The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-05
Mushroom Spawn.
GARDEN RECEIPTe.


COW manure-which is the principal
ingredient employed-can be collect
ed together from the COW sheds before
the cows have any green food, as the
manure is much sitter and answers
the purpose better than when grass
is their principal food. This should
be laid in an open shed to dry, and
moved every few days to prevent it
heating; TO this should be added ID
equal proportions fresh horse-drop-
pings, a little loan and some chopped
hay or straw. The whole should be
we'll worked together and then trod-
den down, after which it may be al
lowed to remain a few days, when it
will require to be turned two or three
times week. If the weather be fine
and dry the mass will soon be in
fit condition for moulding into bricks,
which process can be performed by
using q mould in the same way as the
brickmakers, or it may be done in a
more simple manner, viz: The manure
should be spread to thickness of six
inches then be firmly trodden and
beaten down evenly with the back
Of the spade. Itshould then be lined
out to the required size of the bricks,
and be cut with a sharp spade or
turing iron. In a few days the bricks
will be sufficiently dry to handle,
when they should be set up edgeways
to dry thoroughly, and if exposed to
the sun for two or three days they
will be ready to receive the spawn.
In introducing the spawn two holes
should be cut in each brick at equal
distances, the holes being of such
size as to admit piece of spawn as
large as pigeons egg. This should
| be well beaten in and the surface
made even with little manure
When the process of spawning is
completed, the bricks should be col
lected together in heap and covered
with enough short manure TO cause
gentle heat, being careful that there
is no rank heat or steam to kill the
spawn. This must be carefully at
tended to until such time as the spawn
is found to have penetrated through
the whole of the bricks, after which
they should be staked away in any
convenient, dry place. The spaWn in
the first place is generally procured
from nurserymen. but 1T can be gath
cred from meadows where there are
cattle tracks; it may easily be dis
covered by breaking up some of the
soil. having the appearance of white
mould and smelling exactly like mush-
rooms. This will retain its vegeta-
tive power for years, if it be kept dry.
1t is advisable at tin o. to procure a
change Of spawn, as this, like most
other vegetables, gets worn out i'll
| time.
A we'll known mushroom grower
gives q somewhat different receipt
"Six barrow loads of COW manure,
two barrow loads of horse droppings,
and one Of loan should be well mixed
and beaten. This may be done OH
the floor of an open shed, aud when
firm the mass should be made into
cakes eight inches square; these
should be placed on edge to dry in an
airy shed, and should be frequently |
turned. OF course the bricks must
be protected from rain. When half
dry make a hole two inches square in
the side of each brick, and place in it
some good old spawn, inserting it so |
deep as to be little below the sur
face Cover up the hole with little
of the compost of which the bricks
are made When the bricks arr
nearly dry place them on end IN a |
: dry shed, piling them one on the
other with spaces between th;rn.-
Cover them over with hot manure,
keeping it On for three weeks or
month; the temperature shoull not,
| however, exceed co. or $50 Fahren
heit. If the manure show signs of
heating the bricks too much the COW
ering must be reduced SO as to reduce
the temperature. The spawn will
soon begin to run through the bricks,
and when it appears at the surface in
the form of white mould they should
be removed and allowed to flush dry
ing in order to arrest its growth till
it is required for use"
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