MUSHROOM GROWING 



not likely to contain too much, but even a 

 small quantity of "weeds" is a nuisance. 

 The straw of the various grains seems to 

 possess distinct advantages over that of other 

 grasses, perhaps on account of a certain re- 

 sistance to complete fermentation, or decay, 

 yielding a highly porous substratum which 

 maintains an excellent physical condition in 

 the beds. Unfortunately, it is becoming in- 

 creasingly difficult in some cities to obtain 

 straw manure; for animals are bedded with 

 straw less and less, sawdust and shavings 

 being the cheaper substitutes now commonly 

 used. 



These bedding substitutes do not, of 

 course, render the manure unfit for mush- 

 room work, and in fact compost containing 

 these substances is extensively used. In or- 

 der to exclude poor material in the selection 

 of compost, it is also well to avoid any 

 manure from veterinary hospitals, or from 

 stables which use freely any type of disin- 

 fectants. It is quite probable that the poor 

 producing quality of the compost obtained 



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