conomy is
secured by the saving in fuel. The beds can be made on the floor, flat,
ridged or banked against the wall, ten or twelve inches deep in a warm
cellar, and from fifteen to twenty inches in a cool cellar. The boxing
for the sides and ends may be built six or eight inches higher than the
beds to give the mushrooms plenty of head room.

DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING THE COMPOST FOR THE BEDS.

Procure not less than a cartload of clean, fresh stable manure. Place it
under cover, to protect it from rain and drain water, mix well and heap
up the whole mass into a mound three feet high then beat the mound
firmly down to prevent undue heating. Repeat this operation every other
day until its rank smell is gone, taking care that on each turning the
outside dry manure is placed in the centre of the mound. By this means
the stable odor is dissipated while its heating properties are equally
distributed. Add to this from one-fourth to one-fifth of clean, rich
garden mould. Mix well. After this careful handling, the mass may be
considered fit for bedding purposes. When placed in the beds the mass
should be compacted again by beating with the back of a spade or trowel.
The bed surface should appear moist but not wet, smooth and of firm
consistence. From day to day it will be necessary to test its general
temperature by means of a thermometer. To this end make at various
places at different depths openings sufficiently large to admit the use
of a thermometer. It will be found that the temperature is highest
nearest the bottom. Test at various points. At first the temperature
will run high; 105 to 120 Fahrenheit is probably as high as it will
reach, but in a few days it will fall to 85 or 80 Fahrenheit. At this
point spawn the bed. For this purpose make holes in the top of the bed
about six inches apart and two inches deep with a blunt dibble or broom
handle. Place in these holes or openings a piece of brick spawn about
the size of a hen's egg, and cover the holes with manure; finish by
packing the same, keeping the surface of the bed smooth and moist. The
spawn should be slightly moistened before using. Should the surface of
the bed become dry, use water from a fine sprinkling pan. The
temperature of the cellar or house in which the bed may be placed should
range between 55 and 75, and should not be lower than 50. If the
spawn is good and all conditions attended to, the white filaments should
appear spreading through the bed withi