, and 
let it lay for a week or fortnight to let the burning-steam and 
heat pass off, so that the whole may become mellow, and of an 
