CULTURE OF MUSHROOMS. 
127 
equal temperature ; in which state it. is in readiness for making 
the bed. 
In making the bed, either on the shelves, or floor of the 
mushroom house, take some long litter from the dung heap, and 
lay at the bottom ; then let the prepared dung be put on in 
layers, to the depth of two feet, being well beaten down, as the 
process goes on. When the bed is made, it is proper to have 
two, or more, trying sticks , thrust down in different parts to 
draw up, occasionally, in order to ascertain the heat. After the 
vehement heat has subsided, and the bed is lowered to a very 
moderate or mild heat, then, and not before, put in the spawn, 
previously breaking the large lumps into moderately small 
pieces, and planting it into the dung at one foot apart. Then 
take the earth of previously made exhausted beds, and scatter it 
all over the surface ; it will answer two purposes. When the 
spawn begins to run, cover the bed with strong rich earth, 
mixed with a little cow dung, and after it is finally earthed over, 
let the surface be smoothed, and well beaten with the back of a 
spade ; two inches of earth is quite sufficient. 
In making mushroom beds out of doors, take a sufficient 
quantity of dung prepared as already directed, and with it make 
the bed in the form of a ridge, four or five feet wide at bottom, 
and three or four feet high, gradually narrowed to the top. The 
process of making the bed is the same as that described in the 
mushroom-house. It should be made in a dry sheltered situa¬ 
tion, and on level ground, in preference to making the lower 
part in a trench, in order to have the opportunity of spawning 
it quite to the bottom, and also that water may not settle in 
that part to check the heat; mark out the proper width and 
intended length, and then commencing at the bottom part by 
a layer of prepared dung, as before observed. Begin at one 
end, and work up the sides equally in a gradually sloping 
manner, and forming the ends nearly in the same proportion. 
Observe to put in the spawn as before directed, for the heat 
should be only sufficient to set the spawn in vegetative motion, 
so as to extend its fibres into the dung and earth ; and this 
degree of heat should continue for some considerable time in a 
moderate growing manner, to promote and forward the knotting 
of the mushrooms. When the bed is spawned, and earthed 
over, it may be directly covered with a good thickness of dry 
