n eight or ten days after
spawning. When the white spawn is observed on or near the surface, cover
the whole surface with from one to two inches of garden loam well
pulverized. A good general rule for spawning the bed is to wait until
the heat of the bed is on the decline and has fallen to at least 90
Fahrenheit. If the heat in the middle of the bed runs too high the
spawn is killed. The experience of a number of growers has shown that a
bed spawned at 60 to 80 and kept at 55 after the mushrooms appear
gives better results than one spawned at 90.

The quality of the manure makes some difference in its temperature. That
obtained from stables where horses are grass fed will be of lower normal
temperature and will chill quicker than that obtained from corn or oat
fed stock.

A solution of saltpeter in proportion of about fifteen grains to a quart
of water, occasionally spread over the bed with a fine hose, helps to
accelerate the growth of the mushrooms.

The proper condition of the manure as regards dryness or moistness can
be readily ascertained by squeezing it in the hand; it should be
unctuous enough to hold together in a lump, and so dry that you cannot
squeeze a drop of water out of it. Excessive moisture in the manure has
been often a cause of failure. It should be remembered also that when
the heat of the manure is on the decline it falls rapidly, five, often
ten degrees a day, till it reaches about 75, and between that and 65
it may rest for weeks.

One of the principal causes of the failure of mushroom culture in this
country is the use of old or poor spawn. Good spawn should have a fresh,
mushroomy odor, and a bluish-white appearance on the surface. In buying
spawn one should always go to reliable seedsmen.

COMPOST FOR MUSHROOM BEDS.

Sawdust has been used in England for mushroom beds, after having been
used for stable bedding, with very good results. It has also been used
successfully in the District of Columbia. In fact, the very large models
of cultivated mushrooms exhibited by the Division of Microscopy of the
Department of Agriculture at the World's Fair in Chicago were moulded
from mushrooms which were grown on the writer's premises, in a
composition of sawdust stable bedding, combined with about one-fourth
garden mould, but I am confident, at the same time, that much depends on
the kind of timber the sawdust is made from. In this case the sawdust
came from spruce.

MUSHROOM CULTURE IN CANADA