MUSHROOM GROWING 



to considerably more than $i a pound. The 

 time has passed, however, when during the 

 winter season, one ma}^ expect to sell mush- 

 rooms at the fabulous prices advertised by 

 a few unscrupulous vendors of mushroom 

 spawn and mushroom information. In 

 many cities the fancy trade of hotels will 

 not net more than 50 cents per pound and 

 frequently only 40 cents. Sold to commis- 

 sion men, or market, the wholesaler cannot 

 expect to average so much as this, and dur- 

 ing the season of heaviest production many 

 large producers are forced to accept 25 

 cents or less per pound — sometimes less than 

 the cost of production. The private con- 

 sumer pays ordinarily from 60 to 75 cents 

 per pound. There is abundant oppor- 

 tunity for the development of the retail trade 

 and the direct distribution of mushrooms. 

 The great future development must be in 

 this direction. 



Historical account. The earlier history 

 of the field agaric in cultivation remains, so 



28 



