MUSHROOM GROWING 



before preparing the bed. Spread the ma- 

 terial in the space for the bed, or in a box 

 in layers of about two inches deep, tamping 

 down each layer firmly until a bed eight 

 inches deep is prepared. Observe the tem- 

 perature at intervals, and for spawning and 

 subsequent care of the bed follow the direc- 

 tions given later for beds of the usual type. 

 7^ there a substitute for compost? A 

 large number of inquiries have been made 

 regarding the possibility of employing other 

 vegetable products, such as decayed leaves, 

 sawdust, woods mould, etc., in mushroom 

 growing. Experiments were accordingly 

 made a few years ago to determine if cer- 

 tain of these products are of any importance. 

 The detailed results may be omitted here, 

 and it is enough to say that they were deci- 

 sive in one particular, that is, that none of 

 these products approaches the value of 

 stable manure for mushroom growing. 

 Even when an equal quantity of manure was 

 combined with sawdust or with well fer- 

 mented leaves of deciduous trees the size of 



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